Postdoc on fungal biodiversity, citizen science and conservation effectiveness, Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Globe Institute

Postdoc on fungal biodiversity, citizen science and conservation effectiveness, Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 1 year [12 month] position to commence 1st of June 2025 or as soon as possible after. Depending on the obtaining of additional funding it is the plan to expand the duration of the position.

The position is based at the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen. Information on the department can be found at: www.macroecology.ku.dk and www.globe.ku.dk. The project is funded by the Danish Innovation Fund, as part of the Biodiversa+ project FunDive (https://fun-dive.eu). FunDive combines citizen science, AI tools, and eDNA-based monitoring to develop better methodologies for fungal monitoring and conservation. We also aim to explore changes in fungal communities over time and space and assess the effectiveness of current conservation efforts for globally threatened fungi.

Our group and research

You will be part of an international research-collaboration aiming to set new standards for mapping and monitoring of fungal biodiversity, combing citizen science and professional expert based monitoring, including environmental DNA (eDNA). We seek to impact practical conservation, by bridging between state of the art in science, monitoring and conservation policy at the European scale. We emphasize teamwork and collaborations both inside CMEC and within the European network of collaborators in FunDive. We strive to maintain a supportive and inclusive group where the experiences and skills of everyone help to build a productive, synergetic, and friendly culture and working environment.

CMEC is a center of excellence with a cross-disciplinary research program. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment addressing fundamental questions on the origin, maintenance, conservation, and future of life and biological diversity on Earth. The 40+ researchers at CMEC currently represent 14 different nationalities and the working language is English. The center juxtaposes faculty staff scientists from the fields of macroecology, historical biogeography, conservation science, oceanography, evolutionary biology, community ecology, population biology, climate change research, and environmental economics.

Your job

The position is part of the project FunDive (monitoring and mapping Fungal Diversity for nature conservation) coordinated from CMEC and involving partners in more than 20 European countries. The project coordinator, Assoc. Prof. Jacob Heilmann-Clausen will act as your main Academic supervisor.

The overall project aim is to put fungal biodiversity on the map to enhance European conservation efforts. Fungi constitute a very diverse group of often highly specialised organisms that are often neglected in monitoring and practical conservation efforts, leaving them vulnerable to threats and habitat loss. In addition they play crucial roles in ecosystems, and hence changes in fungal community composition may be early signs of fundamental changes in ecosystem functioning.

The position is related to WP5 in the project, which focus on the investigation of fungal diversity and community composition based on existing and newly collected data stemming from both citizen science and eDNA sampling. Your focus will be to explore if existing conservation measures are adequate to protect fungal biodiversity in Europe. More specifically, you will evaluate how well the EU habitat directive and national protection schemes protect fungal biodiversity including globally threatened fungi. Further, you will explore how different sampling strategies capture data on threatened fungi, and how sampling biases can be identified and addressed to make monitoring more robust and targeted.

You will have the main responsibility for conducting the research described above, in collaboration with your supervisor and external project partners in FunDive. Within the overall frames of the project scope, you will have the opportunity to shape your own research projects. You are expected to lead the development of at least one first authored paper for publication in high-ranking international peer-reviewed journal. In addition, participation in collaborative projects with other lead authors is participated. You will also have the opportunity to gain experience in teaching and supervise MSc and BSc student thesis projects.

Profile

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

Essential experience and skills:

• A PhD in conservation science, biology, or other environmental sciences.
• First-author papers in international peer-reviewed journals
• Good understanding of fungal ecology and macrofungal diversity
• Good understanding of biodiversity conservation, including monitoring, management and policies
• Experience in statistical analysis (for example Mixed-Effects models and/or spatial data-analysis).
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience with field mycology and fungal identification
• Experience in teaching and supervising undergraduate and MSc students
• Experience with citizen science and/or monitoring of biodiversity involving volunteers
• Experience with remote sensing and GIS

Place of employment

The place of employment is at Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Information on CMEC and the GLOBE Institute can be found at: https://macroecology.ku.dk/ and https://globe.ku.dk/. With over 200 early-career researchers at the Globe Institute, we have a large vibrant and international community with many work-related and social activities.

University of Copenhagen is the second best university in the European Union according to ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023) and number 39 in the world. The city of Copenhagen is consistently rated among the most livable cities in the world; it is easy to navigate on a bike, yet international and diverse.

Terms of employment

The employment as postdoc is a full time [37 hours per week] and fixed-term position for 1 year [12 months]. Starting date is 1st of June 2025 or after agreement.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,000 DKK/approx. 5,000 EUR (April 2024 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 further information please contact Jacob Heilmann-Clausen; jheilmann-clausen@sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure

Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Letter of application including a short description of previous research experience and a research plan outlining how the project could be carried out (max. two pages). Project description is used only for evaluating the applicant.
2. CV incl. education, work/research 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. A list of publications
5. Full contact details (Name, address, telephone & email) of two professional references (these will only be contacted after agreement).

Deadline for applications: 18 March 2025, 23.59pm CET

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.

University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.