PhD Fellowship in Soil Fertility at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN) at the University of Copenhagen is inviting applications for a PhD Fellowship in Soil Fertility. The position is part of the research project “Can microbial phosphorus mobilization be primed? Organic fertiliser effect on biological soil phosphorus cycling (PRIME-P)”, which is financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The successful candidate will join the Soil Fertility and Nutrient Recycling group within the Plant and Soil section of PLEN. The group is based at the Frederiksberg campus and conducts research on soil fertility, nutrient recycling, organic waste materials, soil organic matter dynamics, nutrient use efficiency, soil ecosystem resilience, crop productivity, and soil health.

The PhD project focuses on an important challenge in sustainable agriculture: understanding how biobased fertilizers and soil microorganisms influence phosphorus availability. The research will investigate how different organic materials affect soil organic matter and microbial phosphorus mobilization over time.

The expected employment start date is January 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. The application deadline is October 15, 2026, at 23:59 GMT+2.

Key Details

Detail	Information
Position	PhD Fellow in Soil Fertility
University	University of Copenhagen
Department	Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN)
Research Group	Soil Fertility and Nutrient Recycling
Location	Frederiksberg Campus, Denmark
Research Project	PRIME-P
Research Area	Soil Fertility, Soil Biogeochemistry, Phosphorus Cycling
Funding	Novo Nordisk Foundation
Programme	Regular PhD Programme, 5+3 scheme
Duration	3 years, full-time
Expected Start	January 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter
Application Deadline	October 15, 2026, 23:59 GMT+2
Working Hours	Full time
Degree Requirement	Relevant degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree
English Requirement	C1 level, spoken and written

About the PRIME-P PhD Project

Biobased fertilizers can include sewage sludge, compost, animal manure, and other organic materials. These materials differ considerably in their chemical properties, elemental composition, and nutrient concentrations, which can influence how they behave after being incorporated into soil.

Unlike mineral phosphate fertilizers, many biobased fertilizers contain substantial amounts of organic phosphorus and calcium phosphate forms that are not immediately available to plants. Soil microorganisms play a central role in making these phosphorus forms available through the mineralization of organic phosphorus and solubilization of inorganic phosphorus.

The carbon and nitrogen content of biobased fertilizers can also substantially modify soil organic matter and influence microbial activity. The PRIME-P project therefore aims to understand how additions of different biobased fertilizers affect soil organic matter over time and how these changes influence microbial phosphorus mobilization.

The project is built around three main research questions:

1. Do different forms of organic matter affect microbial phosphorus mobilization?
2. Do different organic matter fractions have similar levels of phosphorus mineralization?
3. How do soil properties influence microbially mediated phosphorus cycling?

These questions place the PhD at the intersection of soil biogeochemistry, microbial processes, phosphorus cycling, organic matter dynamics, and plant nutrition.

Research Activities and Methods

The PhD researcher will characterize soils in relation to phosphorus availability and investigate changes in soil organic matter following recent and historical additions of biobased fertilizers.

The project will include soil incubation experiments designed to investigate microbial phosphorus processing. These experiments will use isotopic techniques, including 33P and 18O-enriched water, together with measurements of enzymatic activity.

The researcher will also investigate microscale mechanisms using advanced imaging techniques. Depending on the development of the project, a soil-plant model may also be implemented in collaboration with another team member.

This combination of experimental soil science, isotope techniques, biochemical measurements, imaging, and potentially modelling provides a multidisciplinary research environment for investigating biological phosphorus cycling.

Who Should Apply?

The University of Copenhagen is seeking candidates with a background in soil biogeochemistry, plant nutrition, or a closely related discipline. Applicants should have an interest in both fundamental and applied aspects of soil science and plant nutrition.

A strong understanding of soil biogeochemical processes, particularly phosphorus and soil organic matter dynamics, is desirable. Applicants should also have excellent experimental laboratory experience, including relevant experience with soil sampling and analysis, soil organic matter fractionation, and isotopic techniques.

The ideal candidate should be able to translate theoretical scientific questions into practical experimental designs and measurements. The ability to analyze and interpret complex datasets is also important.

The department is looking for an independent and motivated researcher with strong hands-on problem-solving abilities, initiative, and the willingness to acquire new scientific skills.

Encouragement for Diverse Applicants

The University of Copenhagen explicitly encourages candidates from underrepresented groups to apply even if they do not meet every qualification listed. The department emphasizes curiosity, motivation, potential, and willingness to learn alongside existing experience.

This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to early-career researchers whose academic background aligns strongly with the project but whose experience may not cover every listed technique.

Research Group and Facilities

The successful PhD fellow will be based in the Soil Fertility and Nutrient Recycling group within the Plant and Soil section of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of SCIENCE.

The research group focuses on sustainable agriculture and nutrient recycling from organic waste materials of rural, urban, and industrial origin. Its research examines how different recycling strategies affect soil nutrient dynamics, organic matter dynamics, and soil ecosystem resilience.

The group aims to improve nutrient recycling and use efficiency, enhance crop productivity, and promote soil health. Researchers work in a dynamic and international environment with access to modern laboratories, climate chambers, long-term field trials, and advanced scientific instruments relevant to soil biogeochemistry.

International Research Collaboration

The PhD project involves collaboration between several internationally recognized research institutions, including:

• University of Copenhagen
• Aarhus University
• Technische Universität Berlin
• ETH Zürich
• University of Guelph

The University of Copenhagen project supervisor is Assistant Professor Nelly S. Raymond. The principal supervisor is Associate Professor Dorette Müller Stöver, while Assistant Professor Nelly S. Raymond is the co-supervisor. Prof. Carsten Müller at Technische Universität Berlin will act as the daily project supervisor during research visits to TUB. Assistant Professor Ingeborg F. Pedersen, Dr Federica Tamburini, and Prof. Kari Dunfield will serve as project advisors.

PhD Programme

The position is part of the regular PhD programme, following the 5+3 scheme, and involves three years of full-time study for applicants who already hold an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

To qualify for the regular programme, applicants must have completed a degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. The required educational structure corresponds to 180 ECTS for a bachelor’s degree plus 120 ECTS for a master’s degree, in a relevant subject such as soil science or biogeochemistry.

Applicants with international qualifications should consult the relevant Danish assessment resources to determine whether their completed programme meets the eligibility requirements.

PhD Responsibilities

The successful PhD fellow will undertake an independent research project under supervision and complete approximately 30 ECTS of PhD courses.

The programme also involves participation in active research environments, including a research stay at another institution, specifically TUB. The fellow will undertake teaching and knowledge dissemination activities, prepare scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals, and ultimately write and defend a PhD thesis based on the research project.

These activities provide training not only in experimental research but also in scientific communication, teaching, academic publishing, and international collaboration.

Qualifications and Skills

The university will assess candidates based on professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project, relevant publications, work experience, and other professional activities.

Candidates should have a curious mindset and a strong interest in developing sustainable crop systems that are resource-efficient, biodiversity-friendly, and capable of promoting important ecosystem services.

Strong spoken and written English is required, including academic writing skills. The expected level is C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Employment Terms

Employment as a PhD fellow is full-time and for a maximum of three years. Appointment is conditional upon successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School of the Faculty of SCIENCE at the University of Copenhagen. Enrolment requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment follow the relevant agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on academics employed by the state. The position is covered by the applicable Protocol on Job Structure.

Application Documents

Applicants must submit their application in English through the electronic application system.

The application should include:

1. Cover letter or motivated letter of application, maximum one page.
2. Curriculum vitae, including education, experience, language skills, and other relevant skills.
3. Short reflection on research interests and experience, explaining how the project aims could be approached, maximum one page.
4. Original bachelor’s or master’s diplomas and transcripts of records, including an authorized English translation where documents are issued in a language other than English or Danish.
5. Publication list, if available.
6. Contact information for two referees, who may be contacted upon request.

Applicants whose degree has not yet been completed may provide a certified or signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from their institution or supervisor, as specified in the vacancy.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is:

October 15, 2026, at 23:59 GMT+2.

Applications or materials received after the deadline may not be considered. The university also reserves the right not to consider applications that do not meet the stated requirements.

Selection Process

After the application deadline, a number of candidates will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. Applicants will be notified whether they have progressed to academic assessment.

The assessor will evaluate shortlisted applicants’ qualifications and experience against the research area, techniques, skills, and other requirements described in the position.

Candidates who undergo academic assessment will have an opportunity to comment on the assessment.

Interviews are expected to take place during weeks 44–45 of 2026.

Start Date

The advertised employment start date is January 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically through APPLY NOW. The application should be prepared in English and include all required attachments.

Applicants should not send applications, CVs, or unsolicited materials directly to the contact person. Questions about the position may be directed to Assistant Professor Nelly S. Raymond E-mail: kzj619@ku.dk , but applications must be submitted through the official application system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PhD fellowship about?

The PhD project investigates how biobased fertilizers, soil organic matter, and microbial activity influence phosphorus mobilization and biological phosphorus cycling in soil.

What is the PRIME-P project?

PRIME-P stands for “Can microbial phosphorus mobilization be primed? Organic fertiliser effect on biological soil phosphorus cycling.” The research project is financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Where is the PhD position based?

The successful candidate will be based in the Soil Fertility and Nutrient Recycling group at the Frederiksberg campus of the University of Copenhagen.

What academic background is required?

The position targets candidates in soil biogeochemistry, plant nutrition, soil science, or closely related disciplines.

What research methods will be used?

The project includes soil characterization, soil organic matter fractionation, soil incubation experiments, isotopic techniques using 33P and 18O-enriched water, enzymatic activity measurements, advanced imaging, and potentially soil-plant modelling.

Is a master’s degree required?

For the regular 5+3 PhD programme, applicants must have completed a degree equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree, typically corresponding to 180 ECTS at bachelor’s level and 120 ECTS at master’s level.

What English level is required?

Applicants are expected to have C1-level English proficiency, including spoken, written, and academic English skills.

How long is the PhD fellowship?

The employment is full-time for a maximum of three years.

When does the PhD start?

The employment start date is January 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is October 15, 2026, at 23:59 GMT+2.

What documents are required?

Applicants need a one-page motivation letter, CV, a one-page reflection on research interests and the project approach, academic diplomas and transcripts, a publication list if possible, and contact information for two referees.

When will interviews take place?

Interviews are expected to be held in weeks 44–45 of 2026.

Who can applicants contact about the fellowship?

Specific questions about the fellowship can be directed to Assistant Professor Nelly S. Raymond E-mail: kzj619@ku.dk.