PhD Fellowship in Statistics (University of Copenhagen )

Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Section for Crop Science invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Growth curve analysis for faba beans. The project is part of the research project “Decoding faba bean yield stability: From in-field image data to mechanistic models (DIGIFABA)”, which is financed by Novo Nordisk Fonden. Start date is (expected to be) 1 October 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. The project There is an urgent need to integrate more grain legumes into our agricultural systems to build efficient, resilient, and environmentally friendly plant-based food systems in the face of climate change and the growing global food demand. The DIGIFABA project aims to enhance breeding for yield stability in faba beans by developing phenotyping tools to assess drought stress and yield components. This includes statistical analysis of faba bean growth profiles under different management and environmental conditions. The aim of the PhD project is to develop a methodology for detecting stress from individual plant growth profiles in legumes. The data will include phenotyping data such as different plant growth parameters, plant physiological measurements and image-based measurements. The solution will rely on nonlinear optimization and generalized non-linear mixed-effects models. Method development will be the main part of the project, but exploration and validation of the developed methodology to real experimental data as well as implementation is also important aspect. Who are we looking for? We are looking for candidates with strong competences within the field of statistics. Applicants can have a background in statistics, mathematics or agriculture, but must have experience with statistical modelling, generalized linear models, linear mixed models, and strong programming skills preferably in R. Our group and research- and what do we offer? The successful applicant will be part of the Biostatics group at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. We are a part of the crop science section and work closely together with researchers across the section and departments on applied statistics within agronomy, eco-toxicology and plant phenotyping. The Crop Science section studies and teaches basic and applied sciences related to crop production, with a focus on the interaction between Genotype, Management and Environment. The aim of the crop science section is to improve land management for sustainable food production in a changing climate, by conducting research in laboratories, greenhouses, semi-field equipment and fields. The successful applicant will in addition be part of the research project (DIGIFABA) group combining expertise in agronomy, statistics, and machine learning consisting of three PhD fellows, two postdocs, the supervisor and co-supervisor from the department and a professor from Department of computer science. The Biostatics group is a part of Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located at Taastrup campus, Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Principal supervisor is Associate Professor, Signe M. Jensen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, smj@plen.ku.dk, Direct Phone: +4535333431. Co-supervisor: Associate Professor, Dorte Bodin Dresbøll, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences The 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. statistics or agriculture. 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. The terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). 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, i.e. qualifications within statistics and good programming skills. Relevant publications within the areas of statistics and/or agronomy Relevant work experience Other relevant professional activities Curious mind-set with a strong interest in and experience with applied statistics Good language skills Application and Assessment Procedure Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below. Please include: Motivated letter of application (max. one page) Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science 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) Application deadline: The deadline for applications is 8 August 2025, 23:59 GMT +2. 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 each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/. Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 35. 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. APPLY NOW 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. Contact Signe Marie Jensen E-mail: smj@plen.ku.dk Info Application deadline: 08-08-2025 Employment start: 01-10-2025 Working hours: Full time Department/Location: PLEN If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Academicoxy

Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Section for Crop Science invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Growth curve analysis for faba beans. The project is part of the research project “Decoding faba bean yield stability: From in-field image data to mechanistic models (DIGIFABA)”, which is financed by Novo Nordisk Fonden.

Start date is (expected to be) 1 October 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

There is an urgent need to integrate more grain legumes into our agricultural systems to build efficient, resilient, and environmentally friendly plant-based food systems in the face of climate change and the growing global food demand. The DIGIFABA project aims to enhance breeding for yield stability in faba beans by developing phenotyping tools to assess drought stress and yield components. This includes statistical analysis of faba bean growth profiles under different management and environmental conditions.

The aim of the PhD project is to develop a methodology for detecting stress from individual plant growth

profiles in legumes. The data will include phenotyping data such as different plant growth parameters, plant physiological measurements and image-based measurements.

The solution will rely on nonlinear optimization and generalized non-linear mixed-effects models. Method development will be the main part of the project, but exploration and validation of the developed methodology to real experimental data as well as implementation is also important aspect.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates with strong competences within the field of statistics. Applicants can have a background in statistics, mathematics or agriculture, but must have experience with statistical modelling, generalized linear models, linear mixed models, and strong programming skills preferably in R.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The successful applicant will be part of the Biostatics group at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. We are a part of the crop science section and work closely together with researchers across the section and departments on applied statistics within agronomy, eco-toxicology and plant phenotyping. The Crop Science section studies and teaches basic and applied sciences related to crop production, with a focus on the interaction between Genotype, Management and Environment. The aim of the crop science section is to improve land management for sustainable food production in a changing climate, by conducting research in laboratories, greenhouses, semi-field equipment and fields.

The successful applicant will in addition be part of the research project (DIGIFABA) group combining expertise in agronomy, statistics, and machine learning consisting of three PhD fellows, two postdocs, the supervisor and co-supervisor from the department and a professor from Department of computer science.

The Biostatics group is a part of Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located at Taastrup campus, Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment.

Principal supervisor is Associate Professor, Signe M. Jensen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, smj@plen.ku.dk, Direct Phone: +4535333431. Co-supervisor: Associate Professor, Dorte Bodin Dresbøll, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences

The 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. statistics or agriculture. 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.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). 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, i.e. qualifications within statistics and good programming skills.
Relevant publications within the areas of statistics and/or agronomy
Relevant work experience
Other relevant professional activities
Curious mind-set with a strong interest in and experience with applied statistics
Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science 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)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 8 August 2025, 23:59 GMT +2.

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 each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 35.

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.
APPLY NOW

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.
Contact
Signe Marie Jensen
E-mail: smj@plen.ku.dk
Info
Application deadline: 08-08-2025
Employment start: 01-10-2025
Working hours: Full time
Department/Location: PLEN