Professor in Fungal biotechnology and life science automation

Are you ready to lead cutting-edge research and innovation in microbially based biosolutions for sustainable primary production?

At DTU Bioengineering, we offer you the opportunity to shape the future of microbial biosolutions and high-throughput biology. You will pioneer breakthroughs at the intersection of biotechnology, robotics, and data-driven design, empowering the development of novel, sustainable solutions for among others the agricultural sector.

By joining us, you will have access to world-class facilities, a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment, and the chance to work alongside top experts in the field. Together, we will drive advancements in cell-based solutions and reimagine automation for life sciences.

If you are passionate about leveraging your expertise to make a tangible impact on global sustainability challenges, this is your opportunity to lead transformative change.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your primary responsibility will be to advance DTU Bioengineering's expertise in fungal biotechnology, fungal synthetic biology, and high-throughput laboratory technologies. You will drive the development of innovative fungal-based solutions to address sustainability challenges in primary production, such as agriculture.

You will join the Section for Synthetic Biology which hosts an internationally strong research environment focused on fungal biotechnology, fermentation-based manufacturing, laboratory automation and data science with the mission to advance the development of biosolutions. Your primary responsibility will be to strengthen the Department's competencies and profile within fungal and small molecule based biosolutions, utilizing the department's unique fungal strain collection (IBT) and robotics capabilities. The solutions or technologies you aim to develop should be focused on enabling the green transition of the agricultural sector, by developing new biocontrol, biofertilizer and plant health promoting solutions based on microbes and small molecules.

You should further take a leading role in advancing robotics-assisted experimentation, collaborating with colleagues and partners who share a vision for accelerating the development and maturation of whole-cell-based biosolutions. Together, you will drive the creation of technologies essential for generating high-quality data to support machine learning-driven engineering approaches.

Your primary tasks will be to:

1. Lead research in the field of biosolutions for the agricultural sector and industrial biotechnology.
2. Develop and integrate cutting-edge automation solutions for microbial/filamentous fungi research.
3. Build and manage your research group, including securing external funding to realize your research vision.
4. Teach and lead relevant courses in the DTU course portfolio, and supervise BSc, MSc, PhD students, and mentor postdocs and assistant professors.
5. Contribute to the strategic development of the Department's research and teaching programs.
6. Initiate and lead collaboration with national and international academic and industrial partners to bring solutions to real world implementation/Impact.
7. Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and approaches bridging life science, data science and automation technologies, at DTU, nationally and internationally.

We are seeking a candidate with:

1. Expertise in fungal molecular biology and the development of biosolutions for the agricultural sector using robotics-assisted experimentation.
2. Documented track record in teaching and leading courses within e.g. synthetic biology, cell factory engineering and automation.
3. Proven ability to attract larger research grants from national and international programs to address both foundational and applied scientific projects.
4. Documented commitment to interdisciplinary research focused on developing new laboratory automation and data science solutions that push the existing boundaries of technology.
5. Extensive experience with public-private collaborative projects.
6. Strong management and administrative skills needed for leading larger research initiatives.
7. The capacity to foster an inspiring research environment through knowledge-sharing, and engagement with peers, students, and stakeholders in the private sector.

DTU employs two working languages: Danish and English. You are expected to be fluent in at least one of these languages, and in time are expected to master both.

You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

1. Experience and quality of teaching and curriculum development.
2. Research impact and experience, funding track record and research vision.
3. International impact and experience.
4. Societal impact.
5. Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry.
6. Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills.
7. Communication skills.

Salary and terms of employment
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.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Head of Department for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (short: DTU Bioengineering), Prof. Bjarke Bak Christensen, tel.: +45 30 66 42 33,

You can read more about DTU Bioengineering at

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark .

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 1 April 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:

1. Application (cover letter) addressed to the President of the University.
2. Vision for research and plan for developing the areas fungal based biosolutions and the automation of experimental biology.
   • In your research vision, we look forward to learning how you:
     • plan to develop the field of fungal synthetic biology both concerning the molecular biology technologies, lacking foundational biological insight, and how to close the DBTL loop.
     • will create a productive interdisciplinary research environment to drive the development of the life science automation area.
3. Vision for teaching describing how you will develop teach of laboratory automation to students within the life science area.
4. CV including employment history, list of publications indicating scientific highlights, H-index and ORCID (see )
5. Teaching portfolio including documentation of teaching experience.
6. Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD).

You can learn more about the recruitment process here .

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.

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.