PhD scholarship in fungal evolution and innovation – BRIGHT

About the Role

Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship in fungal evolution and innovation within the Fermentation Cultures group at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). This interdisciplinary project combines microbiology, mycology, ecology, evolution, and genomics to investigate the origins and evolution of food microorganisms. The successful candidate will use fermented food communities as model systems to address fundamental questions in ecology and evolution while contributing to the development of novel starter cultures and sustainable food systems.

Project Description

Traditional evolutionary theory holds that genetic variation arises randomly, but emerging evidence suggests mutation rates and genomic instability may be influenced by the environment, possibly through epigenetic mechanisms. This project tests this concept directly by investigating whether epigenetic states can bias where, when, and how mutations arise in the genome in response to environmental cues.

Using Aspergillus flavus and its domesticated relative Aspergillus oryzae as model systems, you will combine targeted genetic engineering with adaptive laboratory evolution and integrated multi-omics to link epigenetic regulation, genome dynamics, and evolutionary outcomes at unprecedented resolution. A key component will be generating and analysing selected knockout mutants to establish causal links between epigenetic state and adaptive genetic change. Beyond advancing fundamental evolutionary theory, this work explores the potential to guide domestication of A. flavus into safe functional starter cultures for food fermentation.

The project is highly interdisciplinary and takes place within an ambitious, collaborative research environment at DTU BRIGHT, with external research stays at the University of Macau and the Southern University of Science and Technology in China.

Responsibilities

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

• Planning, designing, and executing experiments in fungal genetic engineering, adaptive laboratory evolution, and multi-omics analyses
• Generating, processing, and analysing experimental data
• Visualising results and communicating findings to diverse scientific audiences
• Publishing research findings in high-impact international journals
• Presenting your work at international conferences and scientific meetings
• Collaborating closely with researchers across disciplines and contributing to an open, collaborative research culture
• Coordinating activities with group collaborators and external partners

Qualifications

We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious candidate who thrives in a dynamic research environment and is excited by the opportunity to contribute to both fundamental biological discovery and applied innovation.

Required qualifications

• Hands-on experience in mycology
• A two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or equivalent

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with fungal genetic engineering
• Experience generating genomic and transcriptomic data from fungi
• Experience generating and analysing metabolomics data
• A strong interest in fungal biology, evolutionary theory, ecology and evolution, and food innovation

Personal qualities

• High level of motivation, curiosity, and scientific integrity
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of research
• Proactive approach to identifying opportunities and solving problems
• Quick learner who adapts effectively to new methods and challenges
• Strong communication skills, including scientific writing and oral presentations in English
• Enjoyment of collaborative and interdisciplinary teamwork
• Organised, structured, and committed to high-quality documentation and reproducible research practices
• Curious, enthusiastic, and playful approach to science

This position is particularly suited for candidates who aspire to become independent scientists and are eager to develop a broad modern research toolkit spanning mycology, genetic engineering, adaptive laboratory evolution, and multi-omics data generation.

The scholarship is subject to academic approval, and the candidate must be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU.

What We Offer

• A rewarding and challenging job in an international environment at a leading technical university
• Academic excellence in an environment characterised by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility
• Salary and appointment terms based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (allowance agreed with the relevant union)
• Employment period of 3 years
• Preferred start date: 1 November 2026
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge molecular mycology, evolution, and systems-level biology
• External research stays at the University of Macau and the Southern University of Science and Technology in China

How to Apply

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 27 August 2026 (23:59 Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file containing all materials in English. 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 the grading scale
• One letter of reference, with referee’s email and phone number

You may apply before obtaining your master’s degree, but you cannot begin before receiving it. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, religion, neurodiversity, national origin, or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

As DTU works with research in critical technology subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates.

Further Information

For further information, please contact group leader and senior researcher Leonie Johanna Jahn at [email protected]. You can read more about BRIGHT at www.bright.dtu.dk. For information about working in Denmark and at DTU, refer to the DTU – Moving to Denmark resources. Monthly “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup Zoom” seminars are available.

About the Fermentation Cultures Group

The Fermentation Cultures group investigates fermented foods as complex microbial ecosystems and as a foundation for developing sustainable foods for the green transition. By combining traditional fermentation practices with ecological and evolutionary perspectives, we draw on both traditional and scientific knowledge to create novel fermented foods and processes. Our research explores how microbial diversity, genetics, and ecological interactions shape flavour, texture, functionality, and stability, while also examining the origins of fermentation microorganisms and their co-evolution with human societies.

About BRIGHT

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Biotechnology Research Institute for the Green Transition (BRIGHT) is a major initiative based at DTU that aims to accelerate biosolutions and strengthen the bio-based economy. BRIGHT serves as a hub for academic and industrial partners, focusing on sustainable materials, microbial foods, and microorganisms for net-zero agriculture.

About DTU

DTU is one of Europe’s leading elite technical universities, with 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. Working in an international environment, DTU has an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture, with campuses across Denmark and Greenland. Since its founding by Hans Christian Ørsted, DTU has remained committed to developing and creating value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society.

Original vacancy