Postdoc in Food Science

The Department of Food Science, section of Ingredient and Dairy Technology, invites applicants for a fulltime postdoctorate fellowship in Food Ingredients Processing. The position is for 2 years, with possibility of extension. The project is part of the larger research project “AI4NaturalFood”, which is financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Start date is 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

Currently, plant ingredients are often refined to almost molecular purity - and then combined again to create structured foods. This isolation is resource intensive, and the removal of fibre and micronutrients can compromise the nutritional value. This can be mitigated by applying milder forms of processing that do not fully refine ingredients and leave some of the native structure of the plant material intact. The properties of these partially refined ingredients depend strongly on the way of processing. This Fellowship is aimed at developing rapid experimentaton methods that will allow us to explore the relation between the degree and type of processing, and the foods that result from their use. The results will be used for data machine learning, in collaboration with other partners in the project.

 Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates with a PhD degree and demonstrable experience in food ingredient isolation, rapid experimentation, process miniaturisation or combinations of those. Applicants may have a background in food, chemical or mechanical engineering.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

We offer a pioneering position that is part of a large collaboration between several departments within the University of Copenhagen and with leading international universities in the field. The postdoctorate Fellow will be positioned in a growing group that has strong expertise in processing, characterization and functionality modelling. The position will join the group Food Materials Engineering, which is part of the Section Ingredients and Dairy Processing at the Department of Food Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, and located at the Frederiksberg Campus.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state of the art large-scale facilities.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Setting up new research facilities for rapid evaluation of processing methods
• Participate in a larger team of postdocs and PhD students
• Coordinate a part of the larger project together with the PIs
• Co-supervise one of more PhD students within the larger project, together with the two PIs
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• A PhD degree in a relevant field (process engineering in food, chemical or mechanical engineering)
• Demonstrable scientific experience in food ingredient isolation, rapid experimentation, process miniaturisation or combinations of those; for example through relevant publications, experience in academia or industry, or other activities.
• An inquisitivce mind-set with a strong interest in exploring new ways of experimentation
• Good language skills in English (the professional language of communication); familiarity with the Danish language is not required but a plus.

Application and Assessment Procedure

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

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page), that describes your motivation for applying for the Fellowship
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for MSc and PhD 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 or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Full publication list
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 1 June 2025.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

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

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. 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 in June 2025.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.