Postdoctoral position in Marine volatile interactions

A post doc position is available within the Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT), at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen. The appointment is for 2 years, and the starting date is December 1st, 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Scientific environment
The successful candidate becomes an integrated part of the Center for Volatile Interactions, led by Prof. Riikka Rinnan. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic, collaborative, and international research environment. The Center is housed in Universitetsparken, Copenhagen, where we have laboratory facilities and state-of-the-art instrumentation for analyses of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), molecular analyses of microbial community structure and activity, as well as incubation and climate chamber facilities. Marine Biological Section, located in Elsinore, provides state-of-the-art facilities for molecular and process-based studies of marine microorganisms. The center has currently two proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass-spectrometers (PTR-TOF-MS) and two thermal desorber-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometers (GC-MS) including different sample introduction possibilities. The research project will take place in Elsinore and in the VOLT Center.

Main tasks and responsibilities
The post doc will concern fluxes of volatiles associated with marine bacterioplankton and phytoplankton and focus particularly on the importance of bacterioplankton and phytoplankton interactions for VOC production/emission. The work will encompass field and experimental work as well as cultivation applying molecular analyses of bacterial and phytoplankton community composition, plankton activity measurements, and measurements of VOCs. The successful candidate will be responsible for lead-writing and co-authoring scientific publications. The candidate will also have the opportunity to supervise MSc students.

Qualifications
We are looking for ambitious and highly motivated candidates with a PhD in marine microbial ecology, or a related field. Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement, as well as excellent writing skills demonstrated by the publication record. A successful candidate has good analytical skills e.g. in molecular community analyses (bioinformatics), aquatic microbial ecology, and cultivation of bacteria and phytoplankton. Experience with VOC measurements using GC-MS or PTR-MS techniques and multivariate statistics is an asset along with experience of field and experimental work. The candidate can take decisions independently, but she/he is also comfortable working in teams and has a collaborative mindset.

For enquiries about the position, please contact Professor Lasse Riemann (lriemann@bio.ku.dk; +45 51423935) or Professor Riikka Rinnan (riikkar@bio.ku.dk; +45 51827039).

Foreign applicants may find these resources useful: http://www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

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

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.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

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

How to apply

Applications must be in English, submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below, and include:

• A cover letter describing motivation and personal qualities.
• Curriculum vitae
• Complete list of publications
• Research plan – description of current and future research plans
• Pdf files of the two most important publications
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)

The deadline for applications is September 30, 2024, 23:59 GMT+2.

Procedures
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/.