PhD Scholarship in Microbial Ecology of Coffee Flavour – DTU

PhD Scholarship in Studying the Microbial Ecology of Coffee Flavour – BRIGHT

About the Position

The Fermentation Cultures group at DTU BRIGHT invites applications for a 3-year PhD scholarship focused on the microbial ecology of traditional coffee fermentation. This project investigates how microbial communities from environmental and process sources contribute to coffee’s unique flavours, combining ethnographic fieldwork with systems biology. The research is conducted in close collaboration with local coffee producers, partner universities, and the University of Cambridge (Prof. Kiran Patil, metabolic modelling). The preferred start date is 1 January 2027.

Project Background

Fermented foods are living biocultural systems. This PhD will examine the origins of coffee- fermentation microorganisms, how communities assemble and interact, and how these interactions produce perceivable flavours. The work integrates microbiology, mycology, ecology, evolution, and genomics to address fundamental questions in microbial ecology while developing knowledge that can support more sustainable and resilient fermentation processes.

Responsibilities

• Take a leading role in planning, designing, and executing experiments
• Conduct ethnographic research to understand traditional coffee-fermentation practices
• Characterise ferments using metagenomics, metabolomics, and sensory analysis
• Perform bioinformatic analysis, data integration, and statistical analysis
• Visualise results and communicate findings to diverse scientific audiences
• Publish research in international peer-reviewed journals
• Present work at international conferences and scientific meetings
• Coordinate collaborative activities with group members and external partners
• Contribute to public engagement and outreach activities
• Maintain an open, collaborative research culture

Requirements

Essential Qualifications

• Two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or equivalent in a relevant field
• Some experience in microbiology
• Interest in or experience with ethnographic research
• Some experience generating and analysing metagenomic and/or metabolomic data
• Strong interest in microbial ecology and evolution, and in flavour as chemical communication
• High motivation, curiosity, and scientific integrity
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of research
• Proactive problem-solving and quick learning skills
• Strong scientific writing and oral presentation skills in English
• Enjoy collaborative, interdisciplinary teamwork
• Organised, structured, and committed to reproducible research practices
• Patient, charitable, curious, and playful – key qualities for interdisciplinary work

Enrolment

The scholarship is subject to academic approval. The candidate will be enrolled in a DTU PhD degree programme. Details on enrolment requirements and programme structure are available in DTU’s rules for PhD education.

What We Offer

• A rewarding and challenging position in an international research environment at a leading technical university
• Academic excellence, collegial respect, and academic freedom with responsibility
• Salary and appointment terms according to the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations; allowance is agreed with the relevant union
• Support for international relocation, including a monthly “PhD Relocation to Denmark and Startup Zoom Seminar”

About the Host Institution and Group

DTU is a top-ranked European technical university with 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. The Fermentation Cultures group studies fermented foods as complex microbial ecosystems, combining traditional practices with ecological and evolutionary perspectives to develop sustainable food innovations. BRIGHT (Novo Nordisk Foundation Biotechnology Research Institute for the Green Transition) accelerates biosolutions for sustainable materials, microbial foods, and net-zero agriculture. BRIGHT serves as a hub for academic and industrial partners.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online as a single PDF file (in English) containing:

• A cover letter motivating your application
• A curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and diplomas for BSc and MSc (including official grading scale description)
• One reference letter, including the referee’s email and phone number

Deadline: 27 August 2026 at 23:59 Danish time. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. You may apply before obtaining your master’s degree, but cannot begin the position before the degree is awarded.

All qualified candidates regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, religion, neurodiversity, national origin, or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with critical technology subject to special security and export control rules, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates.

For further information, contact Group Leader Leonie Johanna Jahn (email provided in the full announcement). You can read more about BRIGHT at www.bright.dtu.dk and about working in Denmark and at DTU on the DTU website (“Moving to Denmark”).

Original vacancy