项目介绍

2026年9月10日

Are you interested in microbial natural product research and working in a team? We have the task of charactering bioactive molecules and understanding their biosynthetic pathways. Those molecules can be further developed to help sustainable agriculture.

Responsibilities and qualifications
We are looking for an ambitious chemist with broad experience in microbial natural product chemistry and omics technologies. In this position you will have the unique opportunity to apply modern omics technologies in the investigation into bioactive natural products. The project will focus on the characterization of microbial secondary metabolites from different microbes, with the ambition to develop biofungicides. Your main analytical approach will be based on metabolomics using state-of-the-art high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques including LC/MS, MALDI imaging, NMR spectroscopy, different types of chromatography, genome-mining and microbial engineering.

This position is financed by SDC (https://sdc.university/) and you are going to carry out research collaboration with Prof. Xiujie Wang, UCAS, Beijing. In this position, you will have the unique opportunity to apply different omics technologies in natural product research.

We wish for knowledge and qualifications within

• Genome-mining and metabolomics analysis of bioactive microorganisms
• Isolation and structural elucidation of unknown and/or bioactive secondary metabolites, e.g. antifungals from microbes, using NMR and MS spectroscopy
• Biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites using bioinformatics and genetics
• Knowledge of biofungicide

You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master’s degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU’s rules for the PhD education. 

Assessment

• A strong background in natural product chemistry and biosynthesis
• Highly motivated by the structural complexity of microbial natural products and their applications
• Previous hands-on experience with LC-MS, MALDI-imaging and NMR is advantageous 
• Previous hands-on experience in genome-mining, biosynthesis and strain engineering is advantageous
• Previous knowledge in plant-microbe interactions is advantageous
• Strong writing and communication skills
• You are hard-working and dedicated to your work
• Interested in international collaborations
• You are a team player with a desire to work closely and help your colleagues to succeed
• Fluent in English

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures

The period of employment is full time for 3 years. The position starts in early 2027 and no later than 01.April 2027.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Ling Ding, lidi@dtu.dk 

You can read more about at https://www.bioengineering.dtu.dk/ 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 31 October 2026 (23:59 Danish time). 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply now”, fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• Contacts for two references

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master’s degree but cannot begin before having received it.