Senior Strain Engineer

Interest in microbial cell factory development?

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Microbial Strain Engineer to contribute to a variety of strain development projects. The successful candidate will play a key role in large-scale biofoundry initiatives, support ongoing technology development efforts, and work closely with cross-functional teams across the biofoundry.

The job

As a Microbial Strain Engineer at the DNA Foundry, part of the BRIGHT Biofoundry, you will contribute to multiple projects focused on building state-of-art engineered microbial cell factories. This role offers extensive opportunities to learn, innovate, and develop new technologies through projects and close collaboration with interdisciplinary teams across the biofoundry.

Primary areas of responsibility

• Develop, optimize and implement strain engineering workflows for different strain types.
• Standardize and develop modular high-throughput workflows 
• Lead the development of large-DNA automated cloning through cross-functional collaboration.
• Expand the DNA Foundry capabilities by implementing advanced strain development methods.

Our expectations of you

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in microbial strain development, synthetic biology and high-throughput workflows. The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated experience in microbial strain engineering and screening.

• Proven track record of working with strain development projects involving interdisciplinary teams
• Experience in project management, managing large projects involving stakeholders from cross-functional teams
• Experience in working with Streptomyces engineering and handling Fungal strains.
• Expertise in wide-range of technologies: CRISPR-cas9, CRISPR-cas12a, large DNA assembly methods and TAR-cloning
• Experience with automation workflows involving DNA assembly and genome editing.
• Experience in working with Benchling registries, ELNs and establishing workflow templates.

What we offer in return

We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international atmosphere with the focus on research, teaching, innovation and scientific advice for the benefit of the surrounding community. We place emphasis on a high level of professionalism among our staff, so skills development is an integral part of our organization. We offer a great flexibility in the position. In the area of technical and natural sciences, DTU is one of the leading research and education institutions in Europe.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC), or the OAO-S Joint Agreement. 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 is permanent position.

Application and contact

Please submit your online application no later than 16 December 2025. Open the "Apply now" link, fill out the form and attach your motivated application, CV and exam certificates. 

If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Head of DNA Foundry, Viji Kandasamy on  

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.