Postdoc In Microbial Physiology And/Or Ecology Of Microbial Biofilms

The Department of Biology at Aarhus University invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the field of microbiology. The position is affiliated with a new cross-disciplinary research project aiming to explore the use of fluctuating osmotic stress to limit biofouling in reverse osmosis (RO) filtration systems. The project involves both academic and industrial partners.

Expected start date and duration of employment

The postdoc position is a full-time, 17 month, fixed-term position. The position is expected to start on 1 March 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Job description

This position is part of a team with 3 postdoctoral researchers closely collaborating across 4 research groups and two industry partners to tackle fouling on reverse osmosis membranes in a new type of RO filtration systems that uses oscillating salinity as a strategy to minimize fouling. Your role is to clarify how the stress from oscillating salinity shapes the microbial communities, and affects biofilm formation and metabolic activity of bacteria on the RO. The results will be used to inform operating regimes for further investigations in bench-scale reverse osmosis filtration systems operated by project partners.

The work is carried out in close collaboration with PIs and postdoctoral researchers engaged in the same research project at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center and at the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering at Aarhus University, and off campus at Via University College in Horsens (Denmark) and at the project’s industry partners. The successful candidate is expected to carry out research of high international quality, leading to high-impact publications and presentation of the work at international scientific conferences.

The candidate is also expected to engage in supervision of MSc and BSc students affiliated with the project.

Qualifications

We are seeking a talented and motivated microbiologist with a documented academic research background in microbial physiology and/or microbial biofilm ecology.

Qualification must include:

• Relevant university education and PhD degree
• Solid background in microbiology
• Ability to work and collaborate in a group, to develop new ideas, and to write and communicate in English

Experience with one or more of the following topics/techniques are considered relevant for the position: Microbial physiology, ecology, biofilms; cultivation of microorganisms including biofilms, confocal laser scanning microscopy; DNA/RNA-based microbial community profiling, microsensor/optode profiling of solute concentrations in biofilms.

Who we are

The successful candidate will join a strong interdisciplinary team involving both academic and industrial partners. The candidate will mainly work in the laboratories at the Section for Microbiology at the Department of Biology, Aarhus University. The section employs 9 professors with associated junior staff and 7 laboratory technicians. It hosts the associated Center for Electromicrobiology (https://cem.au.dk) and has strong ties to the Aarhus University Center for Water Technology (https://watec.au.dk). Research at the section covers studies of microbial physiology, evolution, ecology, and biogeochemistry. It integrates basic and applied research addressing the role, ecophysiology and evolution of microorganisms in natural, technical and clinical systems (https://bio.au.dk/en/about-biology/sections/microbiology). The section hosts several international staff and students, and English is the main spoken language at all joint meetings.

We offer

• The possibility to work on a collaborative cross-disciplinary research project involving academic and industrial partners.
• An international, vibrant, open-minded and informal research environment with longstanding traditions for collaboration with top international university partners.
• Well-equipped laboratory facilities with state-of-the-art research infrastructure.
• Highly qualified laboratory technicians to assist/supervise analyses.
• Outstanding working conditions (https://international.au.dk/research/researcher-positions/working conditions).
• Relocation service for international employees (https://internationalstaff.au.dk).

Place of work

The place of work is the Section for Microbiology at the Department of Biology, Aarhus University, with the address: Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Aarhus C., Denmark.

Aarhus City (population 300.000) offers easy access to beautiful nature, an exciting culture and city life as well as a safe environment for children. The city of Aarhus has everything you need within a surprisingly small area: exciting national and international jobs, delightful residential areas, a rich cultural life, and beautiful surrounding landscape of forests, lakes and coastline that make Aarhus a wonderful place to live and work.

For further details on the city and the university please follow this link: https://international.au.dk/life/.

Aarhus University campus is located in a beautiful park close to the city centre of Aarhus.

Contact information

For further information, please contact: assoc. profs. Kasper Urup Kjeldsen, email: kasperuk@bio.au.dk, or Klaus Koren, email: klaus.koren@bio.au.dk or prof. Rikke Louise Meyer, rikke.meyer@inano.au.dk.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the linked online Aarhus University application system.
The application must include a letter of motivation, CV and list of publications. Letters of reference are welcomed, but not mandatory.

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 6 January 2025.

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.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU.

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.