About the position
Bio-based fertilisers such as compost, manure and sewage sludge contain much of their phosphorus in forms plants cannot use directly. Soil microbes have to release it first, and the carbon and nitrogen these fertilisers add also change the soil's organic matter and microbial activity.
This PhD asks how different bio-based fertilisers change soil organic matter over time and how that affects the release of phosphorus by microbes. It is part of PRIME-P, a project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, in the Soil Fertility and Nutrient Recycling group at the University of Copenhagen's Frederiksberg campus, with partners at Aarhus University, TU Berlin, ETH Zurich and the University of Guelph.
What you will do
- Characterise soils, and separate soil organic matter after recent and long-term fertiliser use.
- Run soil incubation experiments using isotope techniques and enzyme measurements, and study small-scale processes with advanced imaging.
- Spend a research stay at TU Berlin, take about 30 ECTS of PhD courses, teach, and write papers and a thesis.
Who can apply
- A degree equal to a Danish master's (a three-year bachelor's plus a two-year master's) in soil science, biogeochemistry, plant nutrition or a related field.
- Strong lab experience, such as soil sampling and analysis, organic matter fractionation or isotope techniques, and the ability to analyse complex data.
- English at C1 level, including academic writing.
- The advert encourages you to apply even if you do not match every point.
What is offered
- A full-time, salaried PhD post for up to three years on Danish state-sector terms, starting on 1 January 2027 or soon after.
- Modern laboratories, climate chambers and access to long-term field trials.
How to apply
- Apply online in English through the University of Copenhagen job portal, linked below.
- A one-page cover letter, a CV, and a one-page reflection on your research interests and how you would approach the project.
- Your bachelor's and master's diplomas and transcripts, with an authorised English translation if they are in another language. See the official posting for the full list of documents.