This position focuses on strengthening the department's research and advisory activities in coastal marine habitat restoration and invertebrate ecology. The position involves working with marine invertebrate biodiversity, ecosystem function, and species distribution under the influence of the multitude of environmental stressors currently affecting the marine coastal ecosystem. A key aspect of the position is advising and supporting governmental agencies and local stakeholders in coastal restoration initiatives, with a particular emphasis on assessing environmental impacts and fostering regional partnerships. You need, therefore, to thrive at the intersection of basic research and applied science.
The position will be situated in a department that values collaboration and a strong social presence. We work in a shared laboratory environment where teamwork and open communication are essential. We are looking for someone who can navigate this space with ease, contribute meaningfully to our collective goals, and bring both scientific rigour and creative thinking to the challenges of marine conservation.
 

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 4–year position, starting on 1 February 2026, or as soon as possible.
This is a fixed-term position that will end on 31 January 2030.

Job description

Marine ecosystems are affected by numerous stressors that impact different parts of the marine food web. These effects can, in turn, cascade through the food web with synergetic or antagonistic consequences. However, the cumulative impacts of external stressors acting on marine food webs, specifically the complex mosaic of linkages between different trophic groups of organisms, are currently not well understood. The work will primarily focus on stressors associated with climate change, nutrient enrichment, fisheries, offshore constructions, and pollution, to gain knowledge to support EU and national policies. A key component of the work will be analysing monitoring data using advanced statistical tools.

You will be part of the marine group that covers both research and advisory tasks across the marine environment, mainly related to Danish and Arctic waters. The activities will be conducted in close collaboration with colleagues within the department, as well as with international partners. You are expected to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
 

Your profile

• You have a PhD in marine invertebrate ecology or similar.
• Familiarity with a range of sensor technologies and innovative ecological monitoring approaches is essential, as is experience with emerging molecular techniques such as environmental DNA (eDNA) and metabarcoding.
• You have extensive hands-on experience in underwater ecological assessments through oceanographic surveys, as well as practical skills working onboard research vessels
• You have a solid publication record in international peer-reviewed journals commensurate with > four years of productive post-graduate research at an international level
• Your previous work demonstrates solid collaboration and project management skills
• Solid communication demonstrated by a comprehensive publication record in international peer-reviewed quality journals.
• Fluent in English and in one of the European languages

 

Who we are

The Department of Ecoscience is engaged in research programs and advisory work covering the major biological sub-disciplines. We conduct innovative, state-of-the-art research in the areas of aquatic biology and ecology, Arctic environments and ecosystems, biodiversity, conservation biology, and wildlife management. The Department currently employs approximately 300 academic and technical staff, as well as many PhD students.

The successful candidate will work in a dynamic and internationally engaged scientific environment at the Section for Marine diversity and experimental ecology (for more information see: https://ecos.au.dk/en/researchconsultancy/research-areas/marine-diversity-and-experimental-ecology).

The department is, and wishes to remain, an active, dynamic, and inspiring workplace with exciting challenges, enthusiastic colleagues, and academic opportunities for development. The department supports employees in creating a good work-home balance and aims to maintain and attract talented and committed staff, where curiosity, trust and making an impact are core values. For more information on the Department, see: http://ecos.au.dk/en/.
 

What we offer

The department offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
• a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

 

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Frederiksborgvej 399, DK 4000 Roskilde, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments. 

Contact information

For further information please contact: Professor Peter A.U. Stæhr, +45 50 42 74 02, pst@ecos.au.dk. or Head of Section Hans Jakobsen +45 22 87 13 60, hhja@ecos.au.dk.

 

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks 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 will receive his/her assessment. 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.

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/