PhD position in Health and Sustainability assessments of diets: combining nutrition and environmental perspectives - DTU Food

Join us in exploring the transition to healthy and sustainable diets to enhance human and planetary health. Would you be dedicated to investigate nutritional and environmental effects of existing and alternative dietary patterns? If so, this PhD position could be the perfect opportunity for you. 

Responsibilities and qualifications
We are looking for a motivated and independent PhD candidate with focus on nutrition and environmental food assessments to join a research project that will provide scientific foundation for advice and policies that promote the adoption of more healthy and sustainable diets. 

Unhealthy diets pose a major challenge to public health, and today’s food systems contribute to a significant proportion of the world’s climate and environmental burden. This research project aims to identify and characterize more sustainable dietary patterns considering the combined effects on nutrition and environmental impact. Co-benefits and trade-offs between nutritional and environmental goals will be explored to identify dietary changes that can bring the largest overall societal benefits.

As a PhD student, you will join our team at the Nutrition, Sustainability and Health Promotion group at the National Food Institute (DTU Food). You will work with nearby colleagues and be part of a research team with interdisciplinary expertise in food sustainability. The 3-year period will include an external academic stay.   

Your responsibilities:

Your overall focus will be to contribute to the group’s research in health and sustainability assessments of diets. Your tasks will cover all aspects of an independent research project including the planning, conducting and reporting of research. You will be responsible for analysis of large data sets combining dietary, nutritional and environmental data. 

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Link food intake data from a dietary survey to environmental footprint data 
• Perform nutritional and environmental assessments and/or modelling of self-reported diets in Denmark
• Explore co-benefits and trade-offs between nutrition and environmental perspectives 
• Write scientific publications and present at conferences both at national and international level.
• Be involved in collaboration with international partners.

You will also be involved in teaching and other institute activities such as conducting research-based advisory tasks to the authorities. Additionally, as a PhD student at DTU it is mandatory to take courses of a duration of 30 ETCS during the 3-year period. 

Your qualifications:

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

You should be dedicated and highly motivated to achieve research excellence. 

We expect that you master the balance between, on one hand, working independently and take initiatives, and on the other hand, to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team. 

The ideal candidate will have:

• A master’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health or similar
• Experience in dietary and nutrient intake assessments 
• Experience in life cycle assessment or environmental impact assessment of foods 
• A high level of experience of data and statistical analysis using R
• Experience in scientific research and scientific paper writing
• Strong communication skills in English, especially in connection to writing and presenting scientific results

Approval and Enrolment  

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

We offer
We offer an inspiring workplace in the research group for Nutrition, Sustainability and Health Promotion at DTU Food. The research group aims to contribute to the transition to healthy and sustainable diets for everyone. This includes developing and documenting initiatives that promote healthy and sustainable eating habits, preparing the scientific basis for healthy and sustainable dietary advice for the Danish authorities. We have the responsibility of designing and conducting The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity and of updating and developing the Danish food composition database.

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. Starting date is 1st of March 2025 or according to mutual agreement. The position is a full-time position.

The position is located at DTU Food, Henrik Dams Alle, Building 201, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby. The primary workplace will be at the DTU Campus in Kgs. Lyngby.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information  
Further information may be obtained from Professor Elinor Hallström [email protected]  and Senior Researcher Ellen Trolle  [email protected] .  

You can read more about the department  at www.food.dtu.dk/ 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 30 November 2024 (23.59 Danish time) . 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . 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 grading scale
• If relevant, you may add additional documents such as letters of recommendation, scientific papers or other scientific publications you have authored or co-authored

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The DTU National Food  Institute
DTU Food conducts research into and disseminates - through advice, innovation and teaching - sustainable and value-creating solutions in the area of food and health for the benefit of society. The institute’s vision is to make a difference by generating future prosperity through research into food and health. The institute prevents disease and promotes health, develops new and better food products for a growing population and creates sustainable technological solutions. The institute’s tasks are carried out in a unique interdisciplinary cooperation in e.g. nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology, modelling and technology.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.