Three-year postdoc position – Exploring the deep biosphere in Arctic marine sediments

Are you interested in environmental microbiology, the deep biosphere, and Arctic climate change?

We are looking for a postdoctoral microbiologist to join our interdisciplinary research group dedicated to the study of past climate and ecosystem changes in the marine Arctic.

You will join an international and dynamic research group within the Department of Glaciology and Climate at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) where you will be employed in the project “The paleogenetic signatures of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems”, funded by the Villum Foundation. The position will be commencing September 1st 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter for a period of 3 years (36 months).

About the position

Marine sediments harbor microbial communities that play key roles in biogeochemical cycles. However, the deep biosphere extending hundreds of meters down into the seafloor, is still relatively underexplored in the Arctic. We have collected marine sediment cores >200 m deep into the seafloor during a deep drilling expedition off Northwest Greenland with the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).

On this material and further sediment cores from the Arctic Ocean, the successful candidate will study the microbiomes of the deep biosphere to understand (1) the impacts of past climate oscillations on microbial diversity and composition, (2) the microbiome’s influence on biogeochemical cycles, and (3) the influence of the living microbial community on the preservation potential of marine sedimentary ancient DNA.

Common tasks involve sediment core sampling, DNA and RNA extractions, and metagenomic shotgun/transcriptome sequencing. The role therefore requires expertise in molecular genetic lab work as well as in taxonomic and functional microbial diversity, (i.e. gene predictions and functional pathway reconstructions). The candidate will join a vibrant and international research group investigating changes in the Arctic cryosphere and ecosystems, with a primary focus on Greenland.

Who are you?

The appointment will be made based on academic qualifications. You hold a PhD degree (or have at least submitted your PhD thesis for assessment) in Biology, Microbiology, Geosciences, Environmental Sciences or related disciplines and have documented experience in processing and analysing high-throughput sequencing data, with focus on environmental DNA, metagenomics, or transcriptomics. Ideally, you are familiar with marine ecosystems, the deep biosphere or marine microbiomes and the necessary bioinformatic and statistical analyses of such data (e.g. taxonomic assignments, gene prediction, phylogenetics).

Our department places a high value on cross-disciplinary and cross-institution collaborations, as well as team-level outreach activities. Proficiency in English is required, and organization and communication skills are important. A curious, creative, and flexible mindset, and an interest in working as part of a multi-disciplinary team are also important.

Meet your new colleagues

The Department of Glaciology and Climate is dedicated to understanding both current and past changes of the Greenland ice sheet and the ocean surrounding it. Past changes in the ice sheet, ocean and biological systems are studied using marine sediment cores applying a broad variety of proxy methods. The current loss of ice from Greenland is studied using a network of climate stations, satellite observations and modelling. Besides doing research, we provide advice to government agencies and the private sector and provide supervision to university students.

The department has an international staff of c. 30 researchers, PhD students and postdocs. We have a great focus on multi-disciplinary collaboration across the department and conduct department seminars and other activities to foster this. We also prioritize social arrangements to welcome and integrate new employees to our informal and friendly working environment.

A working environment with a focus on professional development and well-being

There are many good reasons why you should choose a working life at GEUS.

We are a diverse staff of about 300 committed employees. Trust and flexibility are keywords. The working environment is lively, informal and international. Our tasks are versatile and there are plenty of opportunities for you to influence the development of your task portfolio.

We prioritise professional development, among other things by offering access to courses and other relevant activities. Socialising is also very important at GEUS, and we have a rich social life with a staff club, an art association and more.

At GEUS, we prioritise the well-being of every single employee. We prioritise that the Heads of Departments are close to the employees, and we have flexible working hours that allow you to organise your life so that there is time for what matters to you. If you need to work from home occasionally, that is also possible.

Furthermore, we have a gym with associated physiotherapists.

Salary and conditions of employment

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the relevant trade union agreement.

The appointment area is the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and its institutions.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities considers diversity to be an asset and encourages anyone regardless of gender, age, religion or ethnicity to seek the position.

Further information

Please contact the researcher Heike Zimmermann, e-mail: [email protected] telephone: +45 9133 3784 or head of department Signe B. Andersen, email: [email protected] telephone: +45 9133 3804.

International applicants can read more about living and working in Denmark on GEUS’ homepage: http://eng.geus.dk/about/jobs/

Are you interested?

If you are interested in the position, we would like to hear from you. The application must include a CV, incl. your ORCID, a list of publications with a separate indication of articles registered in ISI Web of Science and any copies of individual publications of particular relevance to the position. Please enclose Master’s and PhD diplomas in either Danish or English as well as other material documenting qualifications at postdoc level. Submitted PhD theses that have not yet been defended may be sent with the application and will be included in the assessment. If possible, please provide a pre-approval.

Please submit the application via GEUS’ website at the latest on April 2nd 2025 (Danish time).

The employment procedure

A professional assessment committee consisting of two internal assessors at minimum senior researcher level will carry out an individual assessment of all applicants’ professional qualifications, and the applicants will be assessed as qualified or unqualified for the position. Afterwards, an internal employment committee will decide which of the professionally qualified candidates will be invited for a job interview. This procedure is in accordance with the “Order on employment and assessment of scientific staff at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland § 4 and 7”.