Assistant professor in Terrestrial Ecology: Interactions between moss and cyanobacteria

A 2-year Assistant Professor position in Terrestrial Ecology with a focus on moss-cyanobacteria associations and reactive nitrogen gases is available in the Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT), at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) commencing 1st June.

Scientific environment
The successful candidate will join the Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT) and the Terrestrial Ecology section at UCPH. We offer a creative, supportive and lively research environment covering a wide range of topics such as microbial ecology, plant ecophysiology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, soil biology and ecosystem-atmosphere interactions. We are a diverse group comprising research and teaching staff members, laboratory technicians, PhD candidates and MSc and BSc students, focusing on many aspects of plant and microbial ecology, biogeochemistry and global change. The centre is housed at the North Campus in Copenhagen, where we have laboratory facilities and state-of-the-art instrumentation for analyses of volatile organic and nitrous compounds, molecular analyses of microbial community structure and activity, gas measurements as well as incubation and climate chamber facilities.

Overall description of the project
The successful candidate will be hosted by Kathrin Rousk and will focus on understudied plants, mosses, and their associations with microbes. The goal of the project is to 1) assess the interactions between moss and associated cyanobacteria using state-of-the-art tools such as nanoSIMS, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics; 2) quantify nitrogen containing volatile compound emissions from mosses and their associates; 3) identify key players in the production of nitrogen-containing volatile compounds associated with mosses.

Main tasks and responsibilities
Planning, conducting and completing experiments, growing and culturing of mosses and cyanobacteria, RNA and DNA isolation from mosses and cyanobacteria, measurements of N2 fixation rates and volatile compound emission rates, bioinformatics, data analyses, data interpretation, manuscript writing, supervision of students, contribution to seminars, workshops etc.

Qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious candidate with a PhD degree in Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Environmental Genomics, or similar fields. Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement, as well as excellent writing skills demonstrated by the publication record, as well as good communication skills. Candidates with skills and expertise listed below will be preferred.

Skills/expertise
Planning experimental setups, culturing of moss and cyanobacteria in co-culture and individually, DNA and RNA isolation, preparation of RNA for cDNA sequencing, gas measurements, analysis of transcriptomic, metagenomic and genomic data, microscopy, pigment assays (i.e. phycocyanin), data analysis using R and Python, multivariate statistics, project coordination, growth measurements of plants and bacteria.

For further information about the position, please contact Kathrin Rousk ([email protected]).

Further information on the Department can be found here: http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Terms of employment

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 2 years. The starting date is 1 June 2025 or after agreement.
Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,700 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2025 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.


Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:
1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.


The deadline for applications is 20 March, 2025, 23:59 GMT+1.


We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.
You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 15.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.