Microbial Food Specialist - BRIGHT

DTU - Technical University of Denmark; Kongens Lyngby; On-site; DKK 650,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

DTU - Technical University of Denmark is seeking a Microbial Food Specialist to coordinate laboratory activities and lead microbial food research for sustainability. You will onboard new members, manage data, and apply multi‑omics to identify sustainable foods.

The role emphasizes collaboration across disciplines and independent project work. The ideal candidate holds a PhD in food science or microbiology with post‑doc experience, strong leadership, and fluent English.

Qualifications

• PhD in food science, microbiology, or related discipline with 3+ years of post‑doctoral research.
• Excellent organisational skills and initiative to advance research.
• Fluent in English and proficient with common IT systems.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate laboratory activities including onboarding, training, data management, LEAF certification and admin tasks.
• Identify sustainable microbial foods and analyse them with multi‑omics methods.
• Create and investigate novel fermentations applying microbes to plant‑based substrates.
• Support other projects involving research and innovation with novel microbial foods.

Skills

Genomics

Metagenomics

Transcriptomics

Metabolomics

Leadership

Fermentation experience

Independent work

Interdisciplinary collaboration

English fluency

Education

PhD in food science / microbiology / related

Job description

Microbial Food Specialist

Are you passionate about food and flavour? Eager to help tackle some of our most pressing global challenges? Excited by the idea of working and learning at the intersection of science, cooking, sustainability, and food culture in a cutting‑edge, interdisciplinary research environment? Then join us as our new Microbial Food Specialist!

This position is a part of BRIGHT's mission‑oriented Microbial Food research programme (“referred to as Mission 2”), which aims to build an AI‑powered framework for the rational design of microbial foods that meet four targets: consumer acceptance, health, sustainability and scalability. The first phase focuses on two fungal chassis, Aspergillus and Yarrowia, characterizing more than 500 prototypes through multi‑omics, sensory analysis, life‑cycle assessment and safety testing. Predictive models for flavour, texture, nutrition and process scale‑up are trained iteratively through active learning. The scientific scope spans strain engineering, adaptive laboratory evolution, solid‑and‑liquid‑state fermentation, sensory and consumer research, and pre‑clinical and clinical evaluation of safety, bioavailability and cardiometabolic health, in collaboration with national and international partners. The Sustainable Food Innovation Group (SFI) addresses interconnected food systems challenges—diminishing diversity, inequitable production and distribution, knowledge privatisation, nutritional depletion, blandness—through interdisciplinary research, product development, knowledge‑sharing and creative public engagement. As we get our new institute BRIGHT and its Microbial Foods mission up and running, we are seeking a Microbial Food Specialist to coordinate activities in the laboratory as well as conduct their own research on microbial foods for sustainability.

The job

• Coordinate activities in the laboratory, including onboarding and off‑boarding for new members, training in equipment and protocols, data management, LEAF certification, and other organisational and administrative tasks to facilitate smooth and effective running of the labs


• Identify traditional and novel microbial foods with the greatest sustainability potential and analyse them using multi‑omics methods


• Create and investigate novel fermentations that apply microbes and techniques from traditional animal‑based products to plant‑based substrates


• Support other projects involving research and innovation with novel microbial food products

What We’re Looking For

You will have a PhD in food science, microbiology, or a related discipline and at least three years of post‑doctoral training in relevant areas of research.

You will have excellent organisational skills, and will enjoy taking initiative to advance your own research.

You will be fluent in spoken and written English, and have literacy in common IT systems.

The ideal candidate will also

• have demonstrable experience with genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, and/or metabolomics (the more the better)


• have demonstrable leadership, managerial, supervisory, and/or organisational experience


• have basic knowledge about fermentation, food systems and sustainability issues


• have some experience making fermentations, traditional and/or novel


• be able to work with others and independently


• be comfortable in an interdisciplinary environment, where different types of knowledge co‑exist


• be patient, charitable, curious and playful—key qualities for interdisciplinary work

What We Offer In Return

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognised for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer an engaging and rewarding job in an international, cutting‑edge research environment. We place great emphasis on personal and professional development, so there will be ample opportunities for skills development and continuing education as part of the position, according to your career goals.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for managers (TAP): https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures. The salary will be assessed according to your level of experience, and will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The position is full‑time and is based at DTU’s Lyngby campus. The starting date is from 01-01-2027 or according to mutual agreement with the Group Leader. The position is for four years.

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.