PhD fellowship in Microbial Communities Interactions

The Department of Food Science, Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in microbial community interactions. The fellowship will explore innovative approaches to reducing plant loss by using bacterial communities to enhance product longevity.

The PhD position is part of a research project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation: ‘BIOBARRIER: Bacterial Communities to Reduce Plant Food Loss.’

https://researchleaderprogramme.com/recipients/henriette-lyng-roder/

The position is to be filled 15 January 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

This project aims to understand and utilize the potential of multispecies bacterial communities to enhance plant protection and improve crop resilience. We will explore how bacterial competition, such as space colonization, nutrient uptake, and protective compound secretion, contributes to crop resilience. By filling the knowledge gap in multispecies protection, we hope to optimize beneficial microbial interactions, leading to more sustainable agricultural practices and longer shelf-life for food products.

The main goal of this PhD project is to study multispecies community interactions using an artificial potato-like model, which we will develop as part of this project. To investigate bacterial interactions, we plan to create a biomimetic surface that mimics natural potato topography. The project includes three primary objectives: creating and characterizing the artificial model for studying bacterial spatial dynamics, analyze how bacterial communities organize and interact over time using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH), and investigate how nutrient uptake impacts competitive exclusion among these communities.

The position is for 3 years, and the project will be carried out at the Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation, Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen. You will engage in activities within the group and with national and international collaborators.

The principal supervisor is tenure-track assistant professor Henriette Lyng Røder, PhD, of the Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation in the Department of Food Science.

Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation

Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation is located in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark. The section currently has ~50 members and offers an open, supportive environment for everyone to thrive. There will be a strong focus on work-life balance. Currently, there are ~18 PhD students at the section, representing many different nationalities, which provides a friendly and resourceful network for the PhD students. At both department and university levels, yearly social and career-relevant events target PhD students. You will also be part of our social events in the section. As a group member, you will participate in our biweekly section meetings, where you can present your work in a safe environment and engage in scientific discussions relevant to our field.

In the section, we work with a range of topics from gut health, food fermentation and starter culture functionality, food preservation and spoilage, including biocontrol, microbial food safety and hygiene, gut microflora and probiotics in humans and animals, and microbiological quality assurance. The department hosts state-of-the-art infrastructure, well-equipped facilities, and possess extensive experience in community interactions and colloid research for food properties over decades.

We are looking for a candidate with several (not all) of the following qualifications:

We seek a highly motivated and ambitious researcher with experience in biofilm microbiology and bacterial interactions. Applicants should preferably have the following qualifications:

• M.Sc. in Microbiology, Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Food Science or equivalent

• Experience with cultivation and analysis of bacteria

• Experience with use of in vitro biofilm models and confocal microscopy analysis of bacterial communities
• Experience with genetic engineering of bacteria and fluorescence-based reporter systems or/and Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) to analyze bacterial communities
• Experience with bacterial interactions

• Knowledge of bioinformatic analyses of bacterial genomes
• Experience with doing data analysis in R- and/or Python is a benefit
• Experience within material science and physical chemistry is a benefit
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and orally
• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong work ethics
• Team player

Key selection criteria:

• Professional qualifications relevant for the position
• Motivated to work in a highly multidisciplinary project
• Relevant work experience
• Language skills
• Creative thinking
• High level of enthusiasm and initiative
• Ability to work independently

Application and Assessment Procedure

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

• Motivated letter, stating which PhD project you are applying for and detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project

• Curriculum vitae
• List of publications (if any)
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
• Up to 3 reference letters

Contact and inquiries
Tenure track assistant professor Henriette Lyng Røder, PhD: [email protected]


The PhD programme is 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, microbiology, pharmaceutical science, and biotechnology. 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.

General responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

• 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: Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis based on your project

Application deadline:
The deadline for applications is 20 October 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

Applications received after the deadline, or with insufficient documentation or otherwise not complying with the above requirements, will not be considered.

If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH at these links: http://ism.ku.dk, https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/frontpage.htm and https://www.workindenmark.dk/.

General information about PhD programmes at SCIENCE is available at http://www.science.ku.dk/phd.