Are you passionate about nutrition, food safety, and the transition to sustainable diets? Do you have a strong interest in modelling and want to contribute to the development of healthy and sustainable food products with real-world impact?
The Risk-Benefit Research Group at DTU Food is seeking a motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team for a 2-year position. You will be part of a dynamic research team and contribute to a European research project focused on assessing the health impacts of innovative food products.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Review and synthesize epidemiological evidence to estimate health impacts of foods, considering both risks (chemical, microbiological, nutritional) and benefits (nutritional).
- Develop dietary exposure assessment models and evaluate the nutritional quality of foods.
- Build risk-benefit assessment models to quantify and predict the health impacts of new food products. A central case study will explore the replacement of conventional seafood (e.g., fish and shellfish) with seafood alternatives incorporating algal biomass.
- Organizing and hosting meetings within international project team members
- Disseminating your work, including through writing peer-reviewed scientific article(s)
The ideal candidate:
- Holds a PhD in a relevant field such as epidemiology, public health, biology, or a related discipline.
- Has proven experience in quantitative modelling, preferably using R.
- Is fluent in English (spoken and written) and has good communication skills.
- Is enthusiastic about developing replicable models to address complex risk-benefit questions in food and nutrition.
You will be part of a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment and will have the opportunity to contribute to high-impact research within a European consortium.
As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).
Other qualifications and competences include:
- Experience with mathematical modelling
- Experience with toxicology
- Experience with nutrtion
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 Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.
The period of employment is 2 years. Starting date is 1 January 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 Senior Researcher Sara Monteiro Pires smpi@food.dtu.dk.
You can read more about DTU National Food Institute at DTU National Food Institute.
If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.
Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 15 September 2025 (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.
The Research Group for Risk-Benefit focuses on developing models within quantitative health assessment to be used in risk-benefit assessment, risk and benefit ranking, and burden of disease studies. You can read more about the research group at https://www.food.dtu.dk/english/research/risk-benefit
DTU National Food Institute
DTU National Food Institute conducts research into and disseminates - through advice, innovation and teaching - sustainable and value-creating solutions in the area of food and health for the benefit of society. The vision is to make a difference by generating future prosperity through research into food and health. The institute works to prevent disease and promote health, develop new and better food products for a growing population and create sustainable technological solutions, including biosolutions. The institute’s tasks are carried out in interdisciplinary collaboration within e.g. nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology, modelling, and technology. This is achieved through a strong academic environment of international top class with correspondingly skilled researchers and employees. The Institute employs approximately 350 staff members.
Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.