Postdoc in Ancient Human and Pathogen Genomics

Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen; Globe (AZ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

The Globe Institute’s Ancient Genomics Initiative seeks a 2-year postdoctoral researcher to investigate ancient human and pathogen genomes within the Sikora lab at the Section for GeoGenetics, Copenhagen.

The role focuses on detecting ancient pathogen DNA, performing population genomic analyses, and contributing to manuscripts while collaborating with archaeologists, historians, and bioinformaticians.

Qualifications

• PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, or related quantitative field.
• Experience analyzing large-scale sequencing or metagenomic data.
• Proficiency in R and/or Python for data analysis.
• Experience with HPC environments and workflow tools (Snakemake/Nextflow).
• Excellent written and verbal English communication.

Responsibilities

• Apply robust bioinformatic and statistical methods to detect, authenticate, and analyse ancient pathogen DNA from large-scale ancient metagenomic shotgun sequencing datasets.
• Perform 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.

Skills

R programming

Python programming

Population genomics

Phylogenomics

HPC experience

English proficiency

Education

PhD in bioinformatics/computational biology/genomics/related field

Tools

Snakemake

Nextflow

Job description

Postdoc in Ancient Human and Pathogen Genomics

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 be part 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

Responsibilities

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

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. 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).

Application deadline

27 September 2026, 23.59pm CET.

Employment start

15-11-2026

Working hours

Full time

Department/Location

Globe Institute