Aarhus University is seeking two postdoctoral fellows for the Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center (CORC) for research on systems-level biology of prokaryotic conversions of CO2 Full-time

Postdoctoral Fellows For Novo Nordisk Foundation Co2 Research Center (Corc)

Aarhus University is seeking two postdoctoral fellows for the Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center (CORC) for research on systems-level biology of prokaryotic conversions of CO2.

Deadline: 19 Apr 2026 at 23:59 CEST

Expected start: 1 Jul

Fixed term full-time position: 1 Jul 2026 – 31 Dec 2028

Do you have a passion and vision for developing new platforms to unleash the power of microbial metabolism and physiology to find scalable solutions for CO2 capture and conversion? Come and be part of the team of Prof. Alfred Spormann in the Department of Chemistry at the NNF CO2 Research Center (CORC) to engage in cutting edge systems-level research in microbial C1-6 metabolism.

Starting Date And Duration Of Employment

The positions are available from 01 July 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter, and are for a period of up to 2,5 years and until the end of 2028, when CORC will end.

The two relevant research projects for these positions in the Spormann lab are:

1. Microbial conversion of CO2 to carbon materials. This project pursues approaches probing the plasticity of cellular electron and carbon fluxes and quantitative modeling thereof. It also includes the isolation of new alkalophilic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens and acetogens, as well as Knallgas bacteria, the construction and quantitative characterization of mixed defined microbial communities, including adaptive evolution. This project is a collaboration with chemists to produce high quality carbon materials from waste CO2.
2. Systems biology of microbial conversion of CO2 to methane or C2-C6 acids and alcohols. This project pursues approaches i) to uncover carbon and electron fluxes in methanogenic, acetogenic and chain-elongation fermentation in various microbial platforms, ii) to probe via genetic manipulations the dynamics and limitations of carbon and electron flux and iii) to identify pattern of coordination of major cellular processes. A second aspect of this project is the genetic analysis of laboratory-evolved, adapted strains and identification and testing of the evolved cellular networks. This also includes construction and operation of defined microbial communities, and modeling on metabolic interactions.

Your Qualifications

You should have a PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, or related field, and demonstrated expertise in:

• Prokaryotic genetics, molecular genetics, or molecular biology, or
• Biophysical modeling of quantitative cellular processes in prokaryotes

Candidates should have a strong, proven background in quantitative experimental microbiology. Experience in anaerobic microbiology as well as in metabolomics, proteomics, stable isotope probing (SIP) or genetic characterization of evolved strains from adaptive laboratory evolution experiments is a plus. Your high personal motivation and demonstrated scientific creativity will match that of our expert team.

About Us

We are a modern, state-of-the-art molecular and metabolic lab with a highly motivated and collaborative team of researchers, which is reflected in our use of English as the day-to-day language. The Department of Chemistry at Aarhus University is a leading European chemistry department with a broad research portfolio. It is undertaking a restructuring and will have a permanent staff of 43 full, associate and assistant professors, a support staff of ~40 technical and administrative staff, ~150 PhD-students and ~100 postdocs and around 350 students. In addition to excellence in research, teaching and supervision, the Department of Chemistry values equal opportunities, a collegial atmosphere, and a student-friendly mindset of future colleagues.

What We Offer

• Exciting, interdisciplinary research environment at the forefront of microbial systems-level biology for CO2 mitigation.
• Workday with daily contact with many different people in an international and creative research environment.
• A professional, but informal work environment.

Place Of Work And Area Of Employment

The place of work is Gustav Wieds Vej 10, 8000 Aarhus C, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with affiliated institutions. As of 1 August 2026, iNANO's educational and research activities will be transferred to the faculty's departments. Consequently, your employment will as of that date be with a department.

Contact Info

Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact Professor Alfred Spormann, e-mail: aspormann@corc.au.dk