Postdoc in narwhal population genomics and demography at Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

We are looking for a highly motivated, competent, independent, and dynamic researcher for a 2-year Postdoctoral fellowship, with demonstrated experience in relevant areas of population genomic research. The position will commence on 1 October 2025, or as soon as possible hereafter.

The full-time postdoc position is funded by the Danish Independent Research Fund (DFF) ‘BRIDGE -- bridging fundamental science and applied conservation in polar research’, as part of their 2024 thematic research call in ‘Arctic research – Climate change and sustainable arctic communities’.

Our research and work environment
This postdoc position is a joint project between the Globe Institute at University of Copenhagen and Pinngortitaleriffik (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources). The successful candidate will thus be part of both research environments.

The Molecular Ecology and Global Climate Change group at the Globe Institute is led by Professor Eline Lorenzen. The Lorenzen group integrates biomolecular data to understand patterns and drivers of eco-evolutionary change in mammal populations. We are an international group of PhD students and postdocs – currently from – China, Denmark, New Zealand, South Africa, and the US. Our work is interdisciplinary and highly collaborative, and we value a diverse, inclusive, supportive, and team-oriented work environment that fosters creativity. We are based in the Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, one of six research sections at Globe Institute.

Professor Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources has extensive experience in marine mammal studies in Greenland, including narwhals. Mads Peter is responsible for the biopsy sampling program for narwhals in Scoresby Sound, which has been conducted annually since 2005 and is the foundation of this postdoc. 

Senior researcher Marie Louis at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources has a background in population genomics, ecology and evolution, with a focus on marine mammals, and has worked extensively on narwhal populations around Greenland. 

The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources conducts research into Arctic ecosystems, monitors the living resources and the environment in Greenland, and advises the Government of Greenland and other authorities on sustainable exploitation of living resources and safeguarding the environment and biodiversity.

Your job
Your research will focus on investigating patterns of demographic change in narwhals in Scoresby Sound, across the past 20 years, based on genetic analysis of a unique time series of >200 tissue samples collected by the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources since 2005.

Narwhals are considered the most sensitive Arctic marine mammal to climate change, due to their adaptations to a narrow sea-temperature niche, dependence on sea ice, specialised feeding habits, restricted range, and low plasticity in migratory patterns. They are the first Arctic marine mammals that at a population level show clear signs of the effects of habitat loss. A recent letter in the journal Science by Heide-Jørgensen et al. (2020) served as a clarion call that narwhals require targeted conservation to ensure the survival of individual subpopulations, each of which has its own ecological niche, migratory routes, and exploitation history.

Over the past two decades in Scoresby Sound, a vital area for Inuit subsistence hunting, narwhals have experienced an alarming level of decline. Due to their extreme site fidelity and niche-conservative behaviour, the loss of sub-populations will likely be permanent, and recolonization is unlikely. The extirpation of this top predator from Scoresby Sound, one of the largest and longest fjord systems in the world, would widely affect the trophic cascades of the ecosystem, and in addition have major impacts on Inuit communities relying on them for subsistence and their cultural heritage.

This project will use genome-wide data to identify the demographic consequences of a rapidly decreasing population in this top predator. We hypothesise the decline has resulted in an increase in relatedness and a change in population composition in recent years. Hence, the project will (i) estimate changes in abundance since sampling of the narwhals in Scoresby Sound was initiated in 2005; (ii) identify individuals and their relatedness through time; (iii) infer changes in population composition and kinship using estimates of sex and relatedness.

Your findings will provide crucial insights into the status of not just this population, but also the food web and trophic cascades of which narwhals are an integral part, at timescales of direct relevance to conservation and management efforts.

Your work will include laboratory work for DNA data generation, and bioinformatic processing and population genomic analysis of the data. You are expected to first-author papers in international peer-reviewed journals. You will work closely with a PhD student (position currently advertised, to start autumn 2025) that will work on a similar project on bowhead whales from Disko Bay, West Greenland, and with other relevant collaborators in the Arctic region during the two years. There is no field work planned as part of this project (all samples are readily available).

Job description
We are looking for a highly motivated, independent, and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in population genomics, evolutionary ecology, statistics, or a related field
• Professional qualifications relevant to the postdoc project
• Documented experience working in a molecular biology lab
• Strong bioinformatic skills, experience with quantitative analysis of DNA data, and documented experience analysing whole-genome data in a population genomic context
• First-authored publications in international, peer-reviewed journals
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in combining molecular lab work in the natural and cultural history of the Arctic
• Proficient communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to work in teams, and an openness to other cultures
• Excellent English skills, written and spoken

Principal supervisor: Professor Eline Lorenzen, Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, elinelorenzen@sund.ku.dk. 

Co-advisors: Professor Mads Peter Heide Jørgensen (mhj@ghsdk.dk) and Senior researcher Marie Louis (marie.louis@natur.gl), Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Start:                1 October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter

Duration:         2 years as a postdoctoral fellow

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

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/. The Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. Check this part of our website for more information.

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.

 Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 2 years. The starting date is 1 November 2025 or after agreement.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 36,292 DKK/approx. 4,800 EUR (April 2023 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For specific information about the postdoc, please contact: Eline Lorenzen elinelorenzen@sund.ku.dk.

The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families. Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills, and other skills relevant for the position

3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.

4. List of publications.

Application deadline: 20 May 2025, 23:59 GMT+2

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

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

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Online interviews are expected to be held in second half of June 2025.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.