Do you want to contribute to developing “cow-free” milk ingredients?
Over the next 25 years the world’s population will need up to twice the amount of protein compared to today. Topped by the climate crisis, we need to find new solutions for producing food, and that’s where you enter the scene.
We are looking for a technician to support a team of international top scientists in developing the genuine milk proteins produced without the cow: Same functionality and nutritional value but in a more sustainable manner. You can also look forward to working in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for experimental research within molecular biology, strain engineering, high throughput screening, and fermentation at various scales.
Focus on genetically engineered microorganisms to produce milk protein
Your overall focus will be supporting research in the field of cellular agriculture/precision fermentation and within this framework you will focus on genetically engineered microbial cell factories to produce milk proteins with the right functionality. The project is part of a larger initiative supported by a grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation: The Casein Mission
. The initiative is coordinated by DTU National Food Institute and is conducted in collaboration with research groups at Aarhus University, Aachen University, and Chalmers University of Technology. We believe that we have assembled the right team to make this historical breakthrough to the benefit of people all over the world.
You will become a member of our research group with 25-30 members. Here, you will be working together with several colleagues, including postdocs and PhD students, with a focus on precision fermentation for sustainable food production. You will contribute to developing microbial cell factories for producing caseins by fermentation, in sufficient quantity and purity for functional tests.
We expect you to strive to deliver high quality and reliable contributions.
Key tasks and primary responsibilities include:
Our expectations of you
We expect that you hold a qualification as a laboratory technician, lab technologist, or equivalent.
Practical experience include:
Ideally, your CV further includes experience in at least one of the following areas:
What we offer in return
We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international atmosphere with the focus on research, teaching, innovation and scientific advice for the benefit of the surrounding community. We place emphasis on a high level of professionalism among our staff, so skills development is an integral part of our organization. We offer great flexibility in the position. In the area of technical and natural sciences, DTU is one of the leading research and education institutions in Europe.
Your new team
You will join the Research Group for Microbial Biotechnology and Biorefining, where we conduct research that contributes to develop a future sustainable food production. The research focuses on the production of food and feed ingredients based on biorefining and microbial fermentation, and valorizing side-streams from food industries and agriculture. We are part of the Danish National Food Institute where we conduct research at the forefront of healthy, safe and sustainable food. Read more at https://www.food.dtu.dk/english
Salary and appointment terms
Salary and appointment terms are in accordance with the OAO-S Joint Agreement and the organization agreement for Office Clerks, Laboratory Technicians and IT staff (HK/stat).
The period of employment is 4 years, and the position is a full-time position. Starting date is 1 December 2025 (or according to mutual agreement).
Application and contact
Please submit your online application no later than 21 October 2025.
Open the “Apply now” link, fill out the form and attach your motivated application, CV and exam certificates.
If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Professor Peter Ruhdal Jensen at +45 2085 5601 or perj@food.dtu.dk
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.
DTU National Food Institute
DTU National Food Institute conducts research into and disseminates - through advice, innovation and teaching - sustainable and value-creating solutions in the area of food and health for the benefit of society. The vision is to make a difference by generating future prosperity through research into food and health. The institute works to prevent disease and promote health, develop new and better food products for a growing population and create sustainable technological solutions, including biosolutions. The institute’s tasks are carried out in interdisciplinary collaboration within e.g. nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology, modelling, and technology. This is achieved through a strong academic environment of international top class with correspondingly skilled researchers and employees. The Institute employs approximately 350 staff members.
Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.