Postdoc in plant-fungal interactions Full-time

Postdoc In Plant-Fungal Interactions

The Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, is offering a postdoctoral position in molecular plant pathology, starting 01-07-2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position will be available for a 3-year period. You will be part of a research environment focusing on the ecology of plant-microbe interactions. You will specifically be contributing to the area of fungal pathogenesis, and the focus of your position will be to characterize Fusarium protein effectors and elucidate their effects on the tomato microbiome. For this, you will generate knock-out mutants of Fusarium oxysporum and characterize their behavior in a tomato root-soil system with a focus on the effects on the root-associated microbiome.

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 microbial ecology, plant-microbe interactions, fungal biotechnology or similar
• Collaborative skills and ability to demonstrate commitment in teams
• A fondness for 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 fungal transformation, CRISP/Cas9 modification of fungal genes, analysis of metabarcoding data, and soil microbiology.

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 laboratory work
• Insight into molecular plant pathology
• Experience with high throughput sequencing technologies

Who We Are

At the Department of Agroecology, our main goal is to contribute to sustainable solutions to some of the world's biggest problems within the areas of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the environment. We want to make a difference by contributing to both fundamental knowledge generation and the attainment of sustainable production systems via innovative research, contracted policy advice, and education.

What We Offer

• A collaborative, international research environment that combines high academic standards with an informal and supportive atmosphere.
• An inclusive and respectful workplace culture, where mutual trust, kindness, and professional dialogue are part of daily life.
• A flexible working environment that supports work-life balance and individual needs.
• An active institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – in recruitment, career development, and everyday interactions.
• An innovative and meaningful workplace where your work contributes to solving real-world challenges. No two days are alike, and we welcome creative thinking and new ideas.
• Support for international researchers and their families, including relocation service and an expat partner programme.

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 Flakkebjerg (Forsøgsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse). The affiliation will be with the Department of Agroecology. More information can be obtained from Professor Mogens Nicolaisen, mn@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. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

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. Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.