PhD Position on Root-Soil interactions

European Geosciences Union (EGU); Denmark; On-site; DKK 360,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark, invites applications for a PhD position focused on root–soil interactions within the ComPASS project. The PhD student will contribute to understanding how soil properties influence root growth via ethylene signalling and will work in a collaborative, international setting.

The project includes lab work, root phenotyping, 3D imaging, and gene expression analyses, with stays at collaborating institutions. AU's Department of Agroecology hosts the position.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field.

Responsibilities

• Join the ComPASS project to study root–soil interactions.
• Conduct lab experiments with plants on soils of varying textures.
• Scan pots with X-ray CT to characterize root traits in 3D.
• Perform RNA sequencing on root tips to identify gene expression changes.

Education

Master's degree in a relevant field

Job description

Position

PhD Position on Root-Soil interactions

Employer

Aarhus University

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. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.

Homepage: https://international.au.dk/

Location

Aarhus, Denmark

Sector

Academic

Relevant divisions

• Biogeosciences (BG)
• Soil System Sciences (SSS)

Type

Full time

Level

Entry level

Salary

Open

Preferred Education

Master

Application deadline

8 October 2026

Posted

24 August 2026

Job Description

The PhD student is expected to join the project ComPASS - Compaction-driven mechanisms of Plant Adaptations and Signalling: the role of ethylene in root responses.

The overarching objective of the project is to provide a fundamental understanding of how physical processes occurring in the vicinity of root tips influence root growth via ethylene signalling. The project entails laboratory experiments during which plants/genotypes of different ethylene sensitivity will be grown under controlled conditions on different soils. The soils will be chosen in order to cover a range of textures and bulk densities (compaction treatments). After the growth period, pots will be scanned with X-ray CT to characterize root traits and root-soil physical interactions (root-soil contact, rhizosphere structure) non-destructively in 3D. RNA sequencing will be performed on root tip tissues in order to identify expressed genes and signalling pathways that are affected as a response of changes in soil properties. This project is a collaboration between Aarhus University, the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Halle (Germany) and the University of Nottingham (UK). Place of employment is in the Department of Agroecology of AU. The PhD student will be expected to participate in research stays in at least one of these two collaborating institutions.