Postdoc in Microbial ecology Aarhus University, Campus AU-Viborg Full-time

Postdoc in Microbial Ecology

The Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, is offering a postdoctoral position in soil microbial ecology, starting 1 December 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position will be available for a 1-year period.

You will be part of a research environment focusing on carbon and nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems. You will be contributing to specifically the area of how soil microbial ecology can be used to inform sustainable management practices that increase soil carbon stocks and reduce nitrogen losses. And the main focus of your position will be soil molecular analysis and metagenomics from various field experiments, evaluation of microbially mediated regulation of soil carbon fractions, and development of a model that simulates the growth of key soil microbial communities related to soil nitrogen transformations. You will work experimentally with already established field experiments including long-term experiments with different straw retention rates.

We expect that you will be an important part of the research environment and that you will contribute positively to the social working environment. We also expect that you will take part in our teaching activities and that you will report research results in high-impact scientific journals.

Your Profile

We are searching for a highly motivated candidate who has:

• A PhD in natural sciences, e.g. geology, soil science, microbial ecology, or similar
• Collaborative skills and ability to contribute effectively in teams.
• A fondness of taking the initiative and the motivation to pursue a scientific career
• Documented experience in scientific writing and publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Research experience in some of the areas of soil microbial ecology and its responses to climate change

Additional Qualifications

Further, we will prefer candidates with some of the following qualifications:

• Teaching and supervision experience at the BSc and MSc level
• Interest and experience in developing competitive national and international research applications
• Experience in planning and conducting field-work
• Experience in planning and conducting laboratory work within soil molecular analysis and bioinformatics, including qPCR, 16S rRNA/ITS amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and advanced statistical analysis with e.g. R
• Experience with soil biogeochemical analyses, specifically physical and chemical fractionation of soil organic carbon (e.g., POC and MAOC) to evaluate carbon sequestration

Living and Working in Denmark

• Subsidised childcare and free education from primary school through university.
• Universal healthcare for you and your family as residents.
• Five weeks of paid holiday per year.
• Generous parental leave – up to 52 weeks shared between parents, with full or partial salary.

Place of Work

The place of work is Aarhus University, Campus AU-Viborg, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele. The affiliation will be with the Department of Agroecology.

Contact Information

More information can be obtained from Professor Diego Abalos d.abalos@agro.au.dk

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.

Formalities and Salary Range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. 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). 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 Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities. Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.