PhD Scholarship in Natural Product Chemistry

Are you interested in microbial natural product research and working in a team? We have the task of charactering bioactive molecules and understanding their biosynthetic pathways. Those molecules can be further developed to help sustainable agriculture.

Responsibilities and qualifications
We are looking for an ambitious chemist with broad experience in microbial natural product chemistry and omics technologies. In this position you will have the unique opportunity to apply modern omics technologies in the investigation into bioactive natural products. The project will focus on the characterization of microbial secondary metabolites from different microbes, with the ambition to develop biofungicides. Your main analytical approach will be based on metabolomics using state-of-the-art high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques including LC/MS, MALDI imaging, NMR spectroscopy, different types of chromatography, genome-mining and microbial engineering.

This position is financed by SDC (https://sdc.university/) and you are going to carry out research collaboration with Prof. Xiujie Wang, UCAS, Beijing. In this position, you will have the unique opportunity to apply different omics technologies in natural product research.

We wish for knowledge and qualifications within

• Genome-mining and metabolomics analysis of bioactive microorganisms
• Isolation and structural elucidation of unknown and/or bioactive secondary metabolites, e.g. antifungals from microbes, using NMR and MS spectroscopy
• Biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites using bioinformatics and genetics
• Knowledge of biofungicide

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.

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. 

Assessment

• A strong background in natural product chemistry and biosynthesis
• Highly motivated by the structural complexity of microbial natural products and their applications
• Previous hands-on experience with LC-MS, MALDI-imaging and NMR is advantageous 
• Previous hands-on experience in genome-mining, biosynthesis and strain engineering is advantageous
• Previous knowledge in plant-microbe interactions is advantageous
• Strong writing and communication skills
• You are hard-working and dedicated to your work
• Interested in international collaborations
• You are a team player with a desire to work closely and help your colleagues to succeed
• Fluent in English

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. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures

The period of employment is full time for 3 years. The position starts in early 2027 and no later than 01.April 2027.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Ling Ding, lidi@dtu.dk 

You can read more about at https://www.bioengineering.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 31 October 2026 (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
• Contacts for two references

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.

Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC)
Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC) is a partnership between all eight Danish universities, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education, the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), and the Chinese research institute Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The overall aim of SDC is to promote and strengthen collaboration between Danish and Chinese research and education environments for the benefit of both countries. The PhD candidate is expected to spend his/her PhD external stay in Beijing Institute of Genomics, Beijing to carry out collaborations. A double degree from both DTU and UCAS will be awarded.

The Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering) is an international leader in the fields of biotechnology and biomedicine. Our engineering approach to all aspects of biotechnology and biomedicine positions us as a valuable player with unique competences in a growing bio-based economy and in healthcare systems that are transforming towards personalized medicine.

We have a clear focus on the needs of the life sciences and biotech industries and contribute to innovation, new businesses, and scientific services for the benefit of society. The department has extensive collaborations with national and international research institutions and industry partners.

DTU Bioengineering has approximately 400 employees, of whom two-thirds are scientific staff. The department is located at DTU's Lyngby Campus.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.