DTU Tenure Track Researcher in Microbial Foods - DTU Biosustain

As Co-PI of the Microbial Foods group within the Bacterial Synthetic Biology section at DTU Biosustain, you will lead the team’s research efforts in addressing food system sustainability and planetary health challenges. A key focus will be on developing microbial approaches to substantially reduce the environmental impact of food production.
Microbes play integral roles in enabling the coordinated functioning of our food system along with many other crucial planetary processes.

The Microbial Foods group in the Bacterial Synthetic Biology section at DTU Biosustain is focused on exploring fundamental microbial processes within our food system from a planetary health perspective. We are committed to addressing pressing global food systems and sustainability challenges through integrated and multi-scalar approaches. A key goal is to understand and develop microbially-driven processes that can be effectively implemented to substantially reduce the environmental impact of our current food production system.

We are recruiting a researcher (Co-PI) to drive the Microbial Foods research efforts within the group. The position is suited for motivated researchers who are interested in engaging with complex sustainability challenges alongside a diverse group of researchers with wide-ranging backgrounds and expertise at the center.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The overall focus of the role is to strengthen the group’s research on microbial foods and its potential to address food system sustainability and planetary health challenges. This will involve collaborating with a range of academic and industrial partners, both in the Danish context and internationally, as well as through engaging with wider civil society. Your key responsibilities and tasks as co-PI of the Microbial Foods group will be to:

• Manage an interdisciplinary research group and collaborations
• Co-supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers
• Develop research projects to address global sustainability challenges with a commitment towards societal impact
• Engage in dialogues across different stakeholders to increase public awareness and engagement
• Take part in developing and/or leading collaborative grant applications
• Develop novel research approaches (and methodologies) to/and facilitate multi-stakeholder projects and research partnerships
• Share research findings in academic publications, conference proceedings, and other forms of science communications and outreach activities

Candidates must:

• Have a strong background in microbial molecular biology and be experienced in working with multiple omics techniques
• Demonstrate the ability to manage and coordinate interdisciplinary and multi stakeholder research projects
• Be knowledgeable about microbial (including fungal) food fermentation and related processes
• Have experience working with environmental impact assessment tools and the planetary boundary framework
• Have supervised students across different study levels, including at graduate level
• Show strong commitments to science communication and public engagement

You must contribute to the teaching of courses. DTU employs two working languages: Danish and English. You are expected to be fluent in at least one of these languages, and in time are expected to master both.

As formal qualification you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

• Research experience
• Experience and quality of teaching
• Research vision and potential
• International impact and experience
• Societal impact
• Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry
• Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills
• Communication skills

Salary and terms of employment
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.

Starting date – 1 April 2025 (or according to mutual agreement).

The position is part of DTU’s Tenure Track program. Read more about the program and the recruitment process here.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Prof. Morten Sommer, email: [email protected]

You can read more about DTU Biosustain at www.biosustain.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.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 22 November 2024 (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:

• Application (cover letter)
• Vision for teaching and research for the tenure track period
• CV including employment history, list of publications, H-index and ORCID (see http://orcid.org/)
• Teaching portfolio including documentation of teaching experience
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain)
Recent progress in our ability to read and write genomic code, combined with advances in automation, analytics and data science, has fundamentally changed the scope and ambition of harnessing the potential of biological systems. Big data approaches and analysis of biological systems are key research instruments at the Center. DTU Biosustain utilizes these advances for microbial cell factory design to foster sustainable lifestyles in relation to three application areas: Sustainable Chemicals, Natural Products, and Microbial Foods.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

Adresse:

Søltofts Plads - via Henrik Dams Alle
2800 Kgs. Lyngby