PhD scholarship in observing and modelling marine life, especially gelatinous plankton - DTU Aqua

Are you interested in biological oceanography and climate change, and not afraid about challenges to investigate the invisible? But most importantly, are you eager to apply new technology to find novel solutions to old problems? Then you might be the right person to join our team. 

We aim to understand food-web interactions, trophic transfer and carbon export in the face of climate change. So far, certain groups, especially gelatinous zooplankton organisms, have systematically been ignored. Partly due to the problem to quantitatively catch and analyse gelatinous organisms. With the advance of image technology, AI and hydroacoustics we are now in a position to target this problem from a different angle. 

We here advertise one 3 year PhD scholarship. The aim is to develop and apply underwater image and hydroacoustic technology, to model and assess plankton life across different ecosystems world-wide. This position demands a high level of independence, working at sea with trouble shooting and problem-solving ability and a fable for studying difficult organisms that have so far lacked attention. This PhD scholarship is part of the Centre for Gelatinous Plankton Ecology & Evolution, financed by the Villum Young Investigator + grant ‘The next frontier of Marine Science to mitigate climate change’. The positions demand a high level of international collaboration and participation during international field work campaigns.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The primary tasks will be to:

• Apply and develop image equipment to assess microscopic marine life ranging from µm to several cm scales. High throughput AI assisted quantification tools will be modified, applied or developed in collaboration with international experts.
• Collect new data, analyse existing data and locate published data to assessment and synthesis climate change impacts on food-webs. Here, special emphasis will be devoted to the composition of plankton communities including gelatinous groups, potential changes in energy flow to higher trophic levels based on modelled production estimates and modify existing carbon export models. A suit of different frameworks can be applied to investigate this, including, but not limited to, trait-based and biogeochemical models. 
• Publish generated data, write scientific publications and help to establish an international database initiative to collect and archive marine life in a standardized form.

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 within natural sciences (e.g., marine biology, oceanography, environmental engineering). We also expect you to have experience in field work within biological oceanography (preferably plankton) and technical skills to run and modify equipment. Modelling skills are an advantage. 

In addition, you are expected to have:

• Flexibility concerning field work and research stays abroad 
• Ability to conduct research independently and with extended problem-solving skills
• Good collaborative skills and strong interest in participating in an inter-disciplinary and international research environment
• Good communication skills in English, both written and orally

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval. You will be enrolled in the PhD school of DTU Aqua and be associated with the Centre for Gelatinous Plankton Ecology & Evolution. 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
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. 

The expected starting date is 1.8.2025.

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 Dr. Cornelia Jaspers, Institute for Aquatic Resources, Centre for Gelatinous Plankton Ecology & Evolution – CGPEE ([email protected]). 

You can read more about the Centre for Gelatinous Plankton Ecology & Evolution at: cgpee.dtu.dk  and the National Institute of Aquatic Resources at: DTU Aqua.

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 1 April 2025 (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
• A draft project description: Max 1 page with a concise proposal on the research idea that you would like to explore, including relevance, motivation, the theoretical framework and preliminary suggestion of methodology

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

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.