PhD fellowship in Plant Nutrition

Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, the Plant Nutrition Research Group invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in foliar application of nanozymes. The project is part of the research project: “Biocompatible nanozymes with anti-oxidative properties to increase crop resilience in a changing climate”, funded by The Independent Research Fund Denmark.

Start date is expected to be January 1st, 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

As PhD student, you will investigate the mechanisms by which biocompatible Fe-, Mn- and Zn-based nanozymes are taken up, transported and function within plants under drought stress. The work will focus on advanced imaging of nanozyme localization and cellular interactions using LA-ICP-TOF-MS, TEM-EDX and confocal microscopy, combined with analyses of ROS scavenging and oxidative stress responses. You will evaluate how nanozyme treatments influence drought tolerance in climate chamber and field experiments. The project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on nanozyme behaviour in plants and support the development of safe, effective nano-enabled strategies for improving crop resilience to drought.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious PhD candidate with a strong interest in the interface between plant science, nanotechnology and advanced imaging. The candidate should hold a Master's degree in Plant Science, Biology, Agricultural Science, Nanoscience, Biotechnology or a related discipline. The successful candidate will investigate the uptake, transport and intracellular behavior of biocompatible nanozymes in plants exposed to drought stress. It is a clear advantage if you have hands-on experience with LA-ICP-TOF-MS, TEM-EDX and confocal microscopy, as well as knowledge of reactive oxygen species (ROS) dynamics and general plant stress physiology. The candidate should be enthusiastic about interdisciplinary research and willing to work across the fields of plant biology, analytical chemistry and nanotechnology. The candidate is expected to be independent, collaborative and curious, and to contribute actively to an international research environment involving close collaboration between group members.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

As PhD student in the project, you will join the Plant Nutrition Research Group ( www.husted-lab.com ) at the University of Copenhagen, an internationally recognized and interdisciplinary research environment working at the interface between plant nutrition, analytical chemistry and nanotechnology. The group conducts both fundamental and applied research aimed at improving nutrient use efficiency, crop resilience and the sustainability of agricultural production systems. We place strong emphasis on maintaining a friendly, collaborative and supportive working atmosphere, where team members openly share knowledge, ideas and expertise. We believe that excellent science is best achieved through dedicated teamwork, mutual respect and a positive working environment that supports both scientific excellence and personal development. As PhD student, you will receive close scientific mentorship, access to world-class infrastructure and the opportunity to contribute to pioneering research addressing some of the major challenges facing future agriculture, including drought resilience, nutrient efficiency and climate adaptation of crops.

Principal supervisor is Professor Søren Husted, Department of plant and Environmental Sciences, Email shu@plen.ku.dk .

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The PhD programme

A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme ( 5+3 scheme) , if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications

Qualifications needed for the regular programme

To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. plant science, plant nutrition. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database .

Terms of employment in the regular programme

Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

You can read more about salary levels in the state sector www.loenoverblik.dk (in Danish).

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE

• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad

• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities

• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals

• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project

• Relevant publications

• Relevant work experience

• Other relevant professional activities

• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in plant science, nanotechnology and advanced imaging

• Good language skills

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Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

• Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project

• Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

• Original diplomas for Bachelor or Master and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.

• Publication list (if possible)

• Reference letters (if available)

Application

Application deadline

The deadline for applications is 23 October 2026, 23:59 GMT+2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process

After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above-mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 45 and 46 2026.

Questions

For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

[General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/ ] .

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.