NMBU PhD Scholarship in Food Technology 2026 | Eligibility and How to Apply

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) is offering a fully funded three-year PhD position in Food Technology at its Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM), located on Campus Aas, Norway. This position is part of the InNOBake project, a research initiative funded by the Norwegian Fund for Research Fees for Agricultural Products, focused on developing innovative modified pressure processing methods for wholemeal wheat and wheat-free bread making. 

This position is for graduates with a Master’s degree in food technology, food engineering, food science, chemical engineering, or a closely related field who are passionate about the science of food processing and its industrial applications. The work is hands-on and experimental, involving processing equipment, ingredient analysis, dough and bread characterisation, and scientific publication. Applicants from any country are eligible to apply, provided they meet the academic and English language requirements set by NMBU.

This post covers everything you need to know to apply with confidence: who qualifies, what the benefits include, which documents to prepare, a step-by-step application guide, key dates, and targeted tips for putting together a strong application.

Scholarship Overview

Eligibility

To qualify for this PhD position, you must meet all of the requirements listed below:

Citizenship: There are no citizenship restrictions. Applicants from all countries are eligible to apply.

Academic Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree (MSc) in food technology, food engineering, food science, chemical engineering, or a closely related area is required.
• Your degree must correspond to a five-year programme with learning outcomes aligned to the second cycle of the Norwegian Qualifications Framework.
• You must have a documented strong academic background relevant to this specific position.
• Applicants who have not yet defended their thesis by the application deadline may still apply, but must be able to supply their certificate by the time of the interview if selected.

Specialist Knowledge Required:

• A solid foundation in food technology is required and explicitly stated in the vacancy.
• Experience or knowledge in at least two of the following areas is considered an advantage:
  • Hands-on work with pilot-scale food processing equipment
  • Cereal science, in particular the bread-making process
  • Analytical techniques for studying dough and bread characteristics such as rheology and texture analysis
  • Heat and mass transfer
  • Mixing technology
  • Statistical analysis

Language Requirements:

• Strong written and oral communication skills in English are required.
• Documentation of English proficiency must comply with NMBU PhD regulation Section 5-2(3). 
• Knowledge of a Scandinavian language is listed as an advantage but is not required.

Personal Qualities the Committee Will Look For:

• Inquisitive and driven to understand complex food systems.
• Ambitious, diligent, and self-motivated.
• Committed to contributing to a collaborative and supportive team.
• Genuinely interested in scientific research and its industrial applications.

Eligible Countries

This PhD position is open to applicants from all countries worldwide. NMBU does not restrict eligibility by nationality or region and actively welcomes international candidates.

Eligible Fields of Study

This scholarship is not open to all fields. It is specifically focused on food technology and closely related technical and scientific disciplines. Relevant fields include:

• Food Technology
• Food Engineering
• Food Science
• Chemical Engineering (with food or processing focus)
• Food Processing Technology
• Cereal Science
• Agricultural Engineering (with food processing focus)
• Biotechnology (with food science application)
• Nutrition Science (with food technology focus)

The project is specifically focused on modulated pressure processing in bread making. Priority will be given to candidates with hands-on experience in food processing equipment, cereal science, dough characterisation methods, or heat and mass transfer. If your degree is in a related field but not listed above, it is worth contacting the supervisor to confirm your eligibility before applying.

Benefits

This is a paid government employment position at NMBU. Here is a full breakdown of what you receive:

Annual Salary: NOK 550,800 per year at government pay scale position code 1017 PhD Fellow. Seniority promotions are available within the position during the three-year period.

Duration: Three-year fixed-term employment contract, with a desired start date of 1 June 2026. The start date can be adjusted.

Research Facility Access: Most experimental work will be conducted at Nofima in Aas, where a well-equipped pilot-scale bakery with modern processing equipment is available. You will also have access to NMBU’s own food science and biotechnology infrastructure.

International Research Stay: There is a possibility for a short-term research visit abroad, offering valuable exposure to international research environments and collaborators.

Conference Attendance: You will have the opportunity to attend relevant international scientific conferences and present your findings.

Supervision: You will work with a dedicated supervision team throughout your doctoral project and are expected to develop a progress plan within the first months of appointment.

Healthcare: As a Norwegian government employee, you are likely entitled to access Norway’s national health system. Confirm this directly with NMBU.

Relocation Support:  Contact NMBU to confirm whether any relocation assistance is available for international candidates moving to Aas, Norway.

Required Documents

Prepare all of the following before starting your online application. Everything must be submitted through NMBU’s Web Recruitment System:

1. Motivation letter (maximum 1 page). This must clearly explain why you are qualified and motivated for this specific project. Keep it focused and relevant to the InNOBake research objectives.
2. CV entered directly into JobbNorge’s CV form within the system. This is a legal requirement and cannot be replaced by an attached CV file alone.
3. Bachelor’s degree diploma and official transcript.
4. Master’s degree diploma and official transcript. If you have not yet defended, note your expected completion date and provide your certificate at the interview stage if selected.
5. Diploma supplement for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, describing your study programme and grading system. This is especially important for applicants from universities outside Norway.
6. If your diplomas or transcripts are not in Norwegian or English, upload the originals in their original language and provide official English translations of each document.
7. Documentation of English language proficiency in line with NMBU PhD regulation Section 5-2(3).
8. Names and full contact details for two references.
9. Any additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge, such as a list of scientific publications or reports. If any publications are co-authored and your contribution is not obvious, include a short explanation of your specific role in each.

Note: You must confirm in your application that all submitted documents may also be used by NMBU in a possible PhD programme admission process. This is mandatory.

How to Apply

Follow each of these steps carefully to submit a complete and competitive application:

Step 1: Read the full vacancy description and study the InNOBake project background. Understanding the specific focus on modulated pressure processing and wholemeal and wheat-free bread making will help you write a more targeted and compelling motivation letter.

Step 2: Research the work of Associate Professor Catrin Tyl and the SciFood research group at KBM. Knowing the research environment and the supervisor’s expertise will help you align your application more precisely.

Step 3: Write your motivation letter (maximum 1 page). Focus on your specific technical background in food processing, any experience with pilot-scale equipment, cereal science, or analytical methods for dough and bread, and why this project genuinely excites you. Avoid broad statements about interest in food science.

Step 4: Visit NMBU’s Web Recruitment System. Register an account if you do not already have one, then log in and locate the PhD vacancy at the Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science.

Step 5: Enter your CV directly into JobbNorge’s CV form within the system. This is mandatory under the Public Administration Act Section 15. Uploading a PDF attachment alone is not sufficient.

Step 6: Gather all required academic documents. Ensure your diplomas and transcripts are certified and complete. If any documents are not in English or Norwegian, arrange for official translations before the deadline.

Step 7: Prepare your English proficiency documentation. Verify with NMBU which specific tests or institutional documents satisfy PhD regulation Section 5-2(3) and obtain the necessary paperwork early.

Step 8: Contact your two references in advance. Brief them on the position and the InNOBake project so their endorsements are relevant and specific. Confirm their names and contact details before including them in the application.

Step 9: Compile any additional professional documentation. If you have scientific publications, project reports, or other research outputs, prepare a list and note your specific contribution to any co-authored works.

Step 10: Upload all required documents through the application portal. Check that every item on the required list is included and clearly legible.

Step 11: Confirm in your application form that your submitted documents may be used by NMBU in the PhD programme admission process. This step is mandatory.

Step 12: Review your entire application before submitting. Double-check your CV form, uploaded documents, motivation letter, and reference details. Submit before the deadline of 15th April 2026.

Key Dates and Timeline

Application Deadline

The application deadline is 15th April 2026.

Applications submitted after this date will NOT be accepted.

Selection Criteria

Meeting the basic eligibility requirements is only the starting point. Here is what the selection committee prioritises when comparing candidates:

1. Strength of Food Technology Background: Your Master’s degree must demonstrate a solid foundation in food technology. The more directly your academic and practical training relates to food processing, cereal science, or relevant engineering principles, the stronger your candidacy.
2. Hands-on Processing Experience: The project is experimental and largely conducted at a pilot-scale bakery. Candidates who have worked with food processing equipment, even at lab or pilot scale, will have a clear advantage over those with purely theoretical backgrounds.
3. Technical Breadth Across Relevant Areas: Experience or knowledge in at least two of the specified areas (pilot-scale equipment, cereal science, rheology and texture analysis, heat and mass transfer, mixing technology, statistical analysis) is explicitly highlighted as an advantage. The more of these you can demonstrate, the more competitive your profile.
4. Motivation Letter Quality: With only one page, your motivation letter must be precise and project-specific. The committee will assess whether you understand the InNOBake project and can articulate a genuine connection between your background and the research tasks.
5. Scientific Communication Skills: The position involves publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at conferences. Any evidence of prior scientific writing, including thesis chapters, co-authored papers, or conference presentations, demonstrates you are ready for this expectation.
6. Industrial Curiosity: The vacancy specifically asks for candidates who are interested in scientific research and its industrial applications. Evidence of this orientation, such as industry placements, applied research projects, or collaboration with food companies, will be viewed positively.
7. Self-Motivation and Independence: The committee is looking for someone who is ambitious, diligent, and capable of driving their own work within a collaborative team. References and your track record of completing complex, independent projects will support this assessment.

Important Tips

1. Tailor your motivation letter entirely to the InNOBake project. Describe your experience with food processing, baking science, or relevant analytical techniques in direct relation to the project’s goals. One well-focused page will outperform a broad two-page summary of your academic career.
2. If you have hands-on pilot plant or laboratory processing experience, lead with it. This is one of the most valued skills for this position. Describe specific equipment you have used, the scale of the work, and what you learned from it.
3. Contact Associate Professor Catrin Tyl before applying if you have a question about project fit. Reaching out at catrin.tyl@nmbu.no shows initiative and gives you an opportunity to confirm whether your background aligns with what the team needs.
4. If you have not yet defended your thesis, apply now and have your certificate ready for the interview stage. This is explicitly permitted. Do not delay your application simply because your degree is not yet officially conferred.
5. List your technical skills clearly and specifically in your CV. Tools, instruments, software, and analytical methods should be named explicitly, for example, rheometer experience, texture profile analysis, R or MATLAB for statistical analysis. Vague descriptions of laboratory experience will not differentiate you.
6. Note any Scandinavian language ability in your application. While not required, it is listed as an advantage. Even basic Norwegian or Swedish acquired through coursework or self-study is worth mentioning if it is genuine.
7. Prepare your diploma supplement early if you studied outside Norway. This document requires your university to describe your programme and grading system in detail. It is not always issued automatically and may take time to request and receive.
8. Be specific about your contribution to any co-authored publications. If you have published with others, a brief explanation of your exact role in the research and writing process will help the committee assess your capabilities accurately.
9. Think about your start date. The desired start date is 1 June 2026 but it can be adjusted. If you have a constraint, be prepared to discuss this transparently. Showing flexibility and planning ahead reflects well on your organisational ability.

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