If you are excited about microbial ecology, plant microbiome interactions, and want to make a real impact on sustainable agriculture, this PhD project offers an exceptional opportunity. You will join the ambitious Lab2Field project, where we investigate why promising microbial bioinoculants often fail in the field, and how to fix it. This position is tailored for highly motivated candidates who thrive at the interface of microbiology, bioinformatics, soil ecology, plant biology and agroecology.

We study the ecological and evolutionary principles that govern the establishment, persistence, and performance of multi‑strain microbial inoculants in real farming systems. You will contribute to fundamental knowledge that directly supports next generation plant biologicals to be more robust, climate‑resilient, and effective under diverse field conditions. The PhD project is part of the Lab2Field consortium led by Dr. Tanvi Taparia.  

Responsibilities and qualifications
As PhD candidate, you will investigate the biological constraints that shape how microbial consortia interact with the plant host, the resident soil microbiome, land management factors and the abiotic environment. This PhD will work across diverse scales from laboratory, microcosm, greenhouse and field experiments. You will communicate closely with agricultural partners to align the experiment work with real‑world scenarios You will also contribute to supervision of BSc/MSc students and support teaching at the department 

Required qualifications:

• A two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree, in microbiology, microbial ecology, biotechnology, environmental engineering, agriculture or a related field.
• Hands‑on experience in molecular microbiology (DNA extraction, qPCR, microscopy, etc).
• Demonstrated experience studying interactions within complex microbial systems (synthetic communities or multi-strain consortia or environmental communities etc) 
• Solid understanding of community assembly, priority effects, invasion resistance, niche complementarity and host selection in the plant or soil microbiome
• Bioinformatic skills in R or Python (amplicon workflow, metagenomics, or genomics).
• Strong knowledge of microbial biostimulants or biocontrol agents in plants
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a logistically complex project.
• Excellent written and spoken English, and the ability to communicate scientific areas clearly

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be carried out by Assistant Professor Tanvi Taparia and Professor Lars Jelbak.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years. This is a full-time position with a starting date of 1st August 2026.

You can read more aboutcareer paths at DTU here .

Further information
For questions & further information you may contact Tanvi Taparia (tanta@dtu.dk ) at DTU Bioengineering. 

You can read more about the Department at https://www.bioengineering.dtu.dk/ .

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 29 May 2026 (23:59 Danish time) . 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter) 
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A one-page research statement on the most important bottlenecks that prevent successful field application of microbial inoculants in agriculture
• Contact details of at least one reference that DTU may reach out to

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

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 – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.