Post doc position – Effect of lupine feeding in organic milk productions and effect on milk composition

The Department of Food Science, Aarhus University (Denmark), invites applications for an 18-month postdoc position within analytic chemistry of milk and lupine seeds. A key target is alkaloids in lupins and their possible transfer to milk, but also the general effect of lupine feeding on milk composition and quality.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is an 18-month position from 1 October 2026. This is a fixed-term position to end on 31 March 2028.

Job description

We are seeking a skilled, motivated, and successful candidate to develop and support this research that explores the effect of Danish-grown organic protein crops of high quality for organic milk production as an alternative to soy. Lupines are a good choice here and are expected to have positive effects on milk production, but contain alkaloids, which potentially can transfer to milk.
The postdoc position is part of the Food Chemistry group at the Department of Food Science, Aarhus University and may also include teaching and dissemination activities, as well as supervision of students. You are expected to complement and grow your expertise, and to actively participate and deliver on projects carried out in one of the most dynamic groups in food science at Aarhus University. You will have many opportunities to connect with other research partners and be in a cross-disciplinary collaboration with other research groups and industry partners. The postdoc position is part of the LupMilk project, carried out in collaboration between Aarhus University, Innovation Centre for Organic Farming, Eurofins and the organic Danish dairies Thise and Naturmælk.

Your profile

Applicants must have a PhD degree in chemistry/food chemistry/biotechnology/food science or similar. Also:

Documented expertise in legumes and dairy, incl. using advanced analytical techniques to explore compositional variations in these, as well as more general expertise within biochemistry and food chemistry
Documented expertise in analyzing plant and food components using advanced analytical techniques, i.e. targeted mass spectrometry (triple Q and single Q) and preferentially also within milk compositional analyses
General knowledge of sustainable Danish dairy production and practical experience with farm visits and communication with farmers
Experience with self-directed coordination of research
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate and communicate in academia, with industry and to the public
Efficient at planning, developing, organizing and execution of major tasks
Curiosity-driven interest in investigating alkaloids from lupines and milk and associate variation to primary production factors
A high level of verbal and written communication in English, science communication skills proven publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals including first-authored publications in leading international journals
Good interpersonal skills, the ability to thrive in a diverse, multidisciplinary environment, and the ability to disseminate scientific results
Experience in supervising students, teaching and conducting hypothesis-driven research of the highest academic standards
Candidates need to have a driver's license

Who we are

Department of Food Science (FOOD) is part of the Faculty of Technology, Aarhus University (AU) and includes research across the food value chain within the areas of Plant Production Systems, Biofunctional Food, Systems Biology, Food Chemistry, Food Technology, Food Quality, and Sensory and Consumer Science. Research will be conducted at a recently built 7000 m2 state-of-the-art research facility at AU FOOD. AU FOOD is in possession of the most advanced analytical research infrastructure, with well-integrated, high-tech prototype facilities.
The Department currently employs approx. 60 full time scientific staff and 80 PhDs, students and post docs, with approx. 80 thesis-based Bachelor and Master students and visiting staff and students, who together contribute to an international research environment, where English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars. Read more about the Department of Food Science at www.food.au.dk

What we offer

We offer a challenging and independent job opportunity in an ambitious and inspiring research and education environment with an informal atmosphere. We are looking for a dynamic employee who can work independently and maintain an overview during periods of high workload. We expect that you are efficient at planning your time and organizing major tasks. You enjoy interaction with both scientific staff, students and technical-administrative staff and you have a flair for establishing collaborative relationships. We offer unique research experience in an interdisciplinary research project, combining state-of-the-art techniques in protein chemistry, protein functionality, rheology and structure-functional relationships. We also offer a great research environment characterized by collaboration, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and success in mentoring.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is the Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Contact information

For further information about the project or the position, please contact Associate Professor Nina Aagaard Poulsen, nina.poulsen@food.au.dk, +4523967003

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than May 28th 2026.

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8.700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Apply

Share in your network

Deadline: 28 May 2026

Academic contact person:

Nina Aagaard Poulsen Lektor nina.poulsen@food.au.dk +4523967003

Vacant positions: 1

Hours per week: 37

Number of months: 18

Expected date of accession: 01 October 2026

AARHUS UNIVERSITET

Nordre Ringgade 1
8000 Aarhus

Email: au@au.dk
Tlf: 8715 0000

CVR-nr: 31119103