PhD scholarship in investigating the role of cattle and free-living amoebae in Campylobacter epidemiology - DTU Food

If you're passionate about research, captivated by microbiology, and seeking a place to pursue your dreams and ambitions, this opportunity could be perfect for you! You will join the Research Group for Food Microbiology and Hygiene at DTU National Food Institute and will contribute to enhancing public health by ensuring food safety. The overall aim of the research project is to address a major unresolved question in Campylobacter epidemiology by investigating how cattle and free-living amoebae contribute to environmental persistence and transmission beyond poultry in Denmark.

Responsibilities and qualifications
As our PhD candidate, you will be working independently on the research project in close collaboration with our research group and with other academic, industrial, and government agency partners in Denmark as well as abroad. To support your success, you will have access to DTU National Food Institute’s laboratory facilities.

Your overall focus will be to assess the role of cattle and free-living amoebae in the circulation of Campylobacter and their contribution to contamination pathways including the food production chain.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Plan and conduct field sampling from cattle, poultry, and associated environments
• Isolate and identify Campylobacter and free-living amoebae using culture-based and molecular methods
• Plan and perform laboratory-based phenotypic assays to assess traits linked to environmental persistence and transmission
• Analyse and interpret microbiological, genomic, and phenotypic data in collaboration with the supervisory team and international partners
• Disseminate your research through publications and attendance at conferences, seminars, and professional meetings.
• Contribute to teaching and supervision activities within microbiology and BSc and MSc student projects.

We seek a PhD candidate with a strong interest and some experience in microbiological laboratory work, such as culturing and identification of bacterial pathogens, molecular techniques, whole genome sequencing and epidemiology. You should be willing to conduct field sampling and motivated to work across field, laboratory, and data-based approaches. You are scientifically curious, highly motivated, and have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. You are comfortable working with practical challenges and scientific uncertainty, and you are not afraid to ask questions. You are willing to contribute to teamwork through open communication, exchanges of ideas, and discussions that promote a work environment for individual and collective growth.

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 in microbiology, biology, biotechnology, veterinary science, food science, or a related field.

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.

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 3 years.

Starting date is 1 January 2027 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Senior Researcher Nao Takeuchi-Storm +45 93511681 (naots@food.dtu.dk) and Professor Tine Hald +45 51157485 (tiha@food.dtu.dk).

You can read more about DTU National Food Institute at www.food.dtu.dk/english.

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 11 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
• An abstract of MSc thesis.

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.

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.

DTU National Food Institute
DTU National Food Institute conducts research into and disseminates - through advice, innovation and teaching - sustainable and value-creating solutions in the area of food and health for the benefit of society. The vision is to make a difference by generating future prosperity through research into food and health. The institute works to prevent disease and promote health, develop new and better food products for a growing population and create sustainable technological solutions, including biosolutions. The institute’s tasks are carried out in interdisciplinary collaboration within e.g. nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology, modelling, and technology. This is achieved through a strong academic environment of international top class with correspondingly skilled researchers and employees. The Institute employs approximately 390 staff members.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.