Two-Year Postdoctoral Position in Volatile Organic Compound Biogeochemistry

We invite applications for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team for a two-year position (with the potential possibility of extension to three years). The position will focus on volatile organic compound (VOC) biogeochemistry or broader biogeochemical cycles. The expected start date is April 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Place of employment
The position is based at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen (North Campus, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen, 2100). The successful candidate will join Assistant Professor Yi Jiao’s group within the Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT), led by Professor Riikka Rinnan.

We offer a creative and stimulating work environment in a dynamic, international research setting. The VOLT center brings together ecosystem ecologists, microbial ecologists, and ecosystem modelers working across terrestrial and aquatic systems. The center provides access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, including instrumentation for volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis (e.g., PTR-ToF-MS, GC-MS), molecular tools for studying microbial community structure and activity (e.g., SIP, PCR), and incubation and climate chamber facilities. Additionally, the center has access to supercomputing resources for processing large datasets and running ecosystem models.

Project
This position is funded by a Villum Young Investigator grant, focusing broadly on carbon processes in peatlands. Peatlands store more carbon than all the world’s plants combined, but climate change may cause some of this carbon to escape as gases, including VOCs, that influence air quality and climate. Our goal is to understand how these gases are produced and removed in peatlands and to bring this knowledge into climate models. Project links - https://villumfonden.dk/en/projekt/peatland-exchange-atmospheric-volatile-carbon-kinetics-mechanisms

Qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• A PhD in ecology, geochemistry, physical geography, environmental science, or a related field.
• Strong experience with techniques relevant to elemental biogeochemical cycles, including fieldwork, laboratory experimental design and implementation, and data analysis.
• An active interest in trace gas biogeochemistry.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Desirable experience and skills:

Although the research group is currently focusing on peatland ecosystems, this is not a requirement for the position. Applicants are encouraged to propose their own research plan. The VOLT center covers a broad range of research areas, and we welcome proposals that explore other environments or approaches if you find them necessary or valuable for advancing VOC biogeochemistry. Depending on your proposed plan, the following skills may be considered an advantage:

• Isotope techniques for tracing carbon biogeochemical processes.
• Molecular approaches for studying microbial communities and their functional roles.
• Modelling of biogeochemical cycles or VOC dynamics.

Terms of employment
The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of two years, with the potential possibility to be extended to 3 years. The starting date is April 1st, or as soon as possible thereafter.

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 41,000 DKK/approx. 5,400 EUR (November 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 2025.

How to apply
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, skills relevant for the position.
• A certified/signed copy of PhD certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
• Research plan – description of your interested research plans related to the advertised position, incorporating your technical skills.
• List of publications, in which you highlight two or three most important publications.
• Reference letters from 2 professional referees.

Deadline for applications: 15th January 2026, 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.

Procedures
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

Interviews are expected to be held 2-3 weeks after the deadline.

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

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

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Yi Jiao ([email protected]) and Riikka Rinnan ([email protected])

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

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

Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.

Kontakt
Yi Jiao
E-mail: [email protected]

Kontakt
Riikka Rinnan
E-mail: [email protected]

Info
Ansøgningsfrist: 15-01-2026

Ansættelsesdato: 01-04-2026

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: Department of Biology