A Postdoc Position in Biological and Chemical Engineering on microbial electrosynthesis

The Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, invites applications for a postdoctoral position offering an exciting opportunity to contribute to the work on reactor design and scaling for electromethanogenesis. The position is based at the main campus at Aarhus University and is expected to begin on 1 May 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The postdoc will be part of the research groups of Drs.  Lars Angenent and Alfred Spormann in a joint collaborative project, which also includes Prof. Bruce Logan of Penn State University. We are seeking highly talented and motivated staff scientists to work on microbial electrosynthesis to convert CO2 and H2 at the cathode of microbial electrochemical technologies into methane as part of an electromethanogenesis project. Specifically, the postdoc will develop and test up-scaled microbial electrosynthesis reactors involving advanced electrochemistry, reactor design, and scaling approaches.
 

Expected start date and duration of employment

The positions are full-time and expected to begin on 1 May 2026, or as soon as possible.
The expected duration is 2 years and 8 months, but with the possibility of extensions.
 

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join an interdisciplinary research project on electromethanogenesis. The Angenent lab, in close collaboration with Spormann lab and Dr. Bruce Logan, Penn State University, have been leading the field in microbial electrosynthesis for the past 10 years. Their laboratories at CORC, Aarhus University, have extensive expertise that includes, but is not limited to, basic electron transport between cells and a cathode, microbe-cathode interfaces, and the new design and prototyping of microbial electrosynthesis reactors. The postdoc on reactor design and scaling will work closely with another postdoc on the microbiology, which is hired separately by Prof. Spormann.

We offer an exciting, interdisciplinary research environment at the forefront of microbial electrosynthesis; a workday with daily contact with many different people in an international and creative research environment; and a professional, but informal work environment.

The tasks will be interdisciplinary, including:

• Participate in the design and detailed engineering phases of up-scale microbial electrochemical reactors.
• Support commissioning, operation and testing of the up-scale microbial electrochemical reactors
• Maintain detailed records of experimental data, process conditions, and system modifications.
• Publish scientific articles based on data collected during the research, development, and innovation of up-scaled microbial electrochemical reactor. Present research findings at conferences.
• Collaborate with a microbiology postdoc to operate the reactors with different microbial cultures.

Your profile

We are looking for candidates with strong academic backgrounds and a passion for sustainable process development. The positions require the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams. Candidates are expected to demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, scientific integrity, and a proactive attitude toward research, engineering, and knowledge sharing.

Qualified individuals should have a PhD in, preferentially anaerobic, microbial sciences, microbial electrochemistry, or related bioengineering disciplines with a focus on anaerobic metabolism, electromicrobiology, electrochemical reactor design, and operation.
 

Who we are

The Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering was established on January 1, 2021, in connection with Aarhus University’s reorganization of the engineering area. The department employs around 175 people and is responsible for research and education within the department’s scientific areas. We educate both Bachelors and Masters of Science in Engineering and around 825 students are enrolled in our study programs. Furthermore, we also offer an ambitious PhD program. Our PhD students have high academic ambitions and deliver high-quality results for both the private and the public sectors.

At the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, focus is on living systems, the biology of organisms, efficient production, and transformation of chemicals, materials and energy. We translate knowledge within biotechnology, food technology, environmental technology, chemical engineering, industrial biotechnology, medical biotechnology and electrochemical engineering, and more into new technologies and value-creating solutions that can also be used in the business community.

Many of our research and development activities are based on companies' specific innovation needs or specialist application areas. Close collaboration with the public sector and private businesses ensures that the knowledge and technology generated in the department's research environments has a clear anchoring in reality and benefits the surrounding society. We also provide research-based public sector consultancy and advice on technology in agriculture and food.
 

What we offer

At the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, we offer a dynamic and supportive environment for researchers who are passionate about sustainable technologies and interdisciplinary collaboration. Specifically, we provide:

• Access to well-developed research infrastructure, including pilot-scale experimental facilities and state-of-the-art laboratories.
• An interdisciplinary research environment spanning chemical engineering, process systems, biotechnology, and Power-to-X technologies.
• Opportunities to collaborate closely with national and international academic partners, as well as industrial stakeholders.
• A research culture that encourages open dialogue, innovation, and critical thinking across fields.
• A collegial and inclusive workplace with networking activities, knowledge sharing, and a commitment to team development.
• A strong focus on professionalism, equality, and work-life balance, ensuring a healthy and productive working environment.

You will become part of a growing research initiative with real-world impact and visibility, and have the chance to contribute to shaping next-generation sustainable technologies.
 

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Gustav Wieds Vej 10, 8000 Aarhus C, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with affiliated institutions.
 

Contact information

Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact Lars Angenent, e-mail: lta@bce.au.dk
 

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 31. January 2026.
 

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

 

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/