Postdoc: Fluorescent Glycan Probes for Microbial Biofilms

Aalborg University; Aalborg; On-site; DKK 450,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Aalborg University’s Department of Chemistry and Bioscience seeks a curious postdoctoral researcher to develop fluorescent molecular probes for exopolysaccharides and study microbial communities. The 35‑month position based in Aalborg starts Feb 1, 2027, and offers access to cutting‑edge imaging and genome‑resolved microbiome analysis.

You will clone, express and label proteins, evaluate probe specificity, collaborate with microbiology and bioinformatics, and contribute to publications.

Qualifications

• PhD in biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biology, biotechnology, or a closely related discipline.
• Hands-on experience in molecular cloning, recombinant protein expression and purification, and protein engineering.
• Strong understanding of protein structure–function relationships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate fluorescent molecular probes based on catalytically inactive glycanases.
• Engineer enzymes to retain selective binding to exopolysaccharides while losing catalytic activity.
• Perform molecular cloning, recombinant protein expression and purification, and fluorescent labeling.
• Evaluate probe specificity and binding properties using purified reference polysaccharides and defined microbial cultures.
• Collaborate with microbiology and bioinformatics colleagues; optimize probes for fluorescence imaging.

Skills

Molecular cloning

Protein expression

Protein purification

Protein engineering

Fluorescent labeling

Biochemistry

Structural biology

Microbiology

Bioinformatics

Metagenomics

Transcriptomics

Education

PhD in biochemistry/structural biology/molecular biology/biotechnology

Job description

Aalborg University’s Department of Chemistry and Bioscience seeks a curious postdoctoral researcher to develop fluorescent molecular probes for exopolysaccharides and study microbial communities. The 35‑month position based in Aalborg starts Feb 1, 2027, and offers access to cutting‑edge imaging and genome‑resolved microbiome analysis.

You will clone, express and label proteins, evaluate probe specificity, collaborate with microbiology and bioinformatics, and contribute to publications.