About The Role

Would you like to help close the knowledge gap on the mechanisms underlying food allergen uptake and transport in the skin, which can lead to food allergy skin sensitisation and clinically active allergy? By doing so, you will contribute to research that may help enable skin-targeted approaches to prevent the development of food allergy.

If you have knowledge within the area of skin biology and immunology as well as have hands-on experience with optical imaging and are looking for a PhD fellowship opportunity to put your skills into practise, you have it right here. The Research Group for Food Allergy at DTU National Food Institute together with the Biophotonic Imaging Group at DTU Health Tech, are looking to recruit a talented and highly motivated PhD student for research and innovation in the area of optical imaging and food allergy.

Responsibilities and qualifications

In this PhD project you will contribute to expound and follow the uptake of proteins through the skin barrier leading to sensitisation, with a focus on the impact of the protein properties, the impact of the skin barrier integrity, and the impact of skin inflammation status, to elucidate the interaction of the proteins transported through the skin with the underlying immune cells leading to sensitisation and to understand the cross-talk between the skin and gut explaining the elicitation of an allergic reaction upon oral exposure after skin sensitisation.

You will be involved in research, innovation, publication, and scientific dissemination, where your primary research tasks will focus on:

Planning and performing in vivo animal experiments
Designing and performing various ex vivo immunological analysis
Performing various optical imaging techniques

With the overall objective of using multimodal optical imaging capable of longitudinal monitoring to provide new and detailed knowledge on food allergy skin sensitisation bringing us a step closer to developing preventive measures targeting the skin for food allergy prevention.

An external research stay is a mandatory part of this PhD fellowship position.

You will work in close collaboration with experienced researchers and technicians and will take part in the supervision of student projects.

We are looking for a team player with the motivation and drive needed for making a difference that matters. You should possess a critical mindset, be curious and eager to learn. Since you will be joining international groups, a good command of written and spoken English is necessary.

Your academic background should include a Master's degree (or equivalent) in allergology, immunology, biology, biochemistry, biomedicine, molecular biology, or a related field, as well as:

Solid understanding of immunology and/or food allergy, and
Knowledge of protein-chemistry, and
Solid experience in working with in vivo experiments, and
Experience in optical imaging techniques, and
Experience in immunological analysis

Your new teams

The Research Group for Food Allergy, headed by Professor Katrine Lindholm Bøgh, researches the relationship between different physicochemical features of food proteins and their capacity to induce either allergy or tolerance, as well as the impact of route of exposure. The aim is to deepen the understanding on why certain food proteins are more allergenic than others and to develop new and improved preventive, management, and treatment strategies. We are part of the Danish DTU National Food Institute, where we conduct research at the forefront of healthy, safe and sustainable food.

In the Biophotonic Imaging Group, the aim is to drive cutting-edge research in multimodal, functional optical bio-imaging and to establish a biophotonic imaging resource for translational research at DTU Health Tech. The group develops and innovates new optical imaging concepts and technologies that enable novel insights into tissue function and disease biomarkers, as well as new clinical achievements that improve healthcare.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education .

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 appointment terms

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. The period of employment is 3 years.

Starting date is 1 January 2027 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here .

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Professor and Head of Research Group Katrine Lindholm Bøgh at [email hidden] . You can also read more about the Research Group for Food Allergy - DTU Food .

You can read more about DTU National Food Institute at 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 . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “ PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 16 September 2026 (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:

A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
Curriculum vitae
Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

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.