项目介绍

2026年4月30日

If you are establishing your career as scientist and you are looking for the best possible foundation for carrying out research on anaerobic microorganisms capable of metabolizing a range of substrates for production of biochemicals? 

You will play a key role in a project coordinated by Professor Alex Toftgaard Nielsen at BRIGHT (Novo Nordisk Foundation Biotechnology Research Institute for the Green Transition) at the Technical University of Denmark.

Responsibilities and qualifications
You will be involved in identifying, isolating and engineering microorganisms for metabolising selected chemical substrates for production of biochemicals. The goal is to develop microbial production systems that radically change the production of chemicals in our society.

Your primary focus will be to:

• Characterize anaerobic organism for their ability to metabolize selected substrates. 
• Isolate and further characterize strains through physical characterization, genome analysis and metabolite analysis. 
• Setting up initial metabolic engineering approaches for the selected organisms.
• Engineering selected hosts for biochemicals production.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers.
• Contribute to publishing research findings in high-impact scientific journals. 
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, as well as project deliverables ensuring high levels of accuracy and presentation.

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.

We are looking for a candidate with a background in microbial physiology, general microbiology, ideally combined with:

• Hands-on experience with microbial cultivation and isolation of especially anaerobic bacteria.
• Experience with cultivation of acetogenic bacteria.
• In-depth knowledge of molecular and synthetic biology.
• Excellent communication skills and an openness to interdisciplinary teamwork.

Solid English capabilities are required, and you will be involved in teaching and supervision of BSc and MSc student projects.

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
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Professor Alex Toftgaard Nielsen. 

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. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Alex Toftgaard Nielsen. 

You can read more about “Bacterial Cell Factories” and BRIGHT

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 10 May 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

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

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.