Postdoc in Agroecology

Institut for Idræt og Ernæring v/ Københavns Universitet; Pludual; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

En førende forskningsinstitution i Danmark søger en Postdoc i Agroecology til at undersøge biodiversitet og skadedyr i landbrugsøkosystemer. Stillingen fokuserer på dataindsamling og analyse i samarbejde med et tværfagligt team. Kandidater skal have en PhD og erfaring med økologisk feltarbejde. Ansøgninger er åbne indtil 30. september 2025.

Qualifications

• Erfaring med økologiske undersøgelser og prøvetagning.
• Publiceringshistorik i peer-reviewed tidsskrifter.
• Villighed til at udføre feltarbejde med usædvanlige arbejdstider.

Responsabilités

• Udvikle protokoller for dataindsamling.
• Analyse af biologiske og miljømæssige datasæt.
• Samarbejde med forskere i Danmark og UK.

Connaissances

Økologisk feltarbejde

Dataanalyse af store datasæt

Brug af programmeringssprog som R og Python

Uafhængig problemløsning

Samarbejde i teams

Formation

PhD i relevant emne

Description du poste

• Jobportal DK
• Videnskabelige stillinger
  
  

Postdoc in Agroecology

The Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Copenhagen university is offering a 36-month position to explore the abundance, diversity and management of biotic threats (invertebrates, weeds, pathogens) and functional biodiversity in agroecosystems, commencing 1 January 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Description Of The Scientific Environment

The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences conducts basic and applied research to solve agri-environmental challenges within plant, soil and environmental sciences. Research and teaching encompass natural resources, agriculture, and biotechnology from the molecular to landscape scales. The post is based within the Crop Sciences section at the Tåstrup campus, at the university’s experimental farm platform.

The weed ecology and evolution group investigates the ecological and evolutionary processes that dictate the distribution, adaptation and impacts of weeds in agroecosystems. Our basic research uses weeds as excellent models for studying rapid plant adaptation in human-influenced environments. We apply these insights to develop sustainable weed management strategies. In the One Crop Health project, we take an integrated agroecological approach to explore the biological, environmental and management (GxExM) drivers of invertebrate pest, weed, pathogen populations, and functional biodiversity.

The One Crop Health Project

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has funded a consortium (led by PI: Paul Neve) of the University of Copenhagen (Plant & Environmental Sciences, Computer Science) and Aarhus University (Agroecology) in Denmark, and Rothamsted Research and University of Sheffield in the UK to explore innovative ways to reduce reliance on pesticides in cropping systems. Running from 2024 to 2030, the project, titled “One Crop Health for Next-Generation Crop Protection”, integrates cutting-edge technologies in agroecology, biotechnology and data sciences.

The project aims to develop a holistic One Crop Health system that emphasizes the interconnectedness of plant, soil, and agroecosystem health, inspired by the One Health concept from human health. By optimizing these relationships, the project seeks to minimize pest control interventions while enhancing environmental sustainability. The research will focus on agroecological practices, digital and data-driven solutions for early detection and prediction of pest, weed and disease outbreaks, and ecology-inspired solutions for sustainable pest control. The outcomes are expected to contribute to reduce pesticide use, boost biodiversity, improve soil health, and create more resilient cropping systems where pesticide use is minimized.

Project leader and line manager is Professor Paul Neve, [e-mail], Phone: [phone].

One Crop health project: https://plen.ku.dk/english/research/crop_sciences/weed-ecology-and-evolution/one-crop-health-next-generation-crop-protection/

Role description: Quantitative agroecologist.

Working closely with an established One Crop Health project team (ecologists, agroecologists, agronomists, computer and data scientists) at the Tåstrup campus, you will contribute to protocol development, and data and sample collection campaigns to determine the abundance, distribution, and impacts of invertebrate pests, weeds, pathogens and functional biodiversity. Data and sample collection campaigns are undertaken three times per year (autumn, spring, summer) across a network of 50 commercial farms in Denmark, and a large-scale field experiment at the Tåstrup experimental farm. We use and develop a range of sampling and monitoring methodologies, including field surveys, traps, cameras, environmental DNA, and proximal and remote sensing.

As a postdoctoral scientist, your main responsibilities will be to collate, integrate and analyse multi-model biological, environmental (i.e. soils, weather, landscape) and management (field management histories) data sets to model the drivers of annual and regional variation in pest, weed and disease pressure, and functional biodiversity across national-scale farm networks and field experiments. You will be expected to be highly proficient in the use of appropriate statistical methods and programming languages to perform associated analyses. You will contribute to writing scientific papers for submission to high impact journals (as a lead- and co-author).ealth team Health project

This joint Denmark-UK project is interdisciplinary and collaborative. You will work closely wih scientists in the UK, developing and implementing joint protocols for data collection, data analysis and publication. You will attend and contribute to planning project and work package meetings. You will provide support and mentorship, where appropriate, to One Crop Health PhD students. You will collaborate closely with computer and data scientists at Copenhagen university who are developing novel approaches in computer vision, simulation modelling and digital twin technology.

Key Experience And Competencies

• PhD in a relevant subject (Essential)
• Experience of (agro) ecological field work – ecological surveys, sampling and monitoring (Essential)
• Knowledge of plant pathology and/or entomology in an agroecosystem context (Desirable)
• Proficient in the analysis of large multivariate ecological data sets (Essential)
• Proficient in the use of appropriate programming languages e.g., R, Python (Essential).
• Publication record in peer-reviewed, international journals (Essential)
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and problem solve (Essential).
• Willing to conduct remote fieldwork with occasional irregular hours and some overnight stays (Essential)
• Full driving license (Desirable)
• Highly collaborative, team player (Essential).
  
  

Further information on the Department is linked at https://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/. Inquiries about the position can be made to Paul Neve.

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.

Application procedure

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Curriculum vitae
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• A cover letter that explains your motivation for applying the role and your experience in relation to essential and desirable competencies listed above.
• A complete publication list.
  
  

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

The deadline for applications is 30 September, 2025, 23:59 GMT +1.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

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

Interviews will be held in mid- to late-October 2025.

SØG STILLINGEN

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

Paul Neve

E-mail: [e-mail]

Info

Ansøgningsfrist: 30-09-2025

Ansættelsesdato: 01-01-2026

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: PLEN

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