Postdoctoral researcher in microbial genomics applied to plant-based kefir production
The Center of Quantitative Genetics and Genomics at Aarhus University has an exciting position for a 22-month postdoctoral research in microbial genomics applied to kefir production, expected to start on November 1st, 2026. The postdoc will aid in domesticating bacterial and yeast strains to make new plant-based products. If you’re interested in applying state-of-the-art genomics tools toward innovative solutions in Food Science, feel free to reach out to Guillaume Ramstein or Clarissa Schwab.
As part of the planfir project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, you will analyze the evolution of bacterial and yeast genomes during their fast-track domestication for plant-based kefir production (adaptive laboratory evolution). You will be involved in genome sequencing, metagenome analysis, and genome-wide association studies to characterize genomic evolution and connect it to desirable traits for plant-based food production. Your research will leverage exciting new techniques across computational fields in bioinformatics, statistics, and AI-based sequence analysis.
Your activities will take place at the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics in Aarhus, Denmark, in close collaboration with the Biological and Chemical Engineering department at Aarhus University.
Applicants should hold a PhD in Bioinformatics, Microbial Biology and Genomics, Quantitative Genetics, or a related field.
Experience in bioinformatics (genomic sequence data processing, metagenomics analysis) and computational genomics (association studies, AI-based sequence analysis) is central to this position. Additionally, expertise in bacterial or yeast genomics is highly desirable.
Applicants are expected to have published in international peer-reviewed journals, especially on topics related to genomics and food production. Research experience in microbial genetics and genomics is especially relevant to this position.
Good communication skills in English and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team—consisting of quantitative geneticists, food scientists, and bioinformaticians—are particularly appreciated for this position.
The successful candidate will be offered:
The place of work is C. F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000, Aarhus (Denmark), and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.
Applications must be received no later than 21 June 2026.
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
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.
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Job description
As part of the planfir project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, you will analyze the evolution of bacterial and yeast genomes during their fast-track domestication for plant-based kefir production (adaptive laboratory evolution). You will be involved in genome sequencing, metagenome analysis, and genome-wide association studies to characterize genomic evolution and connect it to desirable traits for plant-based food production. Your research will leverage exciting new techniques across computational fields in bioinformatics, statistics, and AI-based sequence analysis.Your activities will take place at the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics in Aarhus, Denmark, in close collaboration with the Biological and Chemical Engineering department at Aarhus University.
Expected start date and duration of employment
This is a 22-month position from November 1st, 2026, or as soon possible.
Your profile
Applicants should hold a PhD in Bioinformatics, Microbial Biology and Genomics, Quantitative Genetics, or a related field.Experience in bioinformatics (genomic sequence data processing, metagenomics analysis) and computational genomics (association studies, AI-based sequence analysis) is central to this position. Additionally, expertise in bacterial or yeast genomics is highly desirable.
Applicants are expected to have published in international peer-reviewed journals, especially on topics related to genomics and food production. Research experience in microbial genetics and genomics is especially relevant to this position.
Good communication skills in English and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team—consisting of quantitative geneticists, food scientists, and bioinformaticians—are particularly appreciated for this position.
Who we are
The Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG) is a major center for research and education in quantitative genetics and genomics at Aarhus University (http://www.qgg.au.dk/en). We conduct basic and applied research in computational genetics across model systems. Our focus areas include quantitative genetics, artificial intelligence applied to agriculture and medicine, population genetics, and integrative genomics. Research within QGG is characterized by a very close synergy between method development and application on practical problems across species, in collaboration with industry partners. QGG is an international research center with about 70 employees and visiting researchers from over 15 nations. QGG works in teams and strives for an excellent working environment, in which we value self-leadership, open communication, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
What we offer
The successful candidate will be offered:
- computational resources, including the Genetics/Genomics High-Performance Cluster and GenomeDK, with growing capabilities (e.g., additional nodes, GPUs).
- a collaborative environment, in which the candidate will be able to share across research fields (quantitative genetics, machine learning, bioinformatics, and population genetics) and applications (in biology, agriculture, and biomedicine).
- a research environment characterized by collaboration, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and success in mentoring and supervision.
- an excellent working environment, characterized by professionalism, diversity and healthy work-life balance.
Place of work and area of employment
The place of work is C. F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000, Aarhus (Denmark), and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.Contact information
For further information, please contact:- Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Guillaume Ramstein, +45 42 52 12 66, ramstein@qgg.au.dk
- Associate Professor Clarissa Schwab, +45 51 44 67 32 , schwab@bce.au.dk
Deadline
Applications must be received no later than 21 June 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.
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 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/
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Deadline: 21 June 2026
Academic contact person:
Guillaume Ramstein
Tenure Track adjunkt
ramstein@qgg.au.dk
Vacant positions: 1
Hours per week: 37
Number of months: 22
Expected date of accession: 01 November 2026