Research Assistant for DNA Foundry at International Research Center

Are you passionate about microbial cell factory development and eager to build your career as a scientist? Join our DNA Foundry team, part of the BRIGHT Biofoundry, where you will help advance cutting-edge bioengineering tools and contribute to the standardization and optimization of our high-throughput strain engineering and screening workflows.

Responsibilities and qualifications

As a Research Assistant at DNA Foundry, you may be involved in several projects, including Biofoundry Large Projects and Technology Development Projects. You will work closely with colleagues in DNA foundry but also from computational, automation and fermentation team. 

Key tasks include:

• Supporting the development of advanced synthetic biology tools, including cell-free protein synthesis
• Engineering plasmids and strains using high-throughput automated workflows
• Optimizing protocols for transformation, plasmid engineering and genome editing for different strain types
• Registering, reporting and documenting the experiments and results in Benchling.
• Communication of results and deviations with colleagues and the project team.

The ideal candidate will have: 

• Experience working with synthetic biology tools like CRISPR systems
• Experience in strain engineering workflows e.g., Pseudomonas putida, E. coli or Cupriavidus necator.
• Experience in handling automation instruments for different molecular biology workflows e.g., nucleic acid extraction, transformation or colony picking.
• Experience with Cell-free protein synthesis
• Experience in using Benchling for registries, ELNs and workflows. 

As a formal qualification, you must have a master's degree in science, engineering or equivalent.

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 terms of employment 

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The position is a full-time position with 37 working hours a week in average. Starting date is 1st January 2026 or as soon as possible. The position runs until 30 June 2027. The period of employment is 18 months.

Further information 

Further information may be obtained from Viji Kandasamy, Head of DNA Foundry.

You can read more about DNA Foundry at  and about The BRIGHT Biofoundry 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 16 December :59 Danish time). 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:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc)

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.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Bioresearch Institute for the Green Transision (BRIGHT)
Recent progress in our ability to read and write genomic code, combined with advances in automation, analytics and data science, has fundamentally changed the scope and ambition of harnessing the potential of biological systems. Big data approaches and analysis of biological systems are key research instruments at the Center. DTU Biosustain utilizes these advances for microbial cell factory design to foster sustainable lifestyles in relation to three application areas: Sustainable Chemicals, Natural Products, and Microbial Foods.

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.