Postdoc in dinoflagellate vision and visual ecology

Department of Biology
Faculty of Science

University of Copenhagen



An approx. 28 month postdoc position is open in the sensory biology group lead by assoc. prof. Anders Garm at the Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen. The postdoc will be part of a Danish Research Council financed project testing the hypothesis that some single celled organisms have image forming eyes and thus proper vision. The position is open from 1st of September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Project description

A special family of the single celled dinoflagellates, the warnowiaceans, possesses an organelle, which structurally resembles a camera-type eye. This organelle called the ocelloid is a modified chloroplast and contains a lens-like hyalosome and a retinula flanked by screening pigment. Our optical measurements show that the hyalosome does form an image on the retinula with a spatial resolution of approximately 10 degrees, which will likely allow the mixo-trophic dinoflagellate to detect potential prey items at distances up to 0.5 mm. The project thus seeks to finally prove that the image information is used to control the behavior of the dinoflagellates. It will be a comparative study including several species of warnowiaceans. The project will also examine how a single cell can process the image information putatively coming from the ocelloid. The work will happen in collaboration with the vision group at Lund University and the UAS center at University of Southern Denmark.

Main tasks of the postdoc

• Participate on field trips to collect warnowiaceans from Denmark, the Mediterranean and other places both for experimental work and for initiating cultures
• Conduct experiments testing visually guided behaviours of the dinoflagellates
• Perform ultra-high resolution electron microscopy and 3D reconstruction of the ocelloid
• Use a range of different image techniques to visualize the cellular structures

Scientific environment

The Garm lab offers creative and stimulating work conditions in a dynamic and international research environment, including modern lab-facilities. We study the structure and function of sensory organs and how the information they pick up is processed and turned it into behaviour. Most of the time, we study the eyes and vision of marine invertebrates such as box jellyfish, starfish, annelids and crustaceans, but we have also worked on mechano-, chemo-, electro- and magnetoreception, respectively. We use a multiangled approach to study these systems; the key methods we use are electrophysiology (intra and extracellular), microscopy (LM, TEM, SEM, and CLSM), culturing, behaviour (in situ and in vitro) and transcriptomics.

Qualifications

We are looking for a motivated and ambitious researcher with experience in vision research. Applicants with the following qualifications are preferred:

• PhD degree in neuroethology, vision research, dinoflagellate ecology or equivalent.
• Experience with the following is considered an advantage:
  • Experimental vision research.
  • Bio-imaging including immunocytochemistry and in vivo labelling.
  • 3D reconstruction based on serial sections.
• Proficiency in English – both written and spoken.
• Experience mentoring students in the lab.
• Motivated to work in a multidisciplinary research team, as well as independently, with an open communication style and a problem-solving attitude.

The postdoc’s duties will include research within neurobiology, supervision of students, as well as (limited) teaching. The position may also include performance of other duties.

Further information on the Department is linked at http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/. Inquiries about the position can be made to Assoc. Prof. Anders Garm, [email protected]



The position is open from 1st of September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. University of Copenhagen houses the International Staff Mobility Office that can assist with matters related to moving to Denmark.



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 position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

The application must include

• Motivated letter of application
• Curriculum vitae incl. 2 professional references
• Complete list of publications
• PhD and master diploma or transcript in English
• Separate PDFs of particularly relevant own papers (max 3)

The deadline for applications is 1st of April 2025, 23:59 GMT +1.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.