Postdoctoral Fellow in Comparative QTLomics and Plant Functional Genomics Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Fellow in Comparative QTLomics and Plant Functional Genomics

The EvOmics group at Aarhus University is seeking a postdoctoral researcher. The position is based at the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG) under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Irene Julca. The position is available from 1 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

This is a three-year position starting 1 October 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is part of the SNSF-funded project “AI-driven comparative QTLomics to accelerate crop improvement,” a collaborative project with partners at UniProt, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, and Aalborg University. The project aims to unlock decades of scattered QTL knowledge from the plant genetics literature by combining AI-assisted expert curation, orthology inference, phylogenomics, functional annotation, and candidate gene prioritisation across crop species. The selected candidate will develop the computational tools for comparative QTLomics as part of the project.

Main responsibilities include:

• Collect and standardise functional information, including QTL data, RNA-seq, and Gene Ontology (GO) annotations
• Develop computational pipelines for QTL data integration and analysis
• Integrate phylogenomic and functional data using machine-learning approaches for candidate gene prioritisation
• Contribute to software and web-tool development
• Present results at international conferences

Your profile includes:

• PhD degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field
• Experience with programming in Python, R, or similar languages
• Background in machine learning or deep learning methods
• Knowledge of genomics, transcriptomics, evolutionary biology, and plant biology is an advantage
• Familiarity with large biological datasets and high-performance computing is desirable
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment
• At least one first-author peer-reviewed publication
• Proficient in written and spoken English

The Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG) is an innovative and interdisciplinary center for research and education in quantitative genetics and quantitative genomics. QGG is an international organisation with 70 employees and visiting researchers from more than 20 countries. We perform basic and applied research within plant, livestock, and human quantitative genetics. Our focus areas include quantitative genetics, artificial intelligence applied to agriculture and precision medicine, population genetics, and integrative genomics. QGG is located at the central campus in Aarhus and at the AU Flakkebjerg campus in newly renovated offices with well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories, equipment, and high-performing computing clusters.

What we offer includes:

• A welcoming and collaborative environment emphasising teamwork, professionalism, equality, and work-life balance
• Mentoring for career development
• Access to high-performance computational resources (with GPUs)
• A collaborative environment across research fields, including plant biology, quantitative genetics, and population genetics
• Opportunities for collaboration and research visits with project partners
• Participation in international conferences and workshops

The place of work is C.F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

For further information, please contact: Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Irene Julca, irene.julca@qgg.au.dk.

Applications must be received no later than 2 August 2026.

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.

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). Guidelines for applicants can be found here. 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.