PhD fellowship in Food Processing
The Department of Food Science, Section of Ingredient and Dairy Technology invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in processing of dairy-plant hybrid systems, which is part of the research project “PILAF”, which is financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Arla Foods.
Start date is (expected to be) 1 January 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
Current trends point to an increased use of plant resources in food products due to their supposedly lower environmental impact, while the global demand for milk and dairy products remains high because of their excellent nutritional and functional properties. A possible compromise for this dilemma could be hybrid products, i.e., novel foods that are comprised of both dairy and plant-based components, which could satisfy the nutritional and sensory needs of the consumers while also decreasing the environmental impact of the products.
The project aims at generating new knowledge about liquid and fermented hybrid (plant-dairy) matrices through a mechanistic approach for identifying synergistic and/or antagonistic interactions between the individual plant and/or dairy components during processing.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of food science, biotechnology, or related.
The preferred candidate has qualifications within one or more of the following fields:
- Food processing
- Dairy technology
- Fractionation of plant plant resources
- Food analytical chemistry
- Food structure and rheology
- Design of experiments
Our group and research- and what do we offer?
We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. The PhD student will join the research group Food Proteins, which is a part of the Section Ingredients and Dairy Technology at the Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, and located at the Frederiksberg campus. The research group has a strong expertise in qualitative and quantitative analyses of processing-induced protein modification with access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with researchers at Arla Foods and will include practical work at both University of Copenhagen and the Arla Innovation Centre in Skejby.
Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Mahesha Manjunatha Poojary, Department of Food Science, mahesha@food.ku.dk, phone: +45 35 32 64 04
Co-supervisor and project leader is Assistant Professor Norbert Raak, Department of Food Science, nr@food.ku.dk, phone: +45 35 33 05 21
The PhD programme
The position involves 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, Biotechnology, or related. 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.
Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes
- 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
- Relevant publications
- Relevant work experience
- Other relevant professional activities
- Curious mind-set with a strong interest in food processing
- 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, incl. your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project (max. one page)
- Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position (max. two pages)
- 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.
- A short scientific statement indicating potential technological challenges of processing dairy-plant hybrid products and possible experimental approaches for investigating them.
- Publication list (if possible)
- Reference letters (if available)
Application deadline:
The deadline for applications is 15 September 2024, 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 42.
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
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.