PhD Student in anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass and ligning valorization - DTU Chemical Engineering

The Bioconversions group at DTU Chemical Engineering invites for applications for a PhD student position in the area of anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass and lignin valorization. 

You will work on monitoring the anaerobic digestion process of lignocellulosic biomass, focusing on microbial abundance and their interactions during the testing of different operational conditions. Equal part of the work is the valorization of lignin for further enhancement of the process, or for the production of new materials. The research work will have a cross-disciplinary nature and will involve a range of techniques, including reactors operation, biological and chemical processes, high-throughput testing on microbial cultures, and bioinformation. Thus, we are looking for a candidate with prior experience in several of these techniques.

Your role will be to strengthen the Bioconversions group competences within the fields of lignocellulosic biomass valorization in the framework of the development of new technologies for the production of bioenergy and added-value products. You will work with nearby colleagues, and with both academic and industrial partners in Denmark as well as abroad.

Responsibilities and qualifications
You will join an innovative, collaborative, international and multidisciplinary team. The group works on both fundamental understanding and development and validation of new technologies based on the use of microorganisms as tools to valorize organic waste and wastewater into useful bioproducts, biofuels and bioenergy. One of our important values is cooperation, and we believe that we can achieve world-class results together.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Take active part in research within the fields of microbial ecology in the frame of bioprocess development.
• Deliver scientific excellence, including publication and societal outreach.
• Design and perform bioreactor experiments to investigate microbial interactions during the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass under different operational scenarios.
• Implement, develop and improve wet lab protocols and analytical protocols for analysis of a variety of microbial processes.
• Implement a variety of computational tools including bioinformatic and metabolic modeling pipelines.
• Test chemical and biological processes to give value to lignin.
• Supervise BSc and MSc student projects.

Your primary qualifications are:

• Hold a MSc degree in Biotechnology, Life sciences, or other areas relevant to the position.
• Proven ability to work in some of the following areas: bioinformatics, fermentations, reactors operation, anaerobic digestion metabolites analysis through GC.
• Experience in development, implementation and execution of analytical protocols and wet lab experiments investigating microbial metabolism and interactions.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Able to work both independently and in a team.

The responsibilities and qualifications outlined above, together with the following general criteria, will be given particular consideration:

• Prior experience in wet lab settings and computational methods
• Academic record
• Oral and written communication skills

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. 

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 3 years with a starting date on 2027, January 1^st.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Konstantina Tsigkou (email: [email protected] ) and Dimitar Borisov Karakashev (email: [email protected]).

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 8 September 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
• List of publications (if relevant)

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 Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at DTU is dedicated to addressing today's industrial challenges through education, innovation, and research. The department's mission is to develop and utilize knowledge, methods, technologies, and sustainable solutions within the chemical and biochemical process engineering and production, product design, process design, and production in various industries such as chemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical, food, and energy technology. 

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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.