Post Doc in plant-derived extracellular vesicles

Aarhus University; Aarhus; On-site; DKK 469,000 - 603,000; Full time

Job summary

Aarhus University in Aarhus invites applications for a 2-year Post Doctoral position in plant-derived extracellular vesicles. The project focuses on isolation, characterization and plant cargo analysis under varying abiotic conditions.

The successful candidate will cultivate plants, optimize EV extraction, develop methods to assess specific compounds, and set up bioactivity assays using mammalian cell lines. English is the laboratory language.

Qualifications

• PhD in biology or related field is required.
• Hands-on experience with extracellular vesicle isolation and characterization is highly desirable.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and molecular techniques (e.g., qPCR, miRNA mapping, LC-MS) is positive.

Responsibilities

• Isolate and characterize extracellular vesicles from plants and study their cargo under varying abiotic conditions.
• Independently cultivate plants and optimize methods for EV extraction.
• Develop targeted methods for assessing specific compounds and set up bioactivity assays using mammalian cell lines.

Skills

EV isolation

Cell culture

qPCR

miRNA mapping

Education

PhD in biology/biochemistry/molecular biology/toxicology or similar

Tools

LC-MS

Job description

Post Doc in plant-derived extracellular vesicles

Are you interested in extracellular vesicles from plants and their potential accumulation of unwanted compounds and are you willing to challenge conventional thinking? Then the Department of FOOD Science invites you to apply for a 2-year Post Doc position, funded under the Villum Experiment program.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 2–year position from 1 January 2027, or as soon possible thereafter.

The position will focus on the isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles from plants and understanding their cargo in relation to abiotic conditions.

The Post Doc is expected to independently take part in cultivation of plants, optimizing methods for extraction of extracellular vesicles and development of targeted methods for assessing specific compounds.

The Post Doc will likewise also be responsible for setting up and running bioactivity assays using mammalian cell-lines.

Your profile

Applicants should hold a PhD in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, toxicology or similar.

The preferred candidate has documented hands‑on experience with extracellular vesicle isolation and characterization. Likewise hands‑on experience with culturing of mammalian cells and various molecular techniques like qPCR, miRNA mapping and LC-MS, is considered positive.

Strong collaborative skills, including experience working in interdisciplinary environments, are essential. We also value creative thinking, personal drive, and excellent communication skills.

Who we are

The Department of Food Science is part of the Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University and includes research within the areas Food Chemistry and Technology, Food Quality, Food Metabolomics and proteomics, Sensory Science, Biofunctional Food, Systems Biology, and Plant Production.

The Department currently employs ca. 145 full‑time staff, including 31 senior academic staff, ca. 60 PhD students and Postdocs, and ca. 45 technical and administrative staff. In addition, there are ca. 45 Bachelor and Master thesis students and ca. 10 visiting students and staff, who together contribute to an international research environment where English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars.

The Department works in teams and therefore self‑leadership, clear and open communication, success in mentoring, supervising and teaching are important qualities needed to be successful in the Department. In addition, the Department has a strong culture that is based on openness, equality, consultation, inclusion and contributing to the Department strategy and working environment are viewed as important.

Aarhus University Food Science: Pioneering Research Partnerships

What we offer

The candidate will join the multidisciplinary research environment at AU FOOD, with activities spanning the entire food value chain from field to fork. The department provides access to state‑of‑the‑art facilities for plant cultivation under controlled conditions, advanced instrumentation for biomolecular characterization, and two fully equipped cell culture laboratories.

The candidate will join an international and multicultural workplace where English is the primary working language. The department also offers a variety of social activities that contribute to a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 29 October 2026.

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.

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 Taxationand 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.

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.