Postdoc in Ancient Human and Pathogen Genomics

Københavns Universitet; København; On-site; DKK 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Københavns Universitet in Copenhagen invites applications for a 2-year postdoctoral position in the Sikora lab at GeoGenetics to advance ancient genomics and the APOLLO initiative.

You will apply bioinformatic and statistical methods to detect ancient pathogen DNA, perform evolutionary analyses, and contribute to manuscripts while collaborating with archaeologists, historians, and other scientists.

Qualifications

• PhD in bioinformatics or closely related quantitative field.
• Strong experience in computational analysis of large-scale sequencing or metagenomic datasets.
• Proven ability in population genomic, evolutionary, and phylogenomic analyses of ancient DNA datasets.
• High proficiency in data analysis and scripting with R and/or Python.
• Experience with HPC environments and workflow tools (Snakemake or Nextflow).
• Solid understanding of NGS data and biases in degraded DNA.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills; good scientific communication in English.

Responsibilities

• Apply robust bioinformatic and statistical methods to detect and analyze ancient pathogen DNA from large-scale metagenomic data.
• Perform evolutionary, population genomic, and phylogenomic analyses of human and pathogen diversity through time.
• Lead and contribute to manuscript preparation and dissemination of findings in scientific journals.
• Collaborate with laboratory scientists, bioinformaticians, archaeologists, and historians in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Assist in supervising graduate students and contribute to the intellectual life of the group.

Skills

R

Python

HPC

Metagenomics

Population genomics

Phylogenomics

English communication

Education

PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, evolutionary biology, health sciences, or related field

Tools

Snakemake

Nextflow

Job description

Section for GeoGenetics

Globe Institute

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

University of Copenhagen

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 2-year position to commence on 15 November 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The postdoc will be part of the Sikora lab group, based at the Section for GeoGenetics and will bepart of the Ancient Genomics Initiative for the Evolutionary Understanding of Human Diseases (Apollo).

Information on the department can be found at https://globe.ku.dk.

Our research

The APOLLO Ancient Genomics Initiative is a pioneering research program led by Associate Professor Martin Sikora. It brings together an interdisciplinary team with the shared goal of uncovering the evolutionary origins of human disease risk through integrated analyses of ancient human, pathogen, and environmental DNA.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Your job

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will work in a highly collaborative and international research environment at the forefront of ancient genomics. Your main responsibilities will include:

• Applying robust bioinformatic and statistical methods to detect, authenticate, and analyse ancient pathogen DNA from large-scale ancient metagenomic shotgun sequencing datasets.
• Performing evolutionary, population genomic, and phylogenomic analyses to jointly investigate human and pathogen diversity through time.
• Leading and contributing to the preparation of manuscripts and the dissemination of research findings in scientific journals.
• Collaborating closely with laboratory scientists, bioinformaticians, archaeologists, and historians in a highly interdisciplinary research setting.
• Assisting in the supervision of graduate students and actively contributing to the intellectual and collaborative life of the research group.

Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• A PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, evolutionary biology, health sciences, or a closely related quantitative field.
• Strong experience in the computational analysis of large-scale sequencing or metagenomic datasets.
• Proven ability to perform population genomic, evolutionary, and phylogenomic analyses of ancient DNA datasets
• High proficiency in data analysis and statistical programming using R and/or Python.
• Experience working in high-performance computing (HPC) environments for large-scale analyses and with workflow management tools such as Snakemake or Nextflow.
• Solid understanding of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data characteristics, limitations, and sources of bias, particularly in low-coverage or degraded DNA datasets.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex genomic results into biological insight.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Desirable experience and skills:

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a fast-paced collaborative, and interdisciplinary research environment.
• Experience integrating genomic data with archaeological, historical, environmental, or epidemiological metadata.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Section for GeoGenetics, Globe Institute, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen

About Globe Institute

The Globe Institute is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural and medical sciences and the humanities. Information on the institute can be found at: https://www.globe.ku.dk/.

Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See website

for more information. All qualified applicants will receive full consideration. Candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, contribute to diversity and competencies of our Institute are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year. Researchers that have not been tax liable in Denmark for the last 10 years can apply for a special (reduced) tax scheme. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families.

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

There will be an opportunity to negotiate supplements based on qualifications. You can read more about salary levels in the state sector www.loenoverblik.dk (in Danish)

Questions

For further information please contact Martin Sikora at [e-mail].

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

The further process

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.

Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.

Kontakt

Martin Sikora
E-mail: [e-mail]

Info

Ansøgningsfrist: 27-09-2026

Ansættelsesdato: 15-11-2026

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: Globe Institute