Postdoc in Microglial Biology and Single-Cell Multi-Omics

DANDRITE at the Department of Biomedicine at the Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as a Postdoc in microglial biology and single-cell multi-omics as of 1 August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 2 years.

About the research project

The position is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF-Research Project 1, FNU) and is part of a research programme investigating how microglial states emerge during development and how the same regulatory logic shapes microglial behaviour and neuronal vulnerability.

The successful candidate will lead the computational and integrative arm of a project on the epigenetic and transcriptomic drivers of microglial ontogeny in early brain development. This includes constructing high-resolution single-cell transcriptomic and chromatin atlases of microglia, inferring regulatory networks underlying lineage diversification, and integrating these maps with spatial and perturbation datasets generated in the laboratory.

The role is anchored in the developmental programme but extends across the wider laboratory, which has generated single-cell, single-nucleus, and spatial multi-omics resources spanning disease models, multiple brain regions, developmental and aging stages, and key genetic perturbations. The successful candidate will have access to these datasets and is expected to contribute computational leadership across linked projects within the lab.

Your job responsibilities

As a Postdoc, your position is primarily research-based but may also involve limited teaching assignments. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality, including publication
• Computational analysis and integration of large-scale single-cell, single-nucleus, and spatial omics datasets
• Development of analytical or quantitative approaches to study cell-state transitions, lineage relationships, and regulatory programmes
• Close collaboration with experimental researchers within the laboratory and with external partners
• Contribution to manuscript preparation, grant applications, and dissemination of results

You will report to Associate Professor Dong Won Thomas Kim.

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at the PhD level in computational biology, bioinformatics, systems biology, neuroscience, or a related field.

In addition, we expect:

• Strong experience with single-cell and/or spatial omics data analysis
• Proficiency in Python and/or R and modern data analysis workflows
• A track record of independent first-author research
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment
• Strong written and spoken English

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience with multi-modal data integration (e.g., scRNA-seq with scATAC-seq or spatial data)
• Background in lineage tracing, developmental biology, or cell-state modelling
• Familiarity with regulatory network inference or chromatin analysis
• Interest in neurobiology, immunology, or neurodegenerative disease
• Familiarity with mouse models; FELASA certification is welcome but not required

As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented, and are able to contribute to a good work environment.

Shortlisting will be used. 

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Dong Won Thomas Kim (tkim@dandrite.au.dk).

Your place of work will be the Department of Biomedicine, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

We expect to conduct interviews in June 2026.

DANDRITE

The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE) is the Danish node of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine and is hosted by Aarhus University and funded by the Lundbeck Foundation. DANDRITE is devoted to interdisciplinary approaches in basic and translational neuroscience and is placed at two departments: Department of Biomedicine (Faculty of Health) and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (Faculty of Natural Sciences).
The organization and environment stimulate for genuine convergent research of natural sciences, engineering, and medicine - including also clinical research projects together with researchers from Aarhus University Hospital. The association to the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) facilitates collaborative research, access to scientific infrastructure, and fosters innovative international research talent. You can read more about DANDRITE here and about the faculty here.

The Department of Biomedicine

The Department of Biomedicine prioritises diversity and a good work environment, as this is a prerequisite for groundbreaking research. In a diverse and international research environment, dedicated employees are looking to generate new knowledge within biomedical research areas such as infection and inflammation, membranes, neuroscience and personalised medicine. The Department of Biomedicine provides research-based teaching of the highest quality and is responsible for a large part of the medical degree programme. Academic staff contribute to the teaching. English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars. The department employs approx. 500 people from all over the world, and they make use of the department's modern laboratory-, core- and animal facilities. The Department of Biomedicine focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration with business and industry, and numerous researchers from the department have established companies to develop new medicinal treatments founded in professional scientific basic research. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime postdoc is between DKK 484.214,84 and DKK 538.720,20 depending on the years of working experience after achieved MSc degree. The base salary includes a position related supplement and pension (17.1 %). Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. Authorisation supplemement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - postdoc
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted (optional)
• Research plan can be uploaded (optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded (optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system (optional)

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

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.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services here. Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Association and offers career development support. You can read more about these resources 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 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8.700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/