Research Assistant in Marine Taxonomy

Aarhus University (AU); Aarhus; On-site; DKK 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, invites applications for a 2-year fixed-term Research Assistant in marine taxonomy focusing on phytoplankton, macroalgae and benthic fauna. Based in Aarhus, the position starts 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

You will work with experienced taxonomists and contribute to monitoring and research using methods such as eDNA and ROV-based surveys, with data handling and reporting to authorities.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in biology, marine biology or related field.
• Experience identifying marine organisms, especially phytoplankton, macroalgae, or benthic fauna.
• Experience with marine field work.
• Experience with laboratory work and good laboratory practice.
• Experience with data handling, quality assurance and reporting.
• Good English skills, written and oral.
• Structured, careful, and able to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Identify and quantify phytoplankton, macroalgae and benthic fauna in samples from field surveys.
• Manage data, QA, and reporting for the Danish EPA advisory work.
• Contribute to marine biodiversity research projects, including cultivated seaweed.

Skills

Marine species identification

Field work experience

Laboratory work

Data handling/QA/reporting

Written and oral English

Independent and teamwork

Education

Master's degree in biology or marine biology

Tools

eDNA methods

ROV imaging

R (statistics)

Job description

Do you have a sharp eye for marine species and want to put your taxonomic skills to work in both research and national monitoring? The Department of Ecoscience at Aarhus University, Denmark, invites applications for a 2-year position as research assistant in marine taxonomy, focusing on phytoplankton, macroalgae and benthic fauna. The place of work is Aarhus, and the position starts on 1 January 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 2-year fixed-term position from 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Job description

Taxonomic expertise is the foundation of reliable knowledge about marine biodiversity, and of the monitoring that Danish authorities use to assess the state of the marine environment. You will help maintain and develop the department's taxonomic expertise and link it to new methods such as eDNA, ROV-based surveys and model-ling. Your tasks will include:

• Identification and quantification of phytoplankton, macroalgae and benthic fauna in samples from field surveys and monitoring programmes
• Data management, quality assurance and reporting as part of the department's advisory work for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency
• Contributing to research projects on marine biodiversity, e.g. in cultivated seaweed

You will work in close collaboration with experienced taxonomists and researchers at the Department of Ecoscience.

Your profile

Applicants should hold a Master's degree in biology, marine biology or a related field. We expect that you have:

• Documented experience in identifying marine organisms, preferably within phytoplankton, macroalgae and/or benthic fauna
• Experience with marine field work
• Experience with laboratory work and good laboratory practice
• Experience with data handling, quality assurance and reporting
• Good English skills, written and oral
• A structured and careful approach to your work and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team

It will be an advantage if you have:

• Experience with national monitoring programmes, e.g. NOVANA
• Experience with molecular methods such as eDNA, or with ROV or other image-based survey methods
• Skills in data analysis, e.g. in R
• An interest in research-based advice to authorities

Who we are

The Department of Ecoscience conducts national and international research and advisory projects covering all major subdisciplines within marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecology. The department is a recognised authority in research-based advice to Danish authorities and is responsible for large parts of the national monitoring of the marine environment. We are currently about 340 employees.

You will join the Section for Marine Ecology. AU Ecoscience - Research in marine ecology. For more information on the department, see https://ecos.au.dk/en/.

What we offer

The department offers:

• the opportunity to work with experienced taxonomists and to develop your skills within both classic and new methods
• a combination of field work, laboratory work, research and advice to authorities
• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, and the area of employ-ment is Aarhus University with related departments.

Contact information

For further information, please contact: Head of Section, Annette Bruhn, [phone], [e-mail].

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than Tuesday 1 December 2026.

Application procedure

Short-listing is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks 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 will receive his/her assessment.

Formalities and salary range

Natural 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 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.

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

About Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment for its 37,500 students, including PhD students, and has 9,000 employees (full-time equivalents) and an annual revenue of EUR 1.2 billion. Learn more at international.au.dk