Research Manager and Laboratory Coordinator in Food Process Technology and Production Engineering - DTU Food

Would you like to take a central role in shaping an advanced experimental research environment and coordinating laboratory and pilot-plant activities within food process technology?

We are seeking an experienced Research Manager and Laboratory Coordinator to join the Research Group for Food Production Engineering at DTU National Food Institute. This is a senior technical and research-support position connecting advanced methods, experimental workflows, laboratory users, and our laboratory and pilot-plant infrastructure. You will help translate ambitious research plans into reliable, safe, and well-organized experimental activities.

The position offers substantial professional responsibility and influence on how experimental work is planned, coordinated, implemented, and documented. It is particularly suited to a PhD-qualified candidate who enjoys applying advanced scientific knowledge in a collaborative, hands-on role and taking ownership of a forward-looking experimental research environment.

The job

As Research Manager and Laboratory Coordinator, you will coordinate the scientific-technical and operational implementation of laboratory and pilot-scale activities within food physics and food process technology. You will be a central point of contact for experimental coordination and will work closely with the Head of Research Group, project leaders, researchers, students, technical staff, and external partners.

In this position, research management refers to the coordination of experimental workflows, analytical methods, processing trials, equipment, documentation, data quality, and collaboration among research users. You will help convert agreed research plans into robust experimental procedures, appropriate methods, well-prepared facilities, and reliable data. The position does not include formal personnel or line-management responsibility, independent responsibility for defining research strategy, or formal academic supervision.

You will provide advanced scientific-technical guidance in experimental planning, method selection and implementation, equipment use, data quality, and troubleshooting. You will also support laboratory-based course activities and MSc and PhD projects. Formal responsibility for research direction, teaching, interpretation of research results, and academic supervision remains with the academic staff.

Our expectations of you

Your overall focus will be to ensure high-quality experimental support and the efficient development and operation of the group’s laboratories and pilot-scale facilities. Your primary responsibilities include:

• Coordinate scientific-technical and operational activities in laboratory and pilot-scale research projects, including scheduling, experimental workflows, equipment readiness, data recording, and documentation.

• Perform and support advanced experimental work using analytical and characterization techniques relevant to food systems, including amino acid analysis, GPC–MALS, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), other microscopy techniques, interfacial rheology, and foam and emulsion stability analysis.

• Operate, troubleshoot, develop, and support laboratory and pilot-scale food-processing equipment, with particular emphasis on extrusion and related food-processing technologies.

• Introduce, evaluate, implement, and optimize analytical methods, experimental procedures, processing workflows, and new technologies in collaboration with the responsible researchers.

• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, method documentation, equipment-use procedures, quality practices, and maintenance and training systems.

• Provide advanced practical and technical guidance to BSc and MSc students, PhD fellows, postdoctoral researchers, visitors, and other laboratory users in experimental planning, method implementation, equipment operation, data quality, troubleshooting, and safety.

• Support laboratory-based teaching by preparing experimental setups, demonstrating equipment and methods, and assisting students during practical activities.

• Support collaborative research and innovation activities with academic and industrial partners through technical planning, experimental coordination, project documentation, figures, slides, and presentation of technical results at project meetings.

• Take ownership of the continued development, organization, and reliable operation of the group’s laboratory and pilot-scale research infrastructure. This coordination responsibility does not include personnel management.

Qualifications

• PhD in food technology or a related field, with strong theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in food-processing laboratories and pilot-scale facilities.

• Experience with advanced analytical techniques, including amino acid analysis, GPC–MALS, DSC, AFM/microscopy, interfacial rheology, and foam and emulsion stability analysis.

• Practical experience with extruders and other laboratory and pilot-scale food-processing equipment.

• Knowledge of experimental design and practical implementation of research activities.

• Experience in method development, optimization, troubleshooting, and documentation.

• Experience providing technical guidance and equipment training to students and researchers.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate multiple laboratory and pilot-scale activities.

• Knowledge of laboratory safety, quality procedures, maintenance, and research infrastructure is an advantage.

• Excellent written and spoken English.

• Collaborative, service-oriented, and able to work independently.

What we offer in return

We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international atmosphere with the focus on research, teaching, innovation and scientific advice for the benefit of the surrounding community. We place emphasis on a high level of professionalism among our staff, so skills development is an integral part of our organization. We offer a great flexibility in the position. In the area of technical and natural sciences, DTU is one of the leading research and education institutions in Europe.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for academic staff employed in technical-administrative positions at DTU (AC TAP): https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures

The position is a three-year fixed-term appointment established for a defined development and implementation assignment and linked to time-limited project activities and their associated funding periods. During this period, the employee will develop and implement a structured framework for laboratory and pilot-plant workflows, methods, equipment-use procedures, documentation, maintenance, user training, and facility coordination.

The position is full-time. The starting date is 1 October 2026 or according to mutual agreement.

The workplace is DTU Lyngby Campus.

Application and contact

Please submit your online application no later than 1 September 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Open the “Apply now” link, fill out the form, and attach your motivated application, CV, and exam certificates.

If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Associate Professor and Head of Research Group Mohammad Amin Mohammadifar at moamo@food.dtu.dk

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 National Food Institute DTU National Food Institute conducts research into and disseminates - through advice, innovation and teaching - sustainable and value-creating solutions in the area of food and health for the benefit of society. The vision is to make a difference by generating future prosperity through research into food and health. The institute works to prevent disease and promote health, develop new and better food products for a growing population and create sustainable technological solutions, including biosolutions. The institute’s tasks are carried out in interdisciplinary collaboration within e.g. nutrition, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, epidemiology, modelling, and technology. This is achieved through a strong academic environment of international top class with correspondingly skilled researchers and employees. The Institute employs approximately 390 staff members.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829 DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.