Four-year Researcher position on Greenland marine ecosystems

Aarhus University (AU); Aarhus; On-site; DKK 450,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A four-year Researcher position at Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Denmark, focuses on Greenland’s coastal marine ecosystems, including biodiversity baselines and the use of eDNA to monitor marine macroalgae.

You will participate in annual Greenland field campaigns, analyse monitoring data, develop eDNA methods (metabarcoding, dPCR/qPCR) and contribute to research proposals to attract new funding in an international, interdisciplinary setting. Fluency in English required.

Qualifications

• PhD in biology or closely related field.
• Experience with Arctic marine vegetation and ecosystem ecology is advantageous.
• Expertise in eDNA-based approaches, including metabarcoding, qPCR/dPCR, bioinformatics and biostatistics.
• Experience with marine fieldwork, DNA barcoding, experimental design and morphological species identification is advantageous.
• Ability to develop research ideas and contribute to grant proposals; diving certification is a plus.
• Fluency in English; able to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment.

Responsibilities

• Study ecology of coastal marine ecosystems in Greenland and their responses to climate change.
• Participate in annual field campaigns in Greenland and analyze monitoring data.
• Develop and apply eDNA methods to characterize biodiversity, focusing on marine macroalgae.
• Establish biodiversity baselines and detect changes in species distributions and new arrivals.

Education

PhD in Biology or closely related field

Tools

qPCR/dPCR

DNA barcoding

Job description

Four-year Researcher position on Greenland marine ecosystems

The Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, invites applications for a four-year scientist position on the biodiversity and coastal ecosystem status and trends along Greenland’s coast with a special focus on the use of eDNA for monitoring of marine macroalgae. The position is linked to multiple international projects, including the Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring Programme with an overarching theme of studying the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems in Greenland. The position requires active participation in developing and attracting funding for new projects including a special focus on developing and implementing eDNA tools for the ecological research and monitoring.

This is a four-year position available from 15 February 2027.

Job description

The position focuses on the ecology of coastal marine ecosystems in Greenland and their responses to climate change, particularly warming and the ongoing loss of the cryosphere.

You are expected to participate in annual field campaigns in Greenland and contribute to the analysis and interpretation of monitoring and experimental data from coastal Greenland ecosystems. A particular focus will be on developing and applying environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for characterising and quantifying marine biodiversity, with an emphasis on marine macroalgae. This includes establishing high-quality biodiversity baselines and improving our capacity to detect changes in species distributions and the arrival of new species.

Your profile

Applicants must hold a PhD in biology or a closely related field. Documented experience with Arctic marine vegetation and ecosystem ecology is considered an advantage, together with expertise in eDNA-based approaches, including metabarcoding, quantitative PCR-based methods such as digital PCR (dPCR), bioinformatics and biostatistics.

Experience with marine fieldwork, DNA barcoding, experimental design and morphological species identification is also an advantage. The successful candidate is expected to have experience in developing research ideas and in contributing to research proposals and grant applications. A scientific diving certification is considered an advantage.

Fluency in spoken and written English is required. In addition, the candidate should enjoy working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and international research environment and be motivated to contribute actively to fieldwork, research development and scientific publication.

Who we are

The Department of Ecoscience (https://ecos.au.dk/en/) is organised under the Faculty of Technical Sciences. The department’s research areas cover most aspects of biology and ecology, spanning all biological levels from genetics, physiological processes, individuals, populations and species to entire ecosystems. Strategic and applied research account for a large part of the research activities at the Department of Ecoscience. Geographically, the department works from the tropics to the poles, but with greater focus on Danish conditions. The department has an obligation towards the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark and the authorities in Greenland as national advisors on environmental issues. The department’s research, consultancy and teaching are linked to strong and active research groups.

What we offer

• Access to a well-developed research infrastructure
• Office space and shared equipment
• a research climate inviting lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a working environment with teamwork, close working relations, network activities among young scientists and social activities
• a workplace characterized by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is the main University campus in Aarhus, C.F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C.

Contact information

For further information, please contact Mikael Sejr ([e-mail]) or Dorte Krause-Jensen ([e-mail]).

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.

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 and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Unions at basic salary steps 4-8.

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’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.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners.