PhD programme in Biotechnology
PhD in Biotechnology
About the programme
The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science is responsible for the major research area biotechnology. Research is performed in cooperation between departmental and external research groups. Both basic and applied research topics are addressed.
The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science offers 13 courses on the PhD level.
Research areas
- Biopolymer chemistry and bio-nanotechnology
- Genetics
- Determination of polysaccharide primary structure
- Enzymatic, chemical and physical modification of polysaccharides
- Determination of conformation in solution and gel phase
- Interactions between polysaccharides and ions, enzymes, antigens, DNA and RNA
- Non-viral gene delivery using chitosans
- Nanostructure, phase behaviour and rheology in biopolymer gels, films, emulsions and suspensions
- Alginate based capsule technology for treatment of diabetes
- New experimental methods for characterization of polysaccharides
- New biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of alginates, chitosans, gelatine, sphagnan, beta glucans, glycoproteins and proteoglycans
- Capsule- and gel technology applied in food
Marine biochemistry/mariculture
- Production of fatty acids (DHA) in marine microorganisms
- Marine biopolymers – from raw material to biological applications
- Fish gelatins: Properties and modifications
- New antibiotics from marine bacteria
- Capsule- and gel technology in feed technology
Molecular genetics/Microbiology
- Studies of the mechanism for plasmid replication, construction of cloning vectors and analysis of recombinant protein expression
- Genetic analysis of the production of antibiotics in bacteria
- Studies of molecular mechanisms for cellular osmoregulation
- The genetics of alginate biosynthesis and function studies of the enzyme structures
- Oil microbiology
- Development of new plasmid tools for use in bioprospecting
- Microbial producers of bioactive agents from the marine environment
Biochemical engineering
- Production of secondary metabolites in bacteria
- Microbiological aspects in food science
- Microbial production of lysine from methanol
Food chemistry
- Superchilling
- Utilization of Calanus
- Using NMR to study water and salt during salting of fish and meat
- Application of NMR for determination of food authenticity
- Lipid oxidation
- Ethical slaughtering of white fish
- Production of stable marine oils
Environmental biotechnology/Microbial ecology
- Biofilm formation and biofouling
- Gel-immobilized microbial ecosystems
- Anaerobic fermentation of organic material
- Directing microbial environment in marine aquaculture
- Mechanisms for bacterial colonization and directing microbial environment in marine aquaculture
- Structure and stability in natural pelagic ecosystems
Research divisions at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science
Analysis and Control of Microbial Systems
Contact Person: Olav Vadstein
- Environmental Biotechnology
- Microbial Ecology
Principal Investigators: Ingrid Bakke, Olav Vadstein
Biopolymers and Biomaterials
Contact Person: Berit Løkensgard Strand
- Applications of Biopolymers and Biomaterials
- Carbohydrate Based Biomaterials
- Carbohydrate Structure–Function Relationships
- Enzymatic and Chemical Tailoring of Biopolymers
Principal Investigators: Berit Løkensgard Strand, Bjørn E. Christensen, Catherine Taylor Nordgård, Finn L. Aachman, Gudmund Skjåk-Bræk, Kurt Draget, Marit Sletmoen
Food Science
Division Leader: Jørgen Lerfall
- Quality of raw materials and products, including quality changes through processing
- Marine lipids, proteins and peptides, biopolymers, metabolites and pigments
- Shelf life and food chain knowledge
- Stability of marine lipids
- Food safety, food microbiology, biofilms, hygienic design and development of hygienic processing equipment
- Rest raw materials, new raw materials (seaweed) and sustainable production
Principal Investigators: Turid Rustad, Anita Nordeng Jakobsen, Alexander Dikiy, Jørgen Lerfall, Eva Falch, Lisbeth Mehli, Eirin Marie Skjøndal Bar, Ida-Johanne Jensen, Marcin Kurek
Microbial Biotechnology
Division Leader: Trygve Brautaset
- Alginate Biosynthesis
- Bioenergy
- Controlled Expression of Genes and Pathways
- Metabolomics, Fluxomics
- Synthetic Biology
- Systems - Network Biology
Principal Investigators: Eivind Almaas, Martin F. Hohmann-Marriott, Helga Ertesvåg, Per Bruheim, Rahmi Lale, Trygve Brautaset
National research centre
Centre for Digital Life Norway
Centre for Digital Life Norway is a unique transdisciplinary research centre creating the biotechnology for tomorrow. The aim is to evolve new knowledge and methods to create value and address societal challenges.
PhD education
A Philosophiae doctor degree (PhD) is the highest level of formalized education in Norway. The goal of a PhD education is to enable the candidate to conduct original research at a high international level.
The PhD degree is awarded after examination of a thesis. The original contribution to knowledge required of candidates must be consistent with at least three years of supervised research and significant parts of the work should be worthy of publication at international levels.
The PhD candidate will be able to solve complex research problems independently using creative solutions that will have a social and economic impact on society.
Degree: Philosophiae doctor (PhD)
Duration: 3 years, 180 ECTS
Programme code: PHBIOT
Language of instruction: English
City: Trondheim
Faculty: Faculty of Natural Sciences
Department: Department of Biotechnology and Food Science
Contact person: Maja C. Haaker
Useful PhD links
PhD at the
Faculty of Natural Sciences
(Faculty-specific information)
PhD at NTNU
(General information at NTNU)
My PhD - Blog posts
- Technology and natural sciences