Postdoc in environmental chemistry and microbiology

Are you interested in analysis of organic micropollutants and TotalRNA in environmental samples? Can you contribute to the development of the projects Path4Med and Villum Experiment focused on the environmental fate of novel antibiotics? Then the Department of Environmental Science invites you to apply for a 2 year postdoc position, with possibility for extension.
Expected start date and duration of employment
This is a 2 year position from 1st January 2025 or as soon possible.
Possibility for extension is expected.
Job description
You will be part of a research environment focusing on monitoring of trace organic micropollutants, DNA-based indicators, and application of nature-based solutions to address water related challenges. You will be contributing to two research projects. One, the project “Environmental
Fate of Novel Antibiotics” funded by Villum Foundation where you will be supporting the development of an analytical method to measure novel antibiotics in water samples. The other, the Horizon Europe project “Demonstrating innovative pathways addressing water and soil pollution in the Mediterranean Agro-Hydro-System (Path4Med)” where you will be leading the analysis of organic micropollutants and RNA-based indicators in samples from the different demosites of the project.

We expect that you will be an important part of the research environment and that you will contribute positively to the social working environment. We also expect that you will report research results in high-impact scientific journals.
Your profile
The candidate must hold a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) in environmental sciences, analytical or environmental chemistry, environmental sciences, or a closely related discipline. The successful candidate should

• have experience with the chemical analysis of environmental contaminants at trace level, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides or cyanotoxins,
• have experience with DNA analysis and characterization of microbial communities,
• be familiar with nature-based solutions,
• be able to work as part of a team.

It will be an advantage (but not a requirement), if the candidate

• is familiar with analysis of TotalRNA,
• has experience handling different environmental samples such as surface waters, wastewater, sludge and sediments,
• is interested in analysing transformation products of organic micropollutants,
• has insight into statistical analysis (e.g. ‘R’),
• has experience in planning and conducting field-work.

Furthermore, the candidate should

• be well-organised and able to handle complex tasks,
• balance a focus on details with the time and budget frame of a project,
• be able to work independently, while being aware of being part of a team,
• be result- and product-oriented and able to think one step ahead of the task at hand,
• have excellent communication skills in English.

Who we are
The Department of Environmental Science has about 150 employees working in basic and problem-oriented research within environmental science, including chemical and physical processes and interactions between environment and society. The department also carries out research-based consultancy for the public sector and provides research-based advice. The academic expertise ranges from atmospheric chemistry and physics, via environmental chemistry, microbiology and biotechnology to environmental economics, environmental geography, political science and sociology. The institute is located in Roskilde, Denmark.
What we offer
The department offers:

• high-quality research in a strong international network
• state-of-the-art research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• possibilities for scientific and personal development and career building
• an interdisciplinary environment with many national and international collaborators
• a research group with close working relationships and mutual support
• a climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research

Place of work and area of employment
The place of work is the Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.

Please note that the place of work is Roskilde, not Aarhus.
Contact information
For further information, please contact: Associate Professor Pedro Carvalho, +45 87 15 84 62, [email protected] or Postdoc Vaidotas Kisielius, [email protected].

Application procedure
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. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.
Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.
Formalities and salary range
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.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Department: Environmental chemistry & toxicology, MITO/Environmental chemistry & toxicology

Deadline: 06 November 2024

Location: Roskilde Frederiksborgvej 399