Research Assistant/Postdoc in evaluation of current wastewater systems in the Arctic and development of solutions for the future - DTU Sustain

If you dream of establishing a career as an Arctic scientist with an environmental focus, and if you strive for possibilities to explore and engage with the extraordinary nature and people of the Arctic region, then the best possible opportunity to fulfill your dreams and ambitions is right here.

DTU Food and DTU Sustain have teamed up with international experts in the ArcticSewlutions project to evaluate wastewater systems in the Arctic. The project focuses on assessing the type, efficiency, and properties of wastewater treatment in cold, sparsely populated regions. It aims to promote knowledge exchange and provide stakeholders with information to potentially change practices. The project will analyze common wastewater quality parameters and investigate emerging contaminants and antibiotic resistance in Arctic waters, with a primary focus on Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Greenland. While the analysis of emerging contaminants will be done at an external certified lab, your working tasks will be:

• Engage in research in Greenland for the benefit of Greenlandic society.
• Conduct multiple fieldworks in Greenland in fall 2025 and spring/summer/fall 2026 to sample and analyze common wastewater quality and microbial parameters at sites in Greenland with team members.
• Make advanced microbiological analysis such as qPCR at DTU Foods laboratories in Lyngby.
• Main responsibility for data treatment and analysis of Greenlandic samples.
• Collaborate closely with DTU supervisors and other project members to produce joint papers and reports.
• Participate in project workshops in Iceland and Finland in 2026 and 2027. 

Responsibilities and qualifications

To achieve our ambitions, we are looking for a candidate, who is eager to explore and engage with communities and fellow researchers alike. You recognize the fantastic opportunity of traveling and spending periods of time in Greenlandic locations to do field-studies, and you view the chance of spending extended work periods at DTU’s Campus in Sisimiut, Arctic DTU Sisimiut – Ilinniarfeqarfik Sisimiut, as an asset. Maybe you even prefer the Greenlandic campus to be your primary workplace? By also spending time at our campus in Lyngby, Denmark, you will be provided with access to our advanced laboratories, giving you the best possible base for a successful study.

You thrive in a varied work-life with periods of intensive collaborative activities and periods of calm and quiet individual work by the PC. You are knowledgeable and respectful about the Arctic and ideally master Greenlandic or alternatively you know Danish or another Nordic language and are willing to engage in learning some Greenlandic. You have experience with microbial and/or chemical analytical lab-work as well as with fieldwork. Your English is fluent in writing, and you have headed the authoring of published scientific papers.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a master’s degree (Research Assistant) or a PhD degree (Postdoc)

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 or Collective agreement of Masters, engineers, and land surveyors in the service of the state in Greenland.The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is1 year and 9 months from either 1/7 or 15/8 2025.

The position is full-time or part-time (after the agreement). 

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 

Further information may be obtained from Professor Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen, DTU FOOD: litr@food.dtu.dk +45 20640677 or Associate Professor Pernille Erland Jensen, DTU Sustain:peej@dtu.dk, + 45 93510969

You can read more about DTU sustain at https://sustain.dtu.dk/en/ and DTU Food at https://www.food.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 12 May 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.

DTU Sustain - Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering - is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. The department conducts research, development & scientific advice and provides educational programs and service to society. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The Department has approximately 300 staff from more than 30 nationalities.

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.

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