Do you have a solid background within nutritional science and data infrastructure, as well as a desire to manage a research group? Then this might be the job for you.
Are you the candidate who can strengthen and consolidate our research in nutrition and sustainability at DTU, as well as contribute to the complex data architecture of the activities at our institute? We invite applicants with research experience in the areas of nutrition, sustainability and data science who can work transdisciplinary.
Responsibilities and qualifications
The position includes management of the Research Group for Nutrition, Sustainability and Health Promotion, and you must therefore also have a keen interest in people management. The research group currently comprises 15 employees. The group’s tasks include the implementation of largescale population-based health surveys that identify societal challenges in relation to diet, sustainability, and health behavior. The research group develops and documents initiatives that promote healthy and sustainable dietary habits and establishes the scientific basis for the official dietary guidelines, including sustainable dietary advice and nutritional recommendations with a focus on preventing lifestyle diseases while at the same time supporting a sustainable food system. These activities involve a great deal of data management, and you must therefore be experienced within the design of data architecture. As an associate professor, you will additionally be involved in teaching at relevant courses offered by the DTU National Food Institute
Main tasks include but are not limited to:
- advancing the groups’ field of research and strengthening, complementing, and developing its competencies and capacity for securing external grants
- contributing to design of data architecture within the Research Group for Nutrition, Sustainability and Health Promotion, and more broadly at the institute
- contributing to teaching and governmental advice-giving in relation to nutrition, sustainability and health promotion
A comprehensive approach to promoting sustainable diets should include cutting-edge research on plant-based processed foods, investigations into the impact of sustainable food choices on health and biomarkers, and the development and implementation of targeted strategies to promote sustainable dietary behaviors in the general population.
You are driven by a desire to develop professional networks, build new interdisciplinary research collaborations, and acquire research funding. Through these activities, you will contribute to the overall mission and strategy of the institute.
You must be responsible for the teaching of courses. DTU employs two working languages: Danish and English. You are expected to be fluent in at least one of these languages, and in time are expected to master both.
As formal qualification you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) as well as academic qualifications equivalent to those obtained by holding an assistant professorship and documented didactic/pedagogic training.
You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:
- Experience and quality of teaching
- Research experience
- Research vision and potential
- International impact and experience
- Societal impact
- Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry
- Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills
- Communication skills
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.
Starting date is 1 December 2025 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 Tine Rask Licht, tel.: +45 24896119.
You can read more about the DTU National Food Institute at www.food.dtu.dk. DTU national Food Institute is located in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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
Please submit your online application no later than 1 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)
- Vision for teaching and research
- CV including employment history, list of publications indicating scientific highlights, H-index and ORCID (see http://orcid.org/)
- Teaching portfolio including documentation of teaching experience
- Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)
You can learn more about the recruitment process here.
Applications received after the deadline or sent by email 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 DTU National Food Institute
DTU National Food Institute conducts research into sustainable and value-creating solutions within food and health for the benefit of society. Our knowledge is disseminated through advice-giving, innovation, and teaching. The institute’s vision is to make a difference by generating future prosperity through research into food and health. The institute prevents disease and promotes health, develops new and better food products for a growing population and creates sustainable technological solutions. The institute’s tasks are carried out in a unique interdisciplinary cooperation in e.g. nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology, modelling and technology.
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.
