PhD fellowship in Plant Biochemistry

KU - SCIENCE - PLEN; Frederiksberg; On-site; DKK 335,000 - 402,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Copenhagen invites applications for a PhD fellowship in The Signalling Processes Controlling Plant Plasticity within the Plant Biochemistry Laboratory. Start date expected 1 January 2027 or soon after.

The project explores transcription factors controlling CYP79 gene expression in sorghum using FIND-IT mutants, aiming to map NO signaling in plant tissues. Applicants should have a Danish master’s degree equivalent, with research experience in plant biochemistry, molecular biology or

Qualifications

• Candidates should have a degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree related to the project area.
• Experience in biosynthesis, metabolic regulation, or functional analysis of plant metabolites is desirable.
• Motivation to advance plant plasticity research and sustainable applications.

Responsibilities

• 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, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

Skills

Plant biochemistry

Plant biotechnology

Molecular biology

Plant signalling

Bioinformatics

Education

Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field

Job description

• Relevant publications

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Plant Biochemistry Laboratory invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in "The Signalling Processes Controlling Plant Plasticity". The project is supported by a grant from the Australian Research Council entitled "ARC Research Hub for Engineering Plants to Replace Fossil Carbon".

Start date is (expected to be 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

Earlier this year, our research group discovered that cytochrome P450s of the CYP79 family are signature enzymes in the biosynthesis of the pivotal signal molecule nitric oxide in plants. The objective of the PhD project is to identify the transcription factors (TFs) controlling the spaciotemporal expression patterns of the CYP79 encoding genes in specific meristematic plant tissues, using sorghum as the experimental system. Using the large FIND-IT collection of sorghum mutants developed at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory, knock-out variants and variants harboring specific selected mutations will be isolated to monitor the in planta impact of individual TFs on NO signaling. This project opens an entirely new approach to identify the hitherto enigmatic fundamental molecular mechanisms used by Nature to furnish sessile plants with the metabolic plasticity that turns plants into the key biological production system on our planet. Based on the identified mechanisms, the project is going to outline how to orchestrate crop plants for the future in which the plasticity and resilience have been further optimized to gain resistance to disease pandemics and to tolerate negative environmental effects e.g. related to climatic instability. Secured global availability of vegetable foods will also serve to shift societal preferences from animal-to plant-based foods. The methodology does not include steps which in some countries would cause labelling of the final crop variety as a GMO line and make cross-border export more complicated.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of plant biochemistry, plant biotechnology, molecular biology, plant signalling and/or bioinformatics with experimental experience working with biosynthesis, metabolic regulation and/or functional analysis of plant specialized metabolites. Motivation by the desire to acquire new knowledge of the complexity of plant systems and by a desire to translate gained insights into sustainable applications are additional important selection criteria.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

[Our Laboratory is among the world leading laboratories within plant synthetic biology. Built on truly interdisciplinary research, a strong international network, a highly interactive international research environment, the laboratory has made many seminal contributions to science and has fostered a multitude of eminent researchers with influential positions in Denmark and abroad ( http://plen.ku.dk/english/research/plant_biochemistry/ ). Our laboratory aims to provide science-based solutions facilitating the global move into The Planthroprocene Era where use of fossil fuels is replaced by use of renewable energy resources and bio-based production. Green photosynthetic organisms play a vital role in this transition as providers of both food, biomaterials and energy as well as essential medicines, nutraceuticals, condiments and colorants.

The group is a part of Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state-of-the-art infrastructure for plant biochemistry, chemical synthesis, molecular biology, metabolomics, plant growth (incl. hydroponics) and crop phenotyping. In-house metabolomics and mass spectrometry infrastructure provides targeted and untargeted metabolite analysis, while imaging-based mass spectrometry offers spatial analysis of oxime intermediates and specialized metabolites. Molecular and transcriptomic infrastructure support RNA analysis, in situ hybridization and spatial transcriptomics. Bioinformatics expertise and computational infrastructure are available to enable integration of tissue-specific, spatial and mutant transcriptomic datasets.

Principal supervisor

Professor, D. Sc. Birger Lindberg Møller, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, E-mail [e-mail], Direct Phone: [phone].

The PhD programme

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.

Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

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. [relevant educations]. 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.

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, preferably abroad


• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities


• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals


• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project


• Relevant publications


• Relevant work experience


• Other relevant professional activities


• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in plant biochemistry and the basic signalling processes in plants


• Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically.

Please include

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page)


• Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project "The Signalling Processes Controlling Plant Plasticity"


• Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position


• Original diplomas for Bachelor and Master and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.


• Publication list (if possible)


• Reference letters (if available)

When you will be affiliated with the University of Copenhagen or otherwise have access to their research, you may be required to undergo a background screening. The purpose is to protect the security and research integrity of the University of Copenhagen.

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 11 October 2026, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process

After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above-mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether the applicant is qualified. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Questions

For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

[General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/ ].

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.