Postdoc in Spatial multi-omics and atherosclerosis

The Department of Biomedicine at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Postdoc in the field of Spatial multi-omics and atherosclerosis as per 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 2 years, with the possibility of an extension.

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.
 

About the research project

We seek a postdoctoral researcher in DREAMlab for the project Spatial multi-omics analysis of human coronary atherosclerosis. You will develop and apply bioinformatics pipelines for single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq), Visium HD spatial transcriptomics, and MALDI-MSI spatial lipidomics, and integrate these modalities into a comprehensive atlas of lipid and transcriptional profiles in human plaques. The project combines high-resolution lipid mapping, deep transcriptional reference from snRNA-seq, and advanced deconvolution and regulon analyses to uncover pathways linking lipid storage, lipotoxic signaling, and smooth muscle cell transformation. More information about DREAMlab can be found here (https://dream.au.dk/).

 

Your job responsibilities

As Postdoc in Spatial multi-omics and atherosclerosis is primarily research-based but may also involve teaching assignments. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with colleagues on your project, where you will receive supervision and guidance.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Developing and implementing bioinformatics workflows for snRNA-seq data processing, quality control, clustering, and cell-type annotation.
• Processing and analyzing spatial transcriptomics (Visium HD) and spatial lipidomics (MALDI-MSI) datasets.
• Integrating and interpreting multi-omics data (snRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, spatial metabolomics) to uncover lipid-related patterns in atherosclerotic plaques.
• Performing single-cell resolution cell segmentation and spatial mapping of cell states.
• Conducting regulon and pathway analyses to link lipid species with cellular transcriptional programs.
• Visualizing complex spatial multi-omics data, preparing figures, and co-authoring manuscripts of high international quality.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams of biologists, bioinformaticians, and clinicians to translate research findings into therapeutic insights.
• Performing ongoing literature reviews to stay current with new computational tools and research developments.
• Contributing to grant applications to support ongoing and future projects.
• Supervising and training students in bioinformatics methods and data analysis.
• Presenting findings at group meetings and international conferences.

You will report to the Associate Professor Lin Lin

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at PhD level and are interested in working at the intersection between vascular biology and integrative single-cell analysis. Specific experience with single-cell and spatial omics data analysis (snRNA-seq, Visium, MALDI-MSI) and proficiency in R and/or Python is required. Familiarity with deconvolution tools, regulon analysis frameworks, and image-based segmentation approaches is highly desirable.

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

We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English.

In order to be assessed as qualified for a Postdoc position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Shortlisting will be used.
 

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Lin Lin  tel.: (+45) 5333 5252.

Your place of work will be the Department of Biomedicine, Bartholins Allé 6, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark..

We expect to conduct interviews in August 2025.

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 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/