Postdoc in Biogeochemical Modeling in Agroecosystems

Aarhus Universitet (AU); Aarhus; On-site; DKK 420,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Aarhus Universitet, Institut for Agroøkologi – Klima og Vand, søger en postdoktor i biogeokemisk modellering i agroøkosystemer. Stillingen starter 1. december 2026 eller snarest derefter og løber i to år med mulighed for forlængelse.

Arbejdsstedet er i Aarhus med mulighed for videre forskning i GHG-emissioner og nitrogenn dynamics. Du vil bidrage til anvendelse af procesbaserede modeller (DayCent/DNDC) til regional simulering, usikkerhedsanalyse og modellkalibration for at understøtte pålidelige

Qualifications

• PhD i agronomi, ingeniørfag, biologi, eller tilsvarende.
• Forskningserfaring med procesbaserede modeller (f.eks. DayCent, DNDC) til simulering af kulstof, nitrat og vand i agroøkosystemer.
• Stærk baggrund i usikkerheds kvantificering, anvendt statistik, Bayesian kalibrering og Monte Carlo-simulering.
• Gode færdigheder i videnskabelig scripting (R, Python) og programmering.
• Erfaring med High-Performance Computing (HPC) og håndtering/analyse af store datasæt.
• Evne til at kommunikere effektivt på engelsk (skriftligt og mundtligt).
• Evne til at samarbejde i tværfaglige teams.
• Dokumenteret forskningsskrift og publikationer i peer-reviewed tidsskrifter.

Responsibilities

• Udvikle og anvende et skalerbart procesbaseret modellering framework til at vurdere klimatilpasningsstrategier i Danmark.
• Udføre usikkerhedsanalyse og modelkalibrering for at understøtte pålidelige regionale fremskrivninger.
• Kortlægge regionale mitigation hotspots og vurdere afvejninger mellem NUE og N2O-emissioner.
• Bidrage til formidling og rapportering i højtstående videnskabelige tidsskrifter og undervisningsaktiviteter.

Skills

R

Python

Engelsk kommunikation

Samarbejde

Education

PhD i agronomi eller beslægtet felt

Tools

DayCent

DNDC

HPC

Job description

Ansøgningsfrist 31. aug. 23:59 CEST

Forventet start 1. dec.

• Institut for Agroøkologi - Klima og Vand Blichers Allé 20 8830 Tjele
• Tidsbegrænset fuldtidsstilling 1. dec. 2026 - 30. nov. 2028 ID: 164476

The Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, is offering a postdoctoral position in Biogeochemical Modeling in Agroecosystems, starting December 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position will be available for a two-year period, with possibility of extension.

You will be part of a research environment focusing on estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reactive nitrogen dynamics, and climate change mitigation potentials in agroecosystems. You will be contributing specifically to the area of regional simulation using process-based models and advanced statistical methods for approaches such as model-data fusion techniques.

The main focus of your position will be to develop and apply a scalable process-based modeling framework to evaluate climate-smart management strategies across Denmark, which includes but not limited to nitrification inhibitors and other fertilizer management strategies. A key part of this work will be performing uncertainty analysis and model calibration to support reliable regional projections. Your work will play a vital role in mapping regional mitigation hotspots and assessing the trade-offs between nutrient use efficiency (NUE), nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, and other reactive nitrogen losses from agroecosystems.

We expect that you will be an important part of the research environment and that you will contribute positively to the social working environment. We also expect that you will take part in our teaching activities and that you will report research results in high-impact scientific journals.

Your profile

We are searching for a highly motivated candidate who has:

• A PhD in agronomy, engineering, biology, technical oriented sciences or similar.
• Research experience on process-based models (e.g. DayCent, DNDC, or similar) to simulate carbon, nitrogen, and water flows in agroecosystems.
• A solid background in uncertainty quantification, applied statistics, Bayesian calibration, and Monte Carlo simulations.
• Strong skills in scientific scripting (R, Python) and programming.
• Experience with High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments and the management/analysis of large datasets.
• The ability to communicate effectively in English (both written and oral).
• The ability to collaborate within teams and across disciplines.
• Documented experience in scientific writing and publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Who we are

At the Department of Agroecology, our main goal is to contribute to sustainable solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems within the areas of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the environment. We want to make a difference by contributing to both fundamental knowledge generation and the attainment of sustainable production systems via innovative research, contracted policy advice, and education. We offer professional laboratories, greenhouses, semi-field, and field-scale research facilities, advanced computing capacities as well as an extensive national and international researcher network. The department consists of nine research sections with around 350 highly skilled employees, of which approximately 50% are scientific staff. More information can be found here.

We believe in encouraging inclusion, acceptance, and understanding by employing staff who bring unique perspectives to our department.

What we offer

• A collaborative, international research environment that combines high academic standards with an informal and supportive atmosphere. We value accountability, curiosity, flexibility, and teamwork in everything we do.
• An inclusive and respectful workplace culture, where mutual trust, kindness, and professional dialogue are part of daily life. We encourage open communication and develop a cohesive sense of community across teams and disciplines.
• A flexible working environment that supports work-life balance and individual needs.
• An active institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – in recruitment, career development, and everyday interactions.
• An innovative and meaningful workplace where your work contributes to solving real-world challenges. No two days are alike, and we welcome creative thinking and new ideas.
• Support for international researchers and their families, including Relocation Service and an Expat Partner Programme

Living and working in Denmark

• Subsidised childcare and free education from primary school through university.
• Universal healthcare for you and your family as residents.
• Five weeks of paid holiday per year.
• Generous parental leave – up to 52 weeks shared between parents, with full or partial salary.

Place of Work

The place of work is Aarhus University, Campus Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark. The affiliation will be with the Department of Agroecology.

Contact information

More information can be obtained from Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Ram B. Gurung (e-mail) or Professor Diego Abalos (e-mail).

Deadline

All applications must be received no later than August 31, 2026.

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.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

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 depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

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. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Spørgsmål til stillingen ?

Ram Gurung Tenure Track adjunkt, Institut for Agroøkologi - Klima og Vand e-mail

Spørgsmål til ansøgning og proces ?

Administrationscenter Nat-Tech - Nat-Tech HR [phone] e-mail