Open position: Tenure Track Researcher in Flat Oyster Production and Innovation – Deadline 07 March 2025

We invite you to apply for a position targeting research and innovation in European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) production. If you are interested in developing sustainable production of low trophic species for food and nature restoration, DTU Aqua is looking for a dedicated person that will join a team at the forefront of development in production of flat oyster spat. The position is affiliated with the National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua) Section of Coastal Ecology with work location at the Danish Shellfish Centre in Nykøbing Mors, Denmark. Current research and development activities includes major aquaculture and restoration projects where production of flat oyster is a key component.

Responsibilities and qualifications

You will primarily contribute to advance our work with production of disease-free European flat oysters Ostrea edulis both in hatchery and in the field but as well other bivalve species and potentially crustaceans. This includes i) sustainable upscaling production of oyster spat for both aquaculture and restoration; ii) focus on key bottlenecks of spat hatchery production; iii) biosecurity, health and environmental monitoring. Innovative skills are important, as the area requires new solutions.

You are expected to improve our capacity for conducting relevant research within the field, disseminate the results in scientific journals as well as in public media, give advice to policy makers and other relevant authorities as well as foster innovation in cooperation with the industry. We expect that you will be a driver in our new hatchery facilities and participate in developing a state-of-the-art team in the hatchery. You are furthermore expected to be actively engaged in writing applications for funding as well as overseeing projects and participate in the research groups dissemination and teaching activities that include dissemination to a broader audience.

Furthermore, we are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• Experience in low trophic species production, hatchery, from both a practical and research point of view.
• Experience in experimental design, data analysis, laboratory work and field work.
• Experience in water quality analysis.
• Experience in biochemical analysis (proximal and fatty acid composition).
• Experience in molecular techniques (PCR, qPCR).
• Expertise on differential gene expression analyses, including qPCR and RNA sequencing, as well as bioinformatic analysis.
• Programming skills: e.g. R, Unix, Matlab.
• A strong innovative approach to the research field.
• Experience, know-how, and vision for integration of scientific findings with utilisation of results on a practical level.
• The ability to contribute to the development of external cooperation and to attract funding to the research area is seen as an asset.

The position requires a person with several personal competencies such as:

• Flexibility where you can quickly get acquainted with new topics and work.
• Organisation of work and tasks where you are rigorous, dedicated, and reliable.
• You are a team player, a committed contributor and come up with solutions to support your colleagues in various tasks at DTU Aqua.

You must contribute to 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).

You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

• Research experience
• Experience and quality of teaching
• 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 as soon as possible or according to mutual agreement.

The position is part of DTU’s Tenure Track program. Read more about the program and the recruitment process here.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 

Further information may be obtained from senior scientist Camille Saurel csau@aqua.dtu.dk phone +45 61150162 or head of section Prof. Jens Kjerulf Petersen jekjp@aqua.dtu.dk phone +45 61222429

You can read more about the department at https://coast.dtu.dk/english/

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 7 March 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 for the tenure track period
• CV including employment history, list of publications, H-index and ORCID (see http://orcid.org/)
• Teaching portfolio including documentation of teaching experience
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)

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 covered by the Section for Coastal Ecology, DTU Aqua includes the ecology of the coastal zone from nutrient dynamics to fish as well as the coastal zone as a fishing ground and production area for low-trophic aquaculture, i.e. farming of shellfish, seaweed etc. 

The research topics include some general themes: 

• Aquaculture of low-trophic species (mussels, oysters, lobsters, seaweed etc.).
• Fisheries and effects of fishery and seaweed collection in the coastal zone.
• Invasive species and their importance.
• Marine habitats and their importance in the coastal zone for biodiversity and fish stocks.
• Effects of anthropogenic pressure factors.
• Studies of the conditions that regulate fish stocks in the coastal waters.

Research in the aquaculture of low-trophic species is based on hatchery facilities and grow out units for mussels, oysters, and seaweed and covers all aspects from production of seeding material to market or restoration size products. The area also includes the use of low-trophic species as a marine mitigation measure for eutrophication.

The section is divided into two research groups: “Sustainable Resource Utilization” and “Environmental Impact and Habitats”. The section is located in two locations, in Nykøbing Mors at the Danish Shellfish Centre, where there are also outreach activities; and in Lyngby, where the section is located on campus.

For further information about this opportunity click here.