Postdoctoral position in ancient microbial ecogenomics within the Ancient Environmental Genomics Initiative for Sustainability (AEGIS)

The Ancient Environmental Genomics Initiative for Sustainability (AEGIS) invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position in ancient microbial ecogenomics, starting June 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Our research
AEGIS is a pioneering research centre headed by prof. Eske Willerslev that brings together a highly interdisciplinary and international team of world-leading research groups with a shared vision of developing more robust, sustainable, and biodiverse crops and agricultural practices to mitigate the effects of climate change on global food production: https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/climate-resilient-crops-novo-nordisk-foundation-and-the-wellcome-trust-award-a-grant-of-up-to-dkk-585-million-to-the-ancient-environmental-genomics-initiative-for-sustainability/.

AEGIS combines the fields of ancient environmental DNA, genomics, metagenomics, informatics and biostatistics, evolutionary biology, ecology, geology, archaeology, plant engineering, and agricultural crop research. We will collect and work on geological sediments, bones, fossils and material from contemporary species from more than 200 different locations around the world to generate and analyse vast amounts of ancient and contemporary environmental DNA and other ancient and modern biomolecular- data and associated contextual data.

The advertised position is within the Microbial EcoGenomics Group at the Center for Ancient Environmental Genomics. The group leverages ancient DNA (aDNA) to reconstruct past microbial ecosystems, understand long-term biodiversity dynamics, and innovate computational methods for analyzing ancient microbial data.

We value diversity and inclusivity in our research community. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences who share our commitment to addressing global environmental challenges through innovative research.

Your job
As a postdoctoral researcher, you will analyze large-scale ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) datasets generated through high-throughput sequencing technologies. Your responsibilities will include developing computational and statistical methodologies to extract meaningful ecological and evolutionary insights from ancient microbial data. You will also focus on modeling DNA damage patterns over time to better understand degradation processes across various environments and organisms. Ultimately, your work will contribute to establishing theoretical frameworks and computational tools needed for advanced community ecology analyses and species distribution modeling, enabling accurate reconstructions of ancient ecosystems.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in bioinformatics, community ecology, computational ecology or similar.
• You are highly experienced in the analysis of large-scale molecular datasets.
• You have experience in ancient DNA analysis.
• You have strong analytical skills and an interest in interdisciplinary research.
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:

• Computational skills, including proficiency in R, Python, or other relevant programming languages.
• Experience working with high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
• Strong scientific track record with publications in peer reviewed international journals as first author in the field of microbial community and/or molecular ecology, ecological modeling, ancient DNA or similar.

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Globe Institute, Section for GeoGenetics (Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350, Copenhagen), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

About Globe Institute
Globe Institute is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural and medical sciences and the humanities. Information on the institute can be found at https://healthsciences.ku.dk/.

Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See website for more information. All qualified applicants will receive full consideration. Candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, contribute to diversity and competencies of our Institute are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year. Researchers that have not been tax liable in Denmark for the last 10 years can apply for a special (reduced) tax scheme. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families.

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 on June 1st 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 38,733 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.

Questions
For further information please contact Tenure Track Asistant Professor Antonio Fernandez-Guerra; [email protected].

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

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.

Deadline for applications: 11 April 2025, 23:59 GMT +2.

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.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.