Postdoc in Ancient Environmental DNA and Past Agricultural Systems at Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
fuldtid
Postdoc in Ancient Environmental DNA and Past Agricultural Systems at Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a two-year position starting March 15 2026, or after agreement.
Our research
AEGIS is a pioneering research center headed by prof. Eske Willerslev that brings together a highly interdisciplinary and international team of world-leading research groups with a shared vision of developing more robust, sustainable, and biodiverse crops and agricultural practices to mitigate the effects of climate change on global food production: https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/climate-resilient-crops-novo-nordisk-foundation-and-the-wellcome-trust-award-a-grant-of-up-to-dkk-585-million-to-the-ancient-environmental-genomics-initiative-for-sustainability/.
AEGIS combines the fields of ancient environmental DNA, genomics, metagenomics, informatics and biostatistics, evolutionary biology, ecology, geology, archaeology, plant engineering, and agricultural crop research. We will collect and work on geological sediments, bones, fossils and material from contemporary species from more than 200 different locations around the world to generate and analyse vast amounts of ancient and contemporary environmental DNA and other ancient and modern biomolecular- data and associated contextual data.
The advertised position is within Willerslev group that takes an interdisciplinary approach to science, and their research involves fields like archaeology, geology, medicine, ecology, and linguistics. However, their primary tool is molecular biology.
Your job
As a researcher in the Willerslev group within AEGIS, you will conduct research on ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) to reconstruct past agricultural systems and human–environment interactions. Your work will focus on how past societies adapted to environmental change, managed biodiversity, and developed resilient agricultural practices, with relevance to present-day challenges in sustainable food production. You will analyse aeDNA and other biomolecular data from geological sediments, archaeological contexts, and biological remains, integrating molecular results with archaeological, geological, ecological, and environmental data. This includes contributing to reconstructions of land use, crop domestication and diversification, and agricultural landscape management across regions and time periods.
The position combines laboratory-based molecular biology with computational analyses of large genomic and metagenomic datasets. You will collaborate closely with bioinformaticians and researchers across archaeology, geology, ecology, and evolutionary biology, contributing to interdisciplinary interpretations and global syntheses. You are expected to publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at international conferences, participate in collaborative projects within AEGIS, and contribute to the development of aeDNA methods for agricultural and environmental research.
Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:
Essential experience and skills:
Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Section for GeoGenetics, Globe Institute, at Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K.
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: http://www.globe.ku.dk/.
Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See 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. Researchers that have not been tax liable in Denmark for the last 10 years can apply for a special (reduced) tax scheme. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families.
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 two years. The starting date is on 15 March 2026 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 38,733 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2025 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 18.07 % 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 Professor Willerslev: ewillerslev@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:
Deadline for applications: 26 January 2026, 23:59 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 http://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.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
Our research
AEGIS is a pioneering research center headed by prof. Eske Willerslev that brings together a highly interdisciplinary and international team of world-leading research groups with a shared vision of developing more robust, sustainable, and biodiverse crops and agricultural practices to mitigate the effects of climate change on global food production: https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/climate-resilient-crops-novo-nordisk-foundation-and-the-wellcome-trust-award-a-grant-of-up-to-dkk-585-million-to-the-ancient-environmental-genomics-initiative-for-sustainability/.
AEGIS combines the fields of ancient environmental DNA, genomics, metagenomics, informatics and biostatistics, evolutionary biology, ecology, geology, archaeology, plant engineering, and agricultural crop research. We will collect and work on geological sediments, bones, fossils and material from contemporary species from more than 200 different locations around the world to generate and analyse vast amounts of ancient and contemporary environmental DNA and other ancient and modern biomolecular- data and associated contextual data.
The advertised position is within Willerslev group that takes an interdisciplinary approach to science, and their research involves fields like archaeology, geology, medicine, ecology, and linguistics. However, their primary tool is molecular biology.
Your job
As a researcher in the Willerslev group within AEGIS, you will conduct research on ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) to reconstruct past agricultural systems and human–environment interactions. Your work will focus on how past societies adapted to environmental change, managed biodiversity, and developed resilient agricultural practices, with relevance to present-day challenges in sustainable food production. You will analyse aeDNA and other biomolecular data from geological sediments, archaeological contexts, and biological remains, integrating molecular results with archaeological, geological, ecological, and environmental data. This includes contributing to reconstructions of land use, crop domestication and diversification, and agricultural landscape management across regions and time periods.
The position combines laboratory-based molecular biology with computational analyses of large genomic and metagenomic datasets. You will collaborate closely with bioinformaticians and researchers across archaeology, geology, ecology, and evolutionary biology, contributing to interdisciplinary interpretations and global syntheses. You are expected to publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at international conferences, participate in collaborative projects within AEGIS, and contribute to the development of aeDNA methods for agricultural and environmental research.
Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:
Essential experience and skills:
- You have a PhD in ancient genomics, or related field.
- You are highly experienced in computational bioinformatics and population genetics.
- You have an active interest in research question driven by ingenious communities.
- Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams.
- Excellent English skills, written and spoken.
Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Section for GeoGenetics, Globe Institute, at Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K.
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: http://www.globe.ku.dk/.
Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See 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. Researchers that have not been tax liable in Denmark for the last 10 years can apply for a special (reduced) tax scheme. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families.
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 two years. The starting date is on 15 March 2026 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 38,733 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2025 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 18.07 % 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 Professor Willerslev: ewillerslev@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:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
- CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
- 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.
- List of publications.
Deadline for applications: 26 January 2026, 23:59 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 http://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.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.