Laboratory Manager in Ecotoxicology at Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Section of Environmental Chemistry and Physics
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Laboratory Manager in Ecotoxicology at Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Section of Environmental Chemistry and Physics
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen is looking for a laboratory manager for the Environmental Toxicology Lab with effect from January 1st, 2026. The employment is temporary and will be for a 4-year period.
About us
Analysing pollutants and assessing their fate and effect in the environment is the core of our work in the Section of Environmental Chemistry and Physics. Within the Environmental Toxicology research group (Group homepage), we focus on understanding how contaminants impact living organisms. Our research involves a diverse range of test species, including algae, aquatic plants, crustaceans and a suit of insects. We measure effects through changes in behaviour, growth, reproduction and survival, but also through molecular biomarkers such as gene expression and metabolite profiles. By combining ecological relevance with advanced analytical techniques, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of environmental stressors and support science-based solutions.
One of our research areas is to assess which chemicals in environmental matrices that contribute the most to the joint toxicity of the joint chemical cocktails found in our environment. This work is done in close collaboration with the Analytical Chemistry research group on our joint Contaminomics Platform. Here environmental samples such as stormwater, wastewater and soil from polluted sites are analysed for their chemical content. We, in turn, measure the effect of these chemicals on relevant biological organisms and, using bioinformatic tools, we try together to unravel the pollutant sources that pose the highest risk to the environment. Another key research area is understanding the environmental effect of new biotechnological pesticides (ENSAFE.dk), such as RNA interference technology and bioactive peptides.
Our work environment is very dynamic with a constant flow of students and researchers working individually or together on different research projects.
Tasks
The work in our lab is very diverse. It includes everything from overseeing that protocols are up to date, keeping cultures alive and happy together with our part-time lab-technician and lab-technician trainee, to training new students and conducting experiments with measurement of many different biological parameters. The latter also includes extraction of biomolecules for analyses by liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry or RNA extractions for qPCR and transcriptomics. Finally, managing and treating data in a correct and systematic way, adhering to the FAIR principle of Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reuse of data (https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/) will be part of the lab manager role. Both in the Contaminomics and ENSAFE project we collaborate with bioinformatics partners, hence, building transparent databases of our ecotoxicological data for joint use is essential.
Your tasks will include:
A dynamic working environment where you will be part of a group of super enthusiastic and nerdy scientists and students, who love what they do and depend on each other as a team. We have a newly equipped laboratory with state of the art instruments. You will be part of two projects that makes a difference for the environment in terms of finding the main sources of chemical pollution (Contaminomics) and assessing the safety of new biotechnological crop protection products (ENSAFE), which aim to contribute to feeding the world in a more sustainable way.
Terms of salary and employment
If hired as laboratory technician, the employment is made in accordance with the Collective Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Organizations of Public Employees – governmental institutions (the OAO-S collective agreement) and the Professional Agreement for clerical employees, laboratory technicians and IT-officers in the state.
You will be employed as a Laboratory manager at salary grade 5, level 1. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. The working hours are 37 hours per week on average. The working hours are flexible.
If hired as an academic employee, the employment and salary is made in accordance with the Circular on the Collective Agreement concerning academics in the state sector concluded between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).
The salary is based on seniority. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. The working hours are 37 hours per week on average. The working hours are flexible.
The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is in the process of implementing a new joint administrative organization and new workflows, which will bring changes in the coming years. For further information, you may contact [Nina Cedergreen, telephone +45 35333397].
Your application
If you find the job interesting, please send an electronic application with attachment via Jobportalen (click on the link "Apply Now" at the bottom of the post) no later than 29 October 2025.
The University of Copenhagen seeks to reflect society and encourages applications irrespective of personal background.
Further questions
Any questions about the position may be directed to Professor Nina Cedergreen, E-mail: ncf@plen.ku.dk; Telephone: +45 29611743 or +45 35333397
About us
Analysing pollutants and assessing their fate and effect in the environment is the core of our work in the Section of Environmental Chemistry and Physics. Within the Environmental Toxicology research group (Group homepage), we focus on understanding how contaminants impact living organisms. Our research involves a diverse range of test species, including algae, aquatic plants, crustaceans and a suit of insects. We measure effects through changes in behaviour, growth, reproduction and survival, but also through molecular biomarkers such as gene expression and metabolite profiles. By combining ecological relevance with advanced analytical techniques, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of environmental stressors and support science-based solutions.
One of our research areas is to assess which chemicals in environmental matrices that contribute the most to the joint toxicity of the joint chemical cocktails found in our environment. This work is done in close collaboration with the Analytical Chemistry research group on our joint Contaminomics Platform. Here environmental samples such as stormwater, wastewater and soil from polluted sites are analysed for their chemical content. We, in turn, measure the effect of these chemicals on relevant biological organisms and, using bioinformatic tools, we try together to unravel the pollutant sources that pose the highest risk to the environment. Another key research area is understanding the environmental effect of new biotechnological pesticides (ENSAFE.dk), such as RNA interference technology and bioactive peptides.
Our work environment is very dynamic with a constant flow of students and researchers working individually or together on different research projects.
Tasks
The work in our lab is very diverse. It includes everything from overseeing that protocols are up to date, keeping cultures alive and happy together with our part-time lab-technician and lab-technician trainee, to training new students and conducting experiments with measurement of many different biological parameters. The latter also includes extraction of biomolecules for analyses by liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry or RNA extractions for qPCR and transcriptomics. Finally, managing and treating data in a correct and systematic way, adhering to the FAIR principle of Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reuse of data (https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/) will be part of the lab manager role. Both in the Contaminomics and ENSAFE project we collaborate with bioinformatics partners, hence, building transparent databases of our ecotoxicological data for joint use is essential.
Your tasks will include:
- Conducting high throughput experiments on algae and daphnid species on environmental samples.
- Testing biotechnological and chemical pesticides on our suit of insect species together with the responsible researchers
- Develop high throughput assays using imaging software to analyze behavior and measure organism sizes and numbers of off-spring. The work will be done in collaboration with our partners from the Early Environmental Safety group at Bayer AG.
- Analyse and report experimental data in a database system.
- Build a database on toxicity data on the most found chemicals in the environment and their effect in our test systems (algae, daphnids and possibly zebrafish embryos)
- Perform sample preparation for transcriptome and metabolome analysis and assist with method development, validation and quality control.
- Have the overview of culture maintenance and be able to teach and troubleshoot when organisms do not thrive.
- An MSc in biology, biotechnology, biochemistry or similar education, or education as a laboratory technician with a minimum of 10 years of experience with bioassays and data management
- Experience with culture maintenance, laboratory work and bioassay analysis is an advantage
- Good data-analytical skills using excel and statistical programs such as R
- Systematic mindset and an ability to manage several parallel tasks
- Be able to read up on scientific literature and laboratory protocols and develop the latter
- Curiosity in terms of biology and how it is affected by chemicals and biomolecules
- Good social and communicative skills and willingness to teach students in the lab disregarding their background, which may be very variable.
- Fluency in English, Danish language skills will be considered an added advantage
A dynamic working environment where you will be part of a group of super enthusiastic and nerdy scientists and students, who love what they do and depend on each other as a team. We have a newly equipped laboratory with state of the art instruments. You will be part of two projects that makes a difference for the environment in terms of finding the main sources of chemical pollution (Contaminomics) and assessing the safety of new biotechnological crop protection products (ENSAFE), which aim to contribute to feeding the world in a more sustainable way.
Terms of salary and employment
If hired as laboratory technician, the employment is made in accordance with the Collective Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Organizations of Public Employees – governmental institutions (the OAO-S collective agreement) and the Professional Agreement for clerical employees, laboratory technicians and IT-officers in the state.
You will be employed as a Laboratory manager at salary grade 5, level 1. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. The working hours are 37 hours per week on average. The working hours are flexible.
If hired as an academic employee, the employment and salary is made in accordance with the Circular on the Collective Agreement concerning academics in the state sector concluded between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).
The salary is based on seniority. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. The working hours are 37 hours per week on average. The working hours are flexible.
The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is in the process of implementing a new joint administrative organization and new workflows, which will bring changes in the coming years. For further information, you may contact [Nina Cedergreen, telephone +45 35333397].
Your application
If you find the job interesting, please send an electronic application with attachment via Jobportalen (click on the link "Apply Now" at the bottom of the post) no later than 29 October 2025.
The University of Copenhagen seeks to reflect society and encourages applications irrespective of personal background.
Further questions
Any questions about the position may be directed to Professor Nina Cedergreen, E-mail: ncf@plen.ku.dk; Telephone: +45 29611743 or +45 35333397