PhD in Traditional Fermentation to Food Innovation — DTU

About the Role

Are you fascinated by traditional food cultures and the microbial life behind fermented foods? Do you want to combine microbiology, ecology, and ethnography to create more sustainable and democratic food systems? Join the Fermentation Cultures group at DTU BRIGHT as a PhD candidate. We study fermented foods as living biocultural systems at the intersection of microbial life and human culture.

This project revives a traditional Scandinavian dairy fermentation practice where the insect-eating plant common butterwort was used to coagulate milk. You will investigate the contributions of plant proteases, microorganisms, pH, and antimicrobial properties to the fermentation process, and test its translation to plant-based dairy innovation. A second part of the project, in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, explores a local traditional fermented food, mapping the origins of fermentation microorganisms and their transmission to humans upon consumption.

Responsibilities

As a PhD candidate you will take a leading role in driving the scientific progress of the project. Your responsibilities include:

• Developing deep scientific understanding of the field and relevant literature
• Designing and conducting ethnographic and/or historic research on traditional fermentation practices
• Playful experimentation with culinary product development
• Designing and executing experiments to characterise ferments and plant contributions (metagenomics, metabolomics, rheology, proteomics, enzymatic and MIC assays)
• Bioinformatic analysis, data integration, and statistical analysis
• Visualising results and communicating findings to diverse audiences
• Publishing research findings in international journals
• Presenting work at international conferences and scientific meetings
• Completing an external research stay at the University of Nairobi
• Engaging in public outreach and science communication
• Collaborating closely with researchers across disciplines and contributing to an open, collaborative research culture

Qualifications

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who thrives in a dynamic, transdisciplinary environment at the intersection of ethnography, gastronomic craft, and microbiology. The ideal candidate has:

• Hands-on experience in dairy or plant-based dairy fermentation
• Experience or interest in ethnographic research
• Some experience in generating and analysing metagenomic and metabolomic data
• A strong interest in traditional food fermentation, food culture, and microbial ecology

You should also:

• Demonstrate high motivation, curiosity, and scientific integrity
• Work independently and take ownership of your research
• Take a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and solving problems
• Learn quickly and adapt effectively to new methods
• Have strong communication skills, including scientific writing and oral presentations in English
• Enjoy collaborative and interdisciplinary teamwork
• Be comfortable in an interdisciplinary environment with different types of knowledge
• Be open to and interested in different cultures
• Be organised, structured, and committed to reproducible research practices
• Be patient, charitable, curious, and playful – key qualities for interdisciplinary work

You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or equivalent academic level. The scholarship is subject to academic approval, and you will be enrolled in a general PhD programme at DTU.

What We Offer

DTU is a leading technical university known for excellence in research, education, innovation, and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding, challenging job in an international environment characterised by collegial respect, academic freedom, and responsibility. Salary and appointment terms follow the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations; the allowance is agreed with the relevant union. The position is for 3 years with a preferred start date of 1 November 2026.

How to Apply

Your complete online application must be submitted by 27 August 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Submit one PDF file (in English) containing:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English), including official description of the grading scale
• One letter of reference, with referee’s email and phone number

You may apply before obtaining your master’s degree but cannot begin before receiving it. All interested candidates, irrespective of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, religion, neurodiversity, national origin, or ethnic background, are encouraged to apply. Open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates due to security and export control rules.

Further Information

For additional details, contact group leader and senior researcher Leonie Johanna Jahn at [email protected]. Information about working in Denmark and at DTU is available from DTU’s moving guide. You may also join a monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup Zoom seminar” for practical questions.

Original vacancy