Postdoc position in environmental DNA and ecosystem monitoring

Job description

The Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark, invites applications for a 2-year postdoc position.
 

Research area and project description

Global change is rapidly transforming ecosystems by altering species compositions and interactions.

At the same time, environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing has become an increasingly efficient approach for obtaining biological information.

As part of a new research project, we are seeking a highly motivated postdoc to work with high-throughout eDNA analyses from a range of different ecosystems and environmental sample types.

The project will use powerful sequencing technology to conduct in-depth analyses of the biodiversity and ecology of selected ecosystems such as coasts, rivers and grasslands in Denmark.

Sampling replication and sequencing effort will be among the hereto most intensive in the field, and will provide information on the species composition, genetic diversity, ecological functions and interactions of eukaryotic communities.

This will provide insights to how the biodiversity of ecosystem varies across gradients of anthropogenic stressors, and how eDNA sequences can be included in ecological assessments.

The project will use a range of different eDNA sequencing technologies in combination with traditional ecological data.

There will also be opportunities for developing own research ideas related to environmental DNA and molecular ecology in collaboration with the group.

The position is available from February 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The position is for 2 years.

The project is funded by the Novo Nordic foundation.

Qualifications and competences

Applicants must have a PhD degree or equivalent or have submitted their PhD thesis for assessment before the application deadline.

We seek a candidate with a keen interest in ecology, natural history and development of molecular methods for biodiversity research, good collaborative skills, and experience with:
• Scientific publishing and project management within molecular ecology and/or genomics
• Bioinformatics and statistical analyses of next-generation sequencing data, particularly eDNA metabarcoding and/or shotgun data (illumina, nanopore)
• Ecological data analyses and GIS, hereunder experience with R
• Field work, particularly collection of eDNA samples and biodiversity surveys
• DNA laboratory work (preferably eDNA)

The successful candidate will be responsible for the daily management of his/her research projects in coordination with other members of the group and will be actively involved in the training and co-supervision of other staff members and students.

Place of employment 

The postdoc will become an integrated part of the environmental DNA and molecular ecology research group led by Professor Philip Francis Thomsen.

The project provides good opportunities for synergies with the other research groups at the Department of Biology such as Centre for Ecological Genetics () as well as internationally.
The place of employment and work is Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Deadline

Applications must be submitted online and received by December 1st 2025

Contact information

Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact: Philip Francis Thomsen ()

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.

Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

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:

Formalities and salary range

Natural Sciences refers to the .

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

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 .



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 .

Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark .

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU.

You can read more about it .

At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development.

We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent.

On , you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates.

You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.

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

Required Skill Profession

Life Scientists