Aarhus University is inviting applications for a PhD fellowship in wheat nutritional genomics within the Agroecology programme at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences. The position is available from 1 April 2026 or later and will be based at the Department of Agroecology, Research Center Flakkebjerg near Slagelse, Denmark. This PhD opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in plant breeding, genomics, multi-omics data integration, and improving the nutritional quality of staple crops.
Why Wheat Nutritional Genomics Matters
Wheat is one of the world’s most important staple crops, traditionally bred with a strong focus on yield and disease resistance. However, as food systems face growing pressure to become more sustainable, nutritious, and resilient, improving the nutritional characteristics of wheat has become a critical research priority.
Advances in sequencing technologies have made extensive genomic datasets available for thousands of wheat accessions. These resources now allow researchers to link genetic diversity with precise phenotypic traits, opening new opportunities to identify genomic regions responsible for enhanced nutritional value.
PhD Project Overview
This PhD project focuses on identifying and investigating the genetic mechanisms underlying nutritional characteristics in winter wheat.
The successful candidate will:
- Generate and analyze large-scale genomic datasets
- Perform precise phenotyping of diverse winter wheat accessions
- Integrate multi-omics datasets to uncover genetic loci linked to nutritional traits
- Conduct molecular biology experiments to functionally characterize identified genomic regions
The project combines field-relevant phenotyping, computational genomics, and laboratory-based molecular biology, offering a well-balanced and future-oriented PhD training.
Main Research Tasks
The PhD student’s duties will include, but are not limited to:
- Recording and analyzing phenotypic traits related to nutrition
- Performing large-scale omics data analysis
- Integrating and interpreting multi-omics datasets
- Identifying genetic loci associated with enhanced nutritional characteristics
- Conducting molecular biology experiments for locus characterization
Research Environment
You will be part of the Section for Crop Genetics and Biotechnology (CGB) within the Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University.
The section is based at Research Center Flakkebjerg, close to Slagelse, and offers:
- A dynamic and multidisciplinary research environment
- Strong expertise in crop genetics, genomics, and biotechnology
- An inclusive and international academic atmosphere
Qualifications and Competences
Mandatory Qualifications
Applicants must hold a relevant MSc degree in:
- Plant Breeding
- Biotechnology
- Or a closely related discipline
Additional Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:
- Strong interest in wheat nutritional genomics
- Documented experience with basic molecular biology techniques
- Basic knowledge of scripting (bash) and programming languages such as R or Python
- Experience handling multi-omics datasets (advantage)
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an international research environment
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken
Selection Process
Candidates will be evaluated based on:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Motivation statement
- Reference letters
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview, which may be conducted online or in person.
Application Requirements
Mandatory Project Description
- Applications: Please follow this link to submit your application.
- For technical reasons, applicants must upload a project description as a PDF.
Please copy the project description exactly as provided above and upload it unchanged. - Only documents received before the application deadline will be considered.
- Application deadline is 31 January 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Equality and Employment Conditions
Aarhus University aims to be an attractive and inclusive workplace. Equality and diversity are considered key strengths, and all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of background.
Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with applicable Danish collective agreements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this PhD open to international applicants?
Yes. International applicants who meet the academic and language requirements are welcome to apply.
Is programming experience mandatory?
Basic scripting and programming skills (R, Python, bash) are expected, but advanced expertise can be developed during the PhD.
Will this PhD involve lab work?
Yes. The project includes molecular biology experiments alongside computational and phenotyping work.
Where is the position based?
At Research Center Flakkebjerg, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, near Slagelse, Denmark.
Supervisors
Applicants may contact the supervisors for further information:
- Professor Henrik Brinch-Pedersen (Main Supervisor)
Email: hbp@agro.au.dk - Tenure Track Assistant Professor Sandip M. Kale (Co-Supervisor)
Email: smkale@agro.au.dk
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