The PhD position is part of a research project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation: ‘BIOBARRIER: Bacterial Communities to Reduce Plant Food Loss.’ https://researchleaderprogramme.com/recipients/henriette-lyng-roder/ The position is to be filled 15 January 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The project This project aims to understand and utilize the potential of multispecies bacterial communities to enhance plant protection and improve crop resilience. We will explore how bacterial competition, such as space colonization, nutrient uptake, and protective compound secretion, contributes to crop resilience. By filling the knowledge gap in multispecies protection, we hope to optimize beneficial microbial interactions, leading to more sustainable agricultural practices and longer shelf-life for food products. The main goal of this PhD project is to study multispecies community interactions using an artificial potato-like model, which we will develop as part of this project. To investigate bacterial interactions, we plan to create a biomimetic surface that mimics natural potato topography. The project includes three primary objectives: creating and characterizing the artificial model for studying bacterial spatial dynamics, analyze how bacterial communities organize and interact over time using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH), and investigate how nutrient uptake impacts competitive exclusion among these communities. The position is for 3 years, and the project will be carried out at the Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation, Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen. You will engage in activities within the group and with national and international collaborators. Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation is located in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark. The section currently has ~50 members and offers an open, supportive environment for everyone to thrive. There will be a strong focus on work-life balance. Currently, there are ~18 PhD students at the section, representing many different nationalities, which provides a friendly and resourceful network for the PhD students. At both department and university levels, yearly social and career-relevant events target PhD students. You will also be part of our social events in the section. As a group member, you will participate in our biweekly section meetings, where you can present your work in a safe environment and engage in scientific discussions relevant to our field. In the section, we work with a range of topics from gut health, food fermentation and starter culture functionality, food preservation and spoilage, including biocontrol, microbial food safety and hygiene, gut microflora and probiotics in humans and animals, and microbiological quality assurance. The department hosts state-of-the-art infrastructure, well-equipped facilities, and possess extensive experience in community interactions and colloid research for food properties over decades. We are looking for a candidate with several (not all) of the following qualifications: We seek a highly motivated and ambitious researcher with experience in biofilm microbiology and bacterial interactions. Applicants should preferably have the following qualifications:
Key selection criteria:
Application and Assessment Procedure Your application, including all attachments, must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below. Please include:
Contact and inquiries The PhD programme is 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. 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. food science, microbiology, pharmaceutical science, and biotechnology. 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. General responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme
Application deadline: Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career. ContactHenriette Lyng Røder
E-mail: h.lyng.roeder@food.ku.dk
InfoApplication deadline: 20-10-2024
Employment start: 15-01-2025
Working hours: Full time
Department/Location: FOOD
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