PhD Scholarship in Danish Insect Biodiversity, DNA Barcoding and Citizen Science

PhD Scholarship in Danish Insect Biodiversity, DNA Barcoding and Citizen Science

Natural History Museum Denmark
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

The Natural History Museum Denmark (NHMD) at the University of Copenhagen is offering a fully funded PhD scholarship in insect biodiversity, focusing on poorly known groups of insects with many unknown species (dark taxa) using large-scale DNA barcoding and citizen science.

Expected start date: 1 May 2026 – or as soon as possible thereafter.

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The Project

The PhD fellowship is part of an externally funded nation-wide research and outreach project “Unknown Insects – Mass Experiment 2026”, which combines large-scale citizen science and outreach with modern DNA-based biodiversity research.

The project will engage thousands of primary school and high school students throughout Denmark in the collecting, sorting and documentation of insects from their local natural areas. The collected samples will be analyzed at the Natural History Museum Denmark using megabarcoding, a highly efficient DNA barcoding method that enables rapid and cost-effective processing of tens of thousands of individual insects.

The DNA barcodes will be linked to image material, environmental data and physical voucher specimens, which will be preserved in the museum's scientific collections. The PhD project will utilize the data to investigate key research questions, for example:

• species richness, composition and geographical distribution of Denmark's neglected insect fauna
• the relationship between known and previously unknown species across habitats
• taxonomy and systematics of dark taxa, including species delimitation, identification and classification of poorly known insect groups with updates to the Danish and Global fauna
• comparison of morphological speciation and DNA-based identification
• the importance of natural history collections and citizen science in modern biomonitoring

The project is expected to result in several peer-reviewed scientific publications and contribute to the long-term building of biodiversity data and collections at the museum.

Principal supervisor is

Anders P. Tøttrup
Professor and Deputy Museum Director of Research
Natural History Museum Denmark, University of Copenhagen
aptottrup@snm.ku.dk
(+45) 51 82 69 88

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About the Natural History Museum Denmark

The Natural History Museum Denmark is the Danish national museum for nature. We work to empower citizens to connect with nature with the aim to create positive change for people and planet. We want to inspire, engage, and enable people to enjoy, understand, and care for the diversity of the natural world. The impact of climate change and anthropogenic forces on biodiversity has reached a critical point. We firmly believe that natural history museums can and should play a key role towards a more sustainable relationship with nature.

We are currently building a new Danish national museum for nature. One big museum site, in the Botanical Garden, in the center of Copenhagen, will host state-of-the-art laboratories, outstanding research collections, new public galleries, and combined facilities for programming, education, and citizen science. It is an ambition for the museum to enhance natural history and inspire curiosity, knowledge, and empowerment for the future.

The Natural History Museum consists of the national Botanical Garden, and the new museum site with public galleries, offices, laboratories, and collection space. The Botanical Garden was founded in 1600. The collections date back to Ole Worm’s Cabinet of Curiosities from around 1620. With 14 million preserved specimens and 8,000 different species in the Botanical Garden, it is the largest museum collection in Denmark. It covers our planetary history with botanical, zoological, and geological specimens from all over the world.

The Natural History Museum Denmark is part of the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen. The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479 and is the largest in Denmark. Read more about the museum at http://www.snm.ku.dk/english/.

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Supervision and Research Environment

The PhD fellow will be associated with the Natural History Museum Denmark and be part of an active research environment with expertise in entomology, taxonomy, DNA barcoding and citizen science. The project is anchored in the museum's zoological collections and molecular laboratories.

As part of the PhD program, a research stay at a foreign institution is expected. The project will be part of an already established international collaboration with strong research environments within integrative taxonomy and DNA-based biodiversity research, including with NTNU University Museum (Norway).

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Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone with an interest in insect biodiversity, collection-based natural history research and citizen science, as well as a curiosity for working with unknown and overlooked species groups (dark taxa). Applicants must have a background in biology or related natural science subjects, equivalent to a Danish Master's degree (MSc).

The PhD project will include citizen-driven data collection and analysis of large biodiversity datasets. There is also the opportunity to work with unknown species in the form of species determination, taxonomy and systematics, as well as the use and development of new molecular methods and image recognition.

The PhD project is closely linked to a nationwide citizen science initiative, and it is therefore crucial that the applicant has an interest in, and preferably experience with, communication and collaboration with non-professional target groups. The PhD fellow is expected to be able to communicate research processes and results to the general public and especially to children and young people, both orally and in writing.

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Terms of employment in the regular programme

Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

The PhD fellow will be based at the Natural History Museum Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include a museomic laboratory and advanced microscope and imaging labs among other facilities, 14 million natural history specimens within geology, botany and zoology, and a botanical garden with scientific collections of living plants.

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The PhD programme

A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. biology, ecology, entomology or related natural science subjects For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database here.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme

 (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project
• Museum compulsory work assisting with collections curation, and public engagement corresponding to maximum 840 hours

When you will be affiliated with the University of Copenhagen or otherwise have access to their research, you may be required to undergo a background screening. The purpose is to protect the security and research integrity of the University of Copenhagen.

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Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• a Master's degree (MSc) or equivalent in biology, ecology, entomology or related natural science subjects
• experience with or strong interest in insect biodiversity, taxonomy and the use of natural history collections
• interest in or experience with DNA-based methods and biodiversity data
• interest in citizen science as a method and the use of citizen science data
• good collaboration and communication skills
• good written and oral English skills

It is an advantage, but not a requirement, if the applicant is proficient in one of the Nordic languages and has experience with:

• the Danish insect fauna or general insect systematics
• DNA barcoding, molecular ecology or bioinformatics
• fieldwork and collection-based research
• larger datasets and statistical analyses
• citizen science

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Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
• Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position (1-2 pages)
• Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science and Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records and/or a written statement from the institution or supervisor indicating the expected completion date of the Master degree is accepted.
• Publication list (if available)
• Reference letters (up to 2)

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Deadline and Further Process

Deadline for application: 16 February 2026

After the deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessment committee. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessment committee will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the abovementioned research area, skills, experience, and other requirements. The assessment committee will conclude whether each applicant is qualified for the 5+3 model as described above. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held 20-25 March 2026.

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Questions

For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact:

Anders P. Tøttrup
Professor and Deputy Museum Director of Research
aptottrup@snm.ku.dk

Thomas Pape
Professor and Curator for Diptera og Lepidoptera
tpape@snm.ku.dk

Aslak Kappel Hansen
Postdoc in Dark Taxa
akhansen@snm.ku.sk

Please write “PhD Fellowship – Unknown Insect” in the subject line.