3-Year postdoctoral position in Microbial Trait Modeling

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 3 years, and the starting date is April 1st, 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Scientific environment
The successful candidate will join 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 staff consists of ecosystem ecologists and microbial ecologists working in terrestrial and aquatic environments as well as ecosystem modelers. The center is housed at the North Campus in 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. The center staff has collected a range of unique datasets to link VOC production and consumption rates with DNA- and RNA-based data of microbial communities in different environments and habitats as well as data on environmental factors. The center has access to supercomputing resources to process large datasets and to run trait-based microbial models. We also have specialists who work with process-based ecosystem models (see modelling work at Tang’s group)

Main tasks and responsibilities
The post doc will lead trait-based microbial modeling activities and focus on adding processes to link VOC emissions with microbial traits and community dynamics in an existing model framework. The postdoc will apply and develop trait-based microbial models, such as DEMENT, under the guidance of the VOLT’s key collaborator, Prof. Steven Allison, University of  California, Irvine. The modeling work will incorporate the microbial trait database and VOC and genomic data collected by VOLT members. The developed processes will be further coupled to ecosystem-level models to assess interactions and impacts at landscape and regional scales. The work will encompass data analysis, model development and model application. The successful candidate will be responsible for lead-writing and co-authoring scientific publications. The candidate will also have the opportunity to supervise BSc and MSc students.

Qualifications
We seek an ambitious and highly motivated candidate with a PhD in biological sciences, computational biology, mathematics or a related field. A successful candidate should have experience with microbial-related modeling. Some experience with and knowledge of VOC datasets is a plus. Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement, as well as excellent writing skills demonstrated by the publication record. The candidate should be comfortable working in teams with a collaborative mindset.

For enquiries about the position, please contact Professor Anders Priemé (aprieme@bio.ku.dk; +45 35330147) or Assistant Professor Jing Tang (Jing.Tang@bio.ku.dk;  +46 35334606) 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).

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

·     A cover letter describing the motivation to apply for the position

·     Curriculum vitae (max 2 pages)

·     Complete list of publications

·     Research plan – description of current and future research plans related to the advertised position

·     Pdf files of the three most important publications

·     Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)

·     Contact details (name, address, telephone & email) of 2 professional referees

The deadline for applications is December 8, 2024, 23:59 CET.

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/.

Terms of employment 
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment according 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.