Two-year postdoc in developing inventory of agricultural nitrous oxide emissions

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

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative international research

Diversity and inclusion

Flexible working environment

Relocation support for international研究

Junior Researcher Development Program

Job summary

Aarhus University invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to develop a Tier 3 model-based national inventory of N₂O emissions from soil cultivation. This position is part of the SmartField project, a cross-organizational effort aimed at understanding field- and national-scale emissions and mitigation strategies.

The successful candidate will build and implement a data pipeline, create spatio-temporal soil and cropping datasets, and estimate inventories while collaborating on

Qualifications

• A PhD in agronomy, soil science, data science, environmental sciences, engineering, agroecology, biology, or a related field.
• Experience working with models and managing/analyzing large datasets.
• Experience with nitrogen/carbon turnover in soil is advantageous but not required.
• Documented experience in scientific writing and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English (written and oral).
• Good collaboration skills and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Support development and implementation of a model-based approach for the national N₂O emissions from agricultural soils.
• Develop data pipelines and create/update spatio-temporal datasets on soils, cropping systems, and field management.
• Calculate and assess inventories, and compare with other approaches.
• Use scenarios to explore mitigation technologies and management measures.
• Support Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) for transparent reporting of mitigation progress.

Skills

Experience with models

Data analysis

Scientific/academic writing

English communication

Collaboration

Education

PhD in agronomy/soil science/data science/environmental science

Job description

The Department of Environmental Science and the Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, welcomes applications for a postdoctoral researcher position in developing a Tier 3 model-based national inventory of N₂O emissions modelling from cultivation of soils. The position is part of the SmartField project, which is a cross-organizational research project aimed at obtaining knowledge about N₂O emissions from agricultural fields and solutions for mitigation strategies. Additionally, SmartField will develop and deliver an improved methodology for accounting N₂O emissions at farm and national scale.

Expected start date and duration of employment

The position is to be filled by February 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter and is a two-year fixed-term position.

Job description

You will be part of a research environment addressing greenhouse gas emissions and sustainability transition of agricultural systems, with a particular focus on nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soil aiming to scale emission estimates from the field to the national scale. Your role will primarily involve supporting the development and implementation of a model-based approach for the national of N₂O emissions from diverse agricultural soils, as well as developing the data pipeline. This will include creating and updating spatio-temporal datasets on soils, cropping systems, and field management, and calculating and assessing and comparing the resulting inventories to other approaches. Scenarios will be used to explore how mitigation technologies and management measures could reduce N₂O emissions and to assess the suitability of the proposed Tier 3 modelling framework for Denmark's national N₂O emission inventory. Your work will support a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system, enabling transparent, robust and science-based reporting of mitigation progress regarding agricultural field N₂O emission. You will work in close collaboration with colleagues developing and testing process-oriented models, as well as with those responsible for the national greenhouse gas inventory.

Your profile

• A PhD in agronomy, soil science, data science, environmental sciences, engineering, agroecology, biology, or a related field.
• Experience working with models, managing and analyzing large datasets.
• Experience working with models related to nitrogen/carbon turnover in soil is considered an advantage but is not required.
• Documented experience in scientific writing and publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• The ability to communicate effectively in English (both written and oral).
• Good collaboration skills and ability to take responsibility to work independently and proactively on the project

Who we are

The position is shared between the Department of Environmental Science and the Department of Agroecology under the Faculty of Technical Sciences at Aarhus University, and it will be hosted by the Land-CRAFT Center at the AU campus in Aarhus.

The Department of Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary department with expertise ranging from physics, chemistry, microbiology, engineering, social science, geography, economics, to policy analysis. Basic as well as applied research are conducted on some of the major challenges facing society, such as pollution and pollution control mechanisms, management of land, soil, water, air and biodiversity, protection of ecosystem services, and climate change. Advisory services within these areas are offered to governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and companies. The department consists of five sections and currently about 160 staff (including postdocs and Ph.D. students).

The Department of Agroecology contributes 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 400 highly skilled employees.

This position is hosted by Land-CRAFT - the Center for Landscape Research in Sustainable Agricultural Future, which aims to bring transformational solutions to agricultural systems. Land-CRAFT is a section within the Department of Agroecology. Therefore, there is a strong focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Both departments believe in equality, diversity, inclusion, and creating an attractive work/life balance.

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.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Aarhus University (LandCRAFT Center), Ole Worms Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C. The affiliation will be with the Department of Environmental Science. However, it should also be expected that there will be work-related and meeting activities at the Department of Environmental Science which is located at Risø in Roskilde.

Contact information

Further information may be obtained by contacting Head of Section Emissions and Atmospheric Modelling, Professor Peter L. Langen ([e-mail] [phone]), Professor Jørgen E. Olesen ([e-mail] [phone]), or Special consultant related to the national emission inventory Mette Hjorth Mikkelsen ([e-mail] [phone]).

Deadline

All applications must be received no later than November 27, 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.

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). 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.

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.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU.