PhD scholarship in enhancing food safety using AI and long-read sequencing - DTU Food

Are you passionate about artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, food safety, and creating real-world impact through cutting-edge technology for improving food safety? Do you want to help revolutionizing the future of food safety practice, one that’s safer, smarter, and quicker?

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student to join our dynamic, interdisciplinary research team in the Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology. By joining us, you'll gain expertise in AI, bacterial sequence analysis and food safety evaluation while contributing to one of the most challenges in food safety: improving pathogen control and risk management. You’ll also build valuable connections with industry and academia to develop and evaluate food safety system that integrate AI, long-read sequencing, and microbiological safety for high-impact societal and scientific outcomes.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Currently, food safety processes rely on conventional microbiological methods including culturing method, which are time-consuming (at least a few days) and lack the ability to differentiate between bacterial strains. Your overall focus will be to develop and evaluate a purification-free work stream that directly identify and characterize bacterial pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, from enrichment samples without the need for further culturing within one day. The new food safety tool will leverage the power of direct sequencing and AI to provide rapid, accurate detection and characterization of pathogens, enabling risk managers in the food industry to make better-informed decisions.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Design, develop, and verify an AI-sequencing based tool for direct identification of bacterial species, and interpretation of bacterial genome from enrichment samples. 
• Test and implement the tool with industrial partners.
• Collaborate with engaging stakeholders: (e.g. industry stakeholders, academic partners, policymakers).
• Disseminate research results through peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and workshops.
• Contribute to the supervision of MSc and BSc students.
• Complete relevant PhD courses, academic training at DTU.
• Engage teaching activities related to AI and food safety.

We are looking for candidates who have experience with developing AI or machine learning models, as well as bacterial sequence analysis. You should be familiar with relevant programming languages such as Python and possess strong experimental and problem-solving skills. A proactive mindset is essential, along with the ability to work both independently and in teams. Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken, are also required.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) in Food Science, Bioinformatics, or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

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 applicants will be made by an academic committee composed of supervisors from the relevant research groups. Emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s academic qualifications, motivation, and potential for completing a high-quality PhD project.

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.

Starting date is 1 March 2026 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

• Further information 
• Further information may be obtained from Senior Researcher Pimlapas Shinny Leekitcharoenphon from the DTU National Food Institute on pile@food.dtu.dk. 

You can read more about DTU National Food Institute at https://www.food.dtu.dk/english/

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 20 October 2025 (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

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 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.