About the opportunity
This PhD position at DTU’s Centre for Absolute Sustainability offers a unique opportunity to establish yourself as a researcher at the intersection of absolute sustainability assessment and innovation towards sustainable food production. Working closely with leading researchers from DTU Sustain, DTU Food, and DTU Construct, you will help develop new approaches that enable companies and technology developers to analyze and identify food production systems and technologies that can enable a transformation of national and global food production to operate within planetary boundaries. You will work on the absolute environmental sustainability assessment of food provision and food production systems, developing missing methodological elements and applying them to selected food production cases.
Salary and benefits
- Full-time employment for a period of 3 years
- Salary and appointment terms based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations
- Rewarding and challenging job in an international, elite technical university environment
- Access to relocation support, including a monthly free PhD relocation to Denmark and startup Zoom seminar
Who can apply?
- Must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or an equivalent degree in environmental engineering, food engineering, sustainability assessment, or a similar field
- Experience in life cycle assessment (LCA) and/or absolute environmental sustainability assessment (AESA) is required
- Mathematical, environmental, and geospatial modelling skills are considered an advantage
- Expected to participate in the department's teaching activities
- Open to candidates who have not yet obtained their master's degree, provided they receive it before starting
Required documents
- A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma in English, including an official description of the grading scale
- A brief statement (maximum 2 pages) describing research interests and motivation for undertaking the PhD project
- Documentation of any relevant scientific publications, project work, thesis work, or professional experience
When to apply
- Application deadline: September 22, 2026, at 23:59 Danish time
- Applications are evaluated continuously, and qualified candidates may be invited for interviews before the deadline
How to apply
- Applications must be submitted online via the Apply now link
- All application materials must be written in English
- All documents must be combined and attached as a single PDF file
- Applications received after the deadline will not be considered
Additional information
- The position is based at DTU Lyngby Campus within DTU Sustain
- The PhD will be jointly supervised by researchers from DTU Sustain, DTU Food, and DTU Construct
- Open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates due to special rules for security and export control on critical technology
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Hold a two-year Master's degree in environmental engineering, food engineering, or sustainability assessment.
- Possess practical experience in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) or Absolute Environmental Sustainability Assessment (AESA).
- Interested in the intersection of food production systems and planetary boundaries.
- Strong mathematical, environmental, or geospatial modelling skills.
What should you think carefully about?
- The role involves teaching activities within the department, which will require balancing research with instructional duties.
- Candidates should be aware that open-source background checks may be conducted due to security rules regarding critical technology.
- Relocation to Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, is required as the position is on-site.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This PhD is an ideal stepping stone for those aiming to establish a research career in sustainability assessment. It offers a structured three-year path to a doctorate, fully funded employment, and the chance to work across three different DTU departments to develop methodologies that help global food production operate within planetary boundaries.
Our take
Highly recommended for Master's graduates in environmental or food engineering who want to pioneer absolute sustainability metrics in a world-class technical university.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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