PhD fellowship in Molecular Microbiology

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Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Section for Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology, invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in molecular microbiology for bioremediation of PFAS. The project is part of the research project "Solving Microbial Degradation of PFAS", which is financed by a Sapere Aude starting grant awarded to Tenure Track Assistant Prof. Tue Kjærgaard Nielsen by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF).

Start date is (expected to be) 1 July 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

The PhD project focuses on microbial degradation of PFAS ("forever chemicals") and aims to identify and overcome the biological barriers that limit sustainable PFAS bioremediation. PFAS are highly persistent environmental pollutants with significant risks to human health and ecosystems, and effective biological remediation strategies are currently lacking.

The PhD candidate will investigate fluoride toxicity as a key bottleneck in PFAS biodegradation and develop novel approaches to enhance microbial tolerance and degradation capacity. The project combines environmental microbiology, molecular genetics, plasmid biology, and synthetic biology, and includes both laboratory-based and soil-based experiments.

Key tasks include:

• Screening and characterization of PFAS-degrading soil bacteria
• Enhancing fluoride tolerance in environmental bacteria using plasmid-mediated gene transfer
• Genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of PFAS-degrading strains
• Identification and analysis of PFAS degradation products using metabolomic approaches
• Development of synthetic biology strategies to enable PFAS degradation in complex soil microbial communities

The PhD project is embedded in a larger interdisciplinary research program and will interact closely with postdoctoral projects in machine learning-based enzyme discovery and environmental microbiome analysis. The position includes international research stays at leading laboratories in plasmid biology and synthetic biology.

The project will provide the PhD candidate with strong training in environmental biotechnology, microbial genomics, and applied bioremediation, and addresses a pressing global environmental challenge with clear societal impact.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a highly motivated and curious candidate with a strong interest in environmental microbiology and biotechnology, and the ambition to work on a societally important environmental problem.

The successful applicant should have:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in microbiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, environmental science, or a related field
• Solid theoretical and practical experience within microbiology and/or molecular biology
• Experience with, or strong interest in, genetic methods, microbial cultivation, and laboratory work
• An interest in environmental pollution, biodegradation, and applied environmental research

Experience with one or more of the following will be considered an advantage:

• Environmental microbiology and soil-based experiments
• Microbial genomics, genome sequencing, and/or bioinformatic analyses
• Plasmid biology, conjugation, or synthetic biology
• Metabolomics or analytical methods related to xenobiotic degradation

The candidate should be independent, well-organized, and collaborative, with good analytical skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary research team. Good communication skills in spoken and written English are required.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

You will be part of Tenure Track Assistant Prof. Tue Kjærgaard Nielsen’s newly formed and growing research group at the Section for Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen (Frederiksberg C).

The group consists of approximately 10 people, including postdocs and thesis students. We apply molecular techniques and bioinformatics to study PFAS in the context of microbiology, stress responses, and ultimately bioremediation. There is focus on collaboration, synergy between projects, and a good and fun work environment. The Section for Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology comprises 60+ people with a diverse international background. Our research facilities include modern laboratories with in-house access to all necessary molecular equipment, including Illumina and Nanopore sequencing. We maintain our own servers and GPU-based workstations for in-house data analyses.

1. Principal supervisor is Prof. Lars Hestbjerg Hansen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, lhhaplen.ku.dk , Direct Phone: +45 28752053.
2. Co-supervisor is Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, Tue Kjærgaard Nielsen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, tknplen.ku.dk , direct phone: +45 35324188

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. 

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 candidate 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

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / 1/2 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 molecular microbiology and bioremediation
• 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: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
4. Original diplomas for Bachelor or 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.
5. Publication list (if possible)
6. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 1 May 2026, 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 ?url=https%3A%2F%2Femployment.ku.dk%2Ffaculty%2Frecruitment-process%2F&module=jobs&id=3219519" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=https%3A%2F%2Femployment.ku.dk%2Ffaculty%2Frecruitment-process%2F&module=jobs&id=3219519" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/­recruitment-process/ .

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 20-21 (May 11-22) 2026.

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: ?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.science.ku.dk%2Fphd%2F&module=jobs&id=3219519" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.science.ku.dk%2Fphd%2F&module=jobs&id=3219519" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">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. 

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

Tue Kjærgaard Nielsen
E-mail: tkq300ku.dk

Info

Application deadline: 01-05-2026

Employment start: 01-07-2026

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: PLEN

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