PhD scholarship in antimicrobial resistance and environmental molecular microbiology

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious threats to human health. A multitude of different antimicrobial resistance genes can cause resistance, but they are not equally distributed across all different bacterial species or reservoirs. Most resistance genes are enzymes that are heavily influenced by different environmental conditions. However, testing resistance phenotype is often done under very standardized conditions (known as Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test AST), and those conditions are not always mimicking the natural conditions where the pathogen was isolated from.

We have recently shown that temperature, pH and oxygen can drastically influence the activity of antimicrobial resistance enzymes and thus susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Even to such a degree that bacteria that show resistance under normal test conditions might be susceptible in infection sites and vice versa.

We are seeking a candidate for a vacant PhD-position in microbiology with a focus on testing bacterial susceptibility and the specific activity of selected relevant antimicrobial resistance genes under different environmental conditions, including various pH, temperature and oxygen conditions. This will include phenotypic susceptibility testing, cloning of resistance genes, determination of fitness landscapes and purification and testing of the resistance proteins.

Responsibilities and qualifications

• Your main responsibility will be to design (with supervisor’s help) and conduct laboratory experiment where you will be testing bacterial strains under different environmental conditions mentioned above.
• You will construct iso-genic strains with different resistance genes and test the effect of changes in environmental conditions.
• You will purify resistance proteins and test their activity.
• You will conduct competition experiments of the tested strains.
• With assistance from other group members, you will analyse the output, draw conclusions and present the outputs.
• You will communicate research results by presenting data at project meetings and international conferences and write reports and manuscripts for publication.
• You will engage in the general work carried out by the research group, including discussions and planning of strategies and projects, drafting research grant proposals, etc.
• Daily work will be in close collaboration with other researchers in the Genomic Epidemiology group and national and international partners.

Desired skills:

• Experience in general microbiology and specifically bacterial cultures.
• Experience in molecular biology including DNA work, PCRs and cloning.
• Experience in protein extractions.

You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master’s degree.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU’s rules for the PhD education.

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 appointment terms 
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. The period of employment is 3 years.

Starting date is 1 August 2026 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Associate professor Saria Otani saot@food.dtu.dk or Professor Frank M. Aarestrup fmaa@food.dtu.dk

You can read more about the Research group for Genomic Epidemiology at www.food.dtu.dk/forskning/genetisk-epidemiologi

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 26 May 2026 (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:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master’s degree but cannot begin before having received it.

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.