About this role
We invite applicants to help us with our mission to survey and promote health and welfare of fish and shellfish, with special focus on sustainable aquaculture. Infectious diseases in farmed aquatic animals cause clinical illness, reduced growth and mortality. Disease is also classified as a direct cause of impaired welfare in fish, although the extent of this is not well described. There is a need to understand how and when infections with diseases affect farmed aquatic animals and to develop and validate protocols for assessing welfare in aquaculture, during different stages of production.
The current position addresses the interplay between fish health and welfare, using methodologies from fish disease research and welfare studies. One of the aims is to specifically explore how diseases in aquaculture animals affects the welfare of the animals. An important part of the position is to raise awareness on welfare in aquaculture animals. The position aligns with DTU Aquas strengthened focus on fish welfare and our responsibilities within teaching, research and advice. The position is partly under the European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (eupahw.eu)
At the Section for Fish and Shellfish Diseases, you can draw on the acquired competence from more than 30 years of research on fish diseases, and a large international network. The section is the National reference laboratory for fish, crustacean and mollusc diseases, and in addition EU reference laboratory for fish and crustacean diseases. Further, the section has a large project portfolio and currently employs 30 people with a background in molecular biology, immunology/vaccinology, diagnostics, virology, bacteriology, epidemiology and laboratory techniques.
Responsibilities and qualifications
In this role, you will work with aquatic animal diseases and examine in aquatic animals affect their welfare.
Your work will include developing protocols to measure the impact of disease on welfare, performing laboratory trials, and developing training materials and teaching activities.
You will work with nearby colleagues, and with both academic and industrial partners in Denmark as well as internationally.
The focus on both health and welfare demands experience with aquatic animal diseases, specifically infectious diseases in farmed fish, and understanding host-pathogen interactions in fish.
The candidate must have a proven experience in working with PCR-methods and other molecular methods. The candidate should have experience with development of protocols for molecular assays, and preferably also for working with growing virus in cell cultures.
Experience with planning, executing and evaluating experimental trials both in vitro and in vivo (laboratory and aquaria facilities) is a key requirement.
You will also be part of the EU reference laboratory team, and depending on qualifications, perform tasks related to this.
Your overall focus will be to develop and strengthen the section’s competences within the field of fish diseases and their influence on welfare.
Your primary tasks will be to:
• Develop research-based procedures for measuring effects of disease on fish welfare (in laboratory settings and field studies) • Develop and evaluate protocols for assessing welfare in aquaculture (and in laboratory studies) • Participate in ongoing research projects pertaining to welfare in farmed fish • Perform research on disease kinetics for aquatic animal diseases. • Develop training materials and give advice on welfare issues in aquaculture to competent authorities, veterinarians and other stakeholders.
Contribute to:
• Fundraising within the above research fields • Research networking and project coordination activities (national and international) • Perform tasks under the EURL pertaining to the contingency and preparedness of this
The position will include teaching on fish welfare and diseases at MsC level and also training of authorities and other stakeholders.
You must contribute to the teaching of courses. DTU employs two working languages: Danish and English. You are expected to be fluent in at least one of these languages, and in time are expected to master both.
As formal qualification you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) within one of the following fields: Veterinary or Animal Science, Virology, Molecular biology, Immunology or Virology.
In addition, we are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate one or more of the following:
• Knowledge of diseases in farmed aquatic animals • Knowledge of welfare in farmed aquatic animals • Experience with molecular techniques for diagnostics • Experience with development of protocols for molecular assays • Experience with planning, executing and evaluating experimental trials both in vitro and in vivo • Experience with working with growing virus in cell cultures • A good national and international network and ability to work in trans-disciplinary research projects • A course certificate in Laboratory animal science, ie FELASA
Personal skills
• Ability to work in a team and to assist colleagues, as well as being able to work independently • Be creative and interested in exploring new technology and in adopting new ways of working and solving problems • Ability to take personal responsibility for getting things done • Good problem-solving skills • Good communication and collaboration skills • Able to work closely with people from other disciplines
You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:
• Research experience • Experience and quality of teaching • Research vision and potential • International impact and experience • Societal impact • Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry • Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills • Communication skills
Salary and terms of employment
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.
Starting date is November 1st 2026 or according to mutual agreement. The position is a full-time position.
The position is part of DTU’s Tenure Track program. Read more about the program and the recruitment process here.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Head of Section Britt Bang Jensen, tel: +45 9351 8948, email: [email protected]
You can read more about The Section for Fish and Shellfish Diseases here.
If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.
Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 17 July 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:
• Application (cover letter) • Vision for teaching and research for the tenure track period • CV including employment history, list of publications, H-index and ORCID (see http://orcid.org/) • Teaching portfolio including documentation of teaching experience • Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD) • Documentation of FELASA (if available)
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.
The Section for Fish and Shellfish Diseases conduct research on host-pathogen interactions, disease prophylaxis and pathogen characterization. The section gives research-based advice and is at the forefront on the development of diagnostic tools and preventive measures of diseases in fish, bivalves and crustaceans. Furthermore, the section is appointed as the European Union reference laboratory for Fish and Crustacean Diseases and as the reference laboratory for the fish disease viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) for the World Organisation for Animal Health.
About DTU Aqua DTU Aqua – National Institute of Aquatic Resources – works for well-functioning oceans, rivers, and lakes where biodiversity can thrive. Our research, advisory service, and education contribute to the development of a sustainable blue bioeconomy, robust aquatic ecosystems, and reduced effects of climate change. We have a large national and international network and cooperate with research partners, public authorities, industry, and NGOs. We have state-of-the-art research facilities and Denmark’s only ocean- and arctic-going research vessel. The Institute has about 360 employees, one-half being scientific staff, including about 50 PhD students. More than 35 nationalities are represented at the Institute, and we support an equal gender distribution. We are located in Lyngby, Hirtshals, Nykøbing Mors, and Silkeborg and have regular activities in Greenland. Learn more on aqua.dtu.dk
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.