Postdoc in Biological CO2 Conversion DTU Chemical Engineering

Are you a highly competent ambitious and hard-working young scientist wanting to excel in the exciting field of gas fermentation and CO₂ utilization in one of the best foundations and collaboration schemes to accomplish this

Then this advertisement is for you.

At DTU Chemical Engineering a postdoc position is available in the frame of a research project funded by HORIZON-CBE-JU. The postdoc project will be in close collaboration with a Biotech Industry that produces food proteins from CO₂ and addresses the upstream biological conversion of CO₂ to acetic acid.

Responsibilities and tasks
Your overall focus will be to contribute to strengthening the departments competences within gas fermentation technology. You will work with nearby colleagues and academic partners in Denmark as well as abroad.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Performing biological conversion of CO₂ to acetic acid in serum vials chemostats and trickle bed reactors at lab- and pilot-scale
• Performing kinetic characterisation of the microbial groups involved in CO₂ fermentation to acetic acid
• Communicating results of the project to both academic and industrial partners
• Collaborating across-disciplines with internal and external project colleagues
• Being involved in the co-supervision of BEng BSc and MSc students as well as organising the experimental part of a MSc course
• Drafting and submitting manuscripts for publication in peer reviewed international journals
• Drafting and submitting research applications

Qualifications
In accordance with the abovementioned you should have qualifications within several of the following areas:

• Handling and culturing of anaerobic microbial cultures.
• Operating bioreactors in batch and/or continuous mode with suspended and/or attached growth (biofilm).
• Experience in gas fermentation.

We also value that you:

• Are collaboration-minded flexible and thrive by conveying knowledge and good practices to others.
• Have a good sense of order and like to help that our laboratories are in nice and tidy conditions.
• Are a person with a positive mindset and with very good planning prioritizing and organizational skills.
• Are self-activated and able to work independently as well as in a group.
• Have strong writing and oral communication skills.
• Are fluent in English.

Expertise within gas fermentation should be documented with the PhD thesis and/or relevant publications in international journals.

The project will be in close collaboration with personnel enrolled at DTU Chemical Engineering as well as with personnel of our industrial partner. Availability for a highly active period openness and willingness for a fruitful collaboration is a prerequisite. Also you should be available to start the postdoc project in November 2026.

As a formal qualification you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

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 terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional addition supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTUs salary structure for scientific staff: The period of employment is 15 year. The starting date is 1 November 2026. The position is a full-time position.

You can read more aboutcareer paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Hariklia Gavala .

You can read more about DTU Chemical Engineering at .

If you are applying from abroad you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU atDTU Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 31 July 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:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD in English)
• List of publications

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.

This position will be placed in Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering in Applied Thermodynamics Center of Energy Resources Engineering (AT CERE). AT CERE has recently entered dynamically into Biorefinery Conversions research area with focus on creating new knowledge for development of innovative and cost-efficient processes for production of chemicals materials and biofuels from biomasses industrial effluents and off-gases and has a long tradition in research within Applied Thermodynamics Transport Processes and Mathematical Modelling. AT CERE has a total staff of approx. 50 of which 6 is faculty.

DTU For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europes leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europes global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13800 students 1600 PhD students and 6500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive stimulating and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.