PhD fellowship in “The effect of formulation of dsRNA based pesticides on non-target species”
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PhD fellowship in “The effect of formulation of dsRNA based pesticides on non-target species”
Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Section for Environmental Chemistry and Physics, invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in “The effect of formulations of dsRNA based pesticides on non-target species”. The project is part of the research project ENvironmental SAFEty of biotechnological plant protection products based on short interfering RNA and peptides (ENSAFE.dk), which is financed by The Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Start date is 15 December 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
The vision of ENSAFE is to develop the in silico and experimental methods and tools needed to underpin an efficient evidence-based risk assessment framework for new bio-based plant protection products (PPPs) based on short double stranded RNA (dsRNA) and peptides. The present PhD will focus on understanding how different formulations (chitin, clay, peptide, etc formulations) of a chosen dsRNA product affect the uptake, systemicity and effect of the dsRNA. The main focus will be on dsRNA targeting arthropod pests, but the project may be extended to fungicidal products if relevant. Formulations are typically designed to facilitate uptake and effects in “difficult-to-hit” pest species, hence, the formulations are also likely to the sensitivity of non-target species. The focus of the PhD will be to quantify to what extend specific types of formulations alternate effects in selected species of different sensitivity, and to help identify which processes are changed by the formulation that may affect the risk assessment of the product. You will work closely with our project partners at UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford, England, who are focussing in depth on toksikokinetic processes of dsRNA and potential off-target effects of dsRNA and their blank formulations, and with project partners from Ålborg University who will look at the effects of formulation technologies on environmental fate properties. You will be one of 8-10 PhD students working on each their topic within the ENSAFE project, and will be an active and contributing part of the ENSAFE consortium working on creating the scientific foundation needed to effectively evaluate the environmental safety of dsRNA and peptide-based PPP technologies for uses in Europe.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of Environmental toxicology, biology, agronomy, biochemistry or similar scientific fields. Experience with laboratory work, handing test organisms and measuring morphological, physiological or behavioural parameters such as growth, reproduction and mobility will be an advantage, as will experience with omics techniques such as transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics and the associated treatment and interpretation of data. Data analysis and statistical skills will also be evaluated positively together with good communication and social skills.
Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The research group of Environmental Toxicology is embedded in the Section of Environmental Chemistry and Physics (https://plen.ku.dk/english/research/env_chem_phys/). We work with the environmental fate and effect of chemicals and bioactive molecules to create knowledge that can feed into regulatory dessision making. We have a well equipped ecotox-lab, and strong collaborations on campus with chemists and biologists enabling a wide range of measurements on state-of-the-art equipment run by experts in their field. In addition you will be part of the ENSAFE project, including stays with our project partners in Ålborg and England, and with access to the wider consortium network and stake-holders involved in the production, use and regulation of the future biotechnological Plant Protection products.
The group is a part of Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.
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.
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Getting into a position on the regular 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. Environmental Science, Biology, Biotechnology. 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 the PhD programme
Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include:
The deadline for applications is 15 October 2025, 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 http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 44 2025.
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.
Start date is 15 December 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
The vision of ENSAFE is to develop the in silico and experimental methods and tools needed to underpin an efficient evidence-based risk assessment framework for new bio-based plant protection products (PPPs) based on short double stranded RNA (dsRNA) and peptides. The present PhD will focus on understanding how different formulations (chitin, clay, peptide, etc formulations) of a chosen dsRNA product affect the uptake, systemicity and effect of the dsRNA. The main focus will be on dsRNA targeting arthropod pests, but the project may be extended to fungicidal products if relevant. Formulations are typically designed to facilitate uptake and effects in “difficult-to-hit” pest species, hence, the formulations are also likely to the sensitivity of non-target species. The focus of the PhD will be to quantify to what extend specific types of formulations alternate effects in selected species of different sensitivity, and to help identify which processes are changed by the formulation that may affect the risk assessment of the product. You will work closely with our project partners at UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford, England, who are focussing in depth on toksikokinetic processes of dsRNA and potential off-target effects of dsRNA and their blank formulations, and with project partners from Ålborg University who will look at the effects of formulation technologies on environmental fate properties. You will be one of 8-10 PhD students working on each their topic within the ENSAFE project, and will be an active and contributing part of the ENSAFE consortium working on creating the scientific foundation needed to effectively evaluate the environmental safety of dsRNA and peptide-based PPP technologies for uses in Europe.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of Environmental toxicology, biology, agronomy, biochemistry or similar scientific fields. Experience with laboratory work, handing test organisms and measuring morphological, physiological or behavioural parameters such as growth, reproduction and mobility will be an advantage, as will experience with omics techniques such as transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics and the associated treatment and interpretation of data. Data analysis and statistical skills will also be evaluated positively together with good communication and social skills.
Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The research group of Environmental Toxicology is embedded in the Section of Environmental Chemistry and Physics (https://plen.ku.dk/english/research/env_chem_phys/). We work with the environmental fate and effect of chemicals and bioactive molecules to create knowledge that can feed into regulatory dessision making. We have a well equipped ecotox-lab, and strong collaborations on campus with chemists and biologists enabling a wide range of measurements on state-of-the-art equipment run by experts in their field. In addition you will be part of the ENSAFE project, including stays with our project partners in Ålborg and England, and with access to the wider consortium network and stake-holders involved in the production, use and regulation of the future biotechnological Plant Protection products.
The group is a part of Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.
- Principal supervisor is Professor Nina Cedergreen, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, e-mail: ncf@plen.ku.dk; Telephone: +45 29611743 or +45 35333397
- Co-supervisor is Professor Jeppe Lund Nielsen, Aalborg University, e-mail: jln@bio.aau.dk
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.
********************************************************************************
Getting into a position on the regular 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. Environmental Science, Biology, Biotechnology. 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 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
- 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
- Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
- Relevant publications
- Relevant work experience
- Other relevant professional activities
- Curious mind-set with a strong interest in environmental toxicology and adverse outcome pathways
- 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) including 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)
The deadline for applications is 15 October 2025, 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 http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 44 2025.
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.