DTU Fødevareinstituttet is looking for two PhD candidates to join the UPSYDE consortium. These positions (DC8 and DC9) will focus on understanding and engineering yeast cell death under industrial conditions to improve biomanufacturing. The successful candidates will receive strongly interdisciplinary training and complete secondments at other consortium partners.
What You'll Do
- For DC8: Develop methodology to detect 'death' phenotypes in the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii and identify novel genetic factors involved.
- For DC8: Design and implement engineering strategies to obtain a more robust D. hansenii chassis for efficient recombinant protein production.
- For DC9: Identify which cell death modes are triggered by process conditions or substrate utilization, focusing on waste/side-stream feedstocks.
- For DC9: Identify links between specific substrate utilization and culture conditions with programmed cell death using D. hansenii and S. cerevisiae.
- For DC9: Design engineering strategies to prolong yeast lifespan in industrial bioprocesses.
- Receive interdisciplinary training and perform research.
- Complete secondments at at least two other partners in the consortium.
What We're Looking For
- You must not be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment.
- You must comply with the mobility rule: no residence or main activity in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment.
- A two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an equivalent academic level.
- For DC8: Experience with yeast physiology and advanced molecular biology.
- For DC8: Experience with HT-screening devices and bioreactors.
- For DC8: Bioinformatics knowledge (e.g., proteomics, RNAseq, genomics).
- For DC9: Experience with yeast physiology and advanced molecular biology.
- For DC9: Experience with fermentation technology and microbial cultivations using bioreactors at different scales.
- For DC9: Bioinformatics knowledge (e.g., proteomics, RNAseq, genomics).
Team & Environment
The UPSYDE consortium consists of seven host institutes and fifteen associated partners, offering 13 PhD projects total. You will be enrolled in a general degree programme at DTU and report to Associate Professor José Luis Martinez Ruiz.
Benefits & Compensation
- A rewarding and challenging job in an international environment.
- Academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.
- The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
Work Mode
This is an onsite position located at the DTU Lyngby Campus in Denmark.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
