Applications are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Chemistry programme. The position is available from November 2026 or later.
Title:
At the border between old and new: cement lines in bone
Research area and project description:
Bone is an amazing material that has properties far beyond those of its building blocks. Bone is continuously remodeled. In humans and some animals these processes include Haversian remodeling where osteoclasts ‘drill’ canals into bone, which are filled by osteoblasts to result in secondary osteons. The cement line is the border between old and new bone and is the first to be laid down in the remodeling process. It has a different composition and structure than the surrounding bone – but its structure and relation to the surrounding bone remains a conundrum. This PhD project will address this question.
In the project, we will harness developments in advanced synchrotron multimodal imaging techniques (see e.g. IUCrJ 2024, 11: 708-722 or Advanced Functional Materials 2023, 34: 2307026) to l map the structure of cement lines by a combination of synchrotron X-ray 2D and 3D multimodal imaging techniques. The techniques may involve nanostructure by 3D ptychography, the distribution and role of Zn, enriched at the cement line for unknown reasons, by X-ray fluorescence and spectroscopy, and the orientation of collagen and mineral by improved texture tomographic techniques, and/or in situ investigations of the mechanical response of cement lines relative to surrounding bone by tomography or X-ray diffraction tomography.
You will be part of an interdisciplinary research group that emphasizes an open and supportive work culture.
For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. When - as here - you apply for a specific project, please simply copy the project description above, and upload it as a PDF in the application. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found.
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants must have a relevant Master’s degree or at least one year of a Master’s degree in chemistry, physics, biophysics, nanoscience, biology, or related subjects. Candidates with experience in Python scripting and data analysis, synchrotron experiments, bone science or biomineralization will be preferred.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Department of Chemistry
Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact: Professor Henrik Birkedal, hbirkedal@chem.au.dk
How to apply:
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see the Application guide. Please read the Application guide thoroughly before applying.
When ready to apply, go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/ (Note, the online application system opens 1 June 2026)
Please note:
At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.
