2-year postdoc position for studying insect decline and communities using genomics and environmental DNA

The Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark, invites applications for a postdoc position.

Research area and project description
We are currently witnessing a decline in species richness and abundance for certain insect groups, of which pollinators is a key example. However, the magnitude, timing and potential drivers of the decline is debated. We are now seeking a highly motivated postdoc to play a leading role in a project exploring these uncertainties through new molecular methods and sample types. The project will investigate i) population size history of selected insect species using genome-wide data from modern samples and ii) variation in current insect communities using eDNA metabarcoding. The candidate will also be involved in other eDNA related projects.

The position is available from 15th of March 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The position is for 2 years. There will also be opportunities for developing own research ideas related to molecular ecology in collaboration with the group. The project is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

The candidate will become part of an expanding research group on molecular ecology and environmental DNA, and the current project provides good opportunities for synergies with the other research groups at the Department of Biology, Aarhus University.

Qualifications and Competences
Applicants must have a PhD degree or equivalent or have submitted their PhD thesis for assessment before the start of the position. We seek a candidate with an overall interest in the research topic of insect decline, good collaborative skills, and experience with:

• Scientific publishing and project management within molecular ecology and/or genomics
• Bioinformatics and statistical analyses of next-generation sequencing data, particularly genomic data and DNA metabarcoding data.
• Ecological data analyses, hereunder experience with R
• DNA laboratory work (preferably eDNA, historical samples and/or ancient DNA)
• Field work

The successful candidate will be responsible for the daily management of his/her research projects in coordination with other members of the group and will be actively involved in the training and co-supervision of other staff members and students.

Place of Employment and Work
The postdoc will become an integrated part of the environmental DNA group led by Associate Professor Philip Francis Thomsen, and will have the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers within Aarhus University, as well as internationally. The place of employment and work is Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Deadline
Applications must be submitted online and received by January 2nd, 2025.

Contact information
Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact: Philip Francis Thomsen ([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
Natural 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.

At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.

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: Genetik, økologi og evolution/Genetics, Ecology and Evolution

Deadline: 02 January 2025

Location: Aarhus C Ny Munkegade 116