PhD fellowship in food structure research

Department of Food Science invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in food structure research. The project is part of the research project “microTexture: Unlocking the Secrets of Plant-Based through Investigations at Multiple Scales’ founded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Start date is (expected to be) 1 January 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

The development of many sustainable foods is hindered by their inability to mimic texture from conventional foods. The structure of foods, as of any other materials, is hierarchically organized differently at different length scales (molecular-micro-macro). While the connection between microstructure and texture becomes more evident, the knowledge of how they are connected is still missing. This project is designed to unveil the physical mechanisms of how the different food macromolecules in plant-based milk alternatives aggregate, and how they impact perceived textural parameters. The overall aim is to tailor-design textures from plant-based dairy alternatives by applying structural understanding at different length scales. To achieve this objective, the PhD fellow is expected to develop skills with advanced microscopy systems and image analysis, for which proper training and supervision will be provided. Towards the end of the project the PhD fellow will integrate and correlate the microstructural and textual data with sensory perceptions.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates within the field of Food Science and willing to develop a set of technical skills in tehcniques including rheology, microscopy, image analysis. Experience with these is a plus. Also, experience with plant-based milks is a plus. English proficiency is required for this position. Previous or ongoing experience with writing and structing of scientific articles is also a plus. Applicants can have a master’s degree or equivalent in Food Science or related field, who has a curious mind-set and are highly motivated to pursue a PhD in this area.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The group is a part of Department of Food Science, the section Ingredient and Dairy Technology at Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and Pilot Plants.

Principal supervisor is Professor Lilia Ahrné, [email protected], and the co-supervisor and project leader is Assistant Professor José C. Bonilla.

The PhD programme

A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Food Science or related field. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with experiencie or strong interest in technical skills (e.g. microscopy, image analysis, rheology) and experience/knowledge/interest in plant-based milk alternatives
• Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 1 November 2024, 23:59 GMT +1

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 45-46

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact Assistant Professor José C. Bonilla, [email protected] tlf.nr. 52347599.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.