Postdoc in plant physiology and molecular biology of EV-based plant-microbe communication Full-time

Postdoc in Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology of EV-Based Plant-Microbe Communication

The Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, invites applications for a two-year postdoc position in plant physiology and molecular biology of EV-based plant-microbe communication. The position is part of the EU-funded EVOLVE project and focuses on controlled-environment biological testing of extracellular vesicles as a non-GMO platform for steering plant performance and plant-microbe interactions.

This is a two-year fixed-term postdoc position from 1 November 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The postdoc will lead the Department of Food Science's controlled-environment testing activities in Work Package 5 of the EVOLVE project. The work will generate biological evidence linking extracellular vesicle (EV) treatments to plant physiological and molecular responses and will feed into the project's design-test-model cycle.

The position will also strengthen the unit's capacity in plant cultivation under controlled and sterile conditions and in EV/miRNA biology.

Key tasks:

• Establish and run reproducible plant cultivation under controlled and, where required, sterile/axenic conditions, including growth chambers, hydroponics and aeroponics.
• Apply native and synthetic EVs to plants and quantify uptake and whole-plant physiological responses.
• Isolate and characterise extracellular vesicles from plant material.
• Analyse molecular responses, including gene expression (RT-qPCR), miRNA/small-RNA profiling and secondary-metabolite profiles.
• Investigate interactions between EV treatments and bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle, linking vesicle-based signalling to nutrient-use efficiency.
• Manage data, perform statistical analysis and exchange results with project partners producing synthetic EVs and modelling the data.
• Contribute to publications, reporting and dissemination; co-supervise students and support day-to-day laboratory activities.

The postdoc will be responsible for the day-to-day execution, quality, and documentation of the WP5 experimental programme, including the controlled-environment and sterile cultivation set-up and the associated molecular and EV analyses. The postdoc will plan and schedule experiments in coordination with Ivan Paponov (PI / EVOLVE coordinator) and Martin Krøyer Rasmussen (co-supervisor), maintain shared protocols and metadata, and report progress to the project. The postdoc is expected to work independently, co-supervise students and contribute actively to the unit's research environment. Budget and personnel authority remain with the principal investigator.

This position combines plant cultivation and physiology with molecular biology. In-depth expertise in extracellular vesicles and miRNA is available within the supervision team, so strong plant scientists who are motivated to learn EV and small-RNA methods are explicitly encouraged to apply.

Required qualifications:

• PhD degree in Plant Science, Plant Physiology, Plant Molecular Biology, Microbiology or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating plants under controlled environmental conditions, such as growth chambers, hydroponics and/or aeroponics.
• Hands-on molecular biology experience, including RNA extraction and gene expression analysis (RT-qPCR).
• Experience in complex data handling and statistical analysis.
• A publication record in international peer-reviewed journals relative to career stage.
• Excellent written and spoken English and experience in collaborative, cross-cultural research environments.
• Experience in supervising students and teaching.

The department offers:

• A well-developed research infrastructure, including controlled-environment plant cultivation facilities, laboratories and access to shared equipment.
• An exciting interdisciplinary environment with national, international and industrial collaborators.
• A research climate encouraging open and critical discussion within and across fields.
• Close collaboration with experienced supervisors and international EVOLVE partners.
• A workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

All applications must be received no later than 3 August 2026.