Postdoc Position in Biological Science (University of Copenhagen)

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc to head genetic analysis of domestic animals for the project ‘A Multi-species study of biological and social relatedness in Neolithic Sweden’. The duration of the position is 2 years with a possible extension and will commence 1 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. Information on the department can be found at https://globe.ku.dk. Our research The project ‘A Multi-species study of biological and social relatedness in Neolithic Sweden’ is a multi-species and multi-method study of human and animal relatedness, employing genetic and isotopic methods combined with osteological and archaeological data. Funded by the Swedish Vetenskapsrådet to Gothenburg University in cooperation with Lund University and the Centre for Geogenetics in Copenhagen, this five-year project will focus on Neolithic humans and domestic animals from western Sweden in four main parts: 1) Human kinship, biology and social structure. 2) Animal biological relatedness. 3) Human and animal diseases. 4) Sr isotopes and mobility. We will use recent advances in the analysis of ancient DNA, which can now detect fine-scale genetic relations between individuals, to identify biological kinship relations among humans as well as among domestic animals on different spatial scales. We will also detect pathogens in both humans and animals and investigate the role of animals as reservoirs and transmitters of zoonotic diseases as well as the disease load in Neolithic herds. By contributing knowledge about Neolithic human kinship systems, the project will contribute an important case to the still limited number of such studies and will give us hitherto unattainable level of insight into the functioning of prehistoric societies. In depth studies of several contemporary burial and settlement sites within a restricted area will significantly enhance our understanding of the complexity of the Neolithic megalithic landscape. To outline how biological relations are socially embedded and spatially distributed will be a significant step forward in the research of Neolithic Europe. Your job The successful candidate will join the Copenhagen branch of the project focusing on genomic analysis of human and animal remains from Sweden. Specifically, your task would be to head the genetic analysis of domestic animals, investigating population structure, kinship patterns and disease spread from ~150 samples of Neolithic cattle, pigs and dogs. You will be working closely together with Martin Sikora and Frederik Seersholm at Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, to manage the genetic components of the project. Furthermore, we expect you to collaborate with team members from the University of Gothenburg and the University of Lund through regular project meetings, online and in person with all team members for the project. Profile We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience: Essential experience and skills: You have a PhD in ancient genomics, bioinformatics or population genetics You are highly experienced in computational analyses of DNA data You have an active interest in ancient DNA research Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams Excellent English skills written and spoken Desirable experience and skills: Experience in population genomics of pigs, cattle or dogs Knowledge of kinship analysis and reconstruction of pedigrees Experience in DNA research of ancient pathogens Wet lab skills from a dedicated ancient DNA clean laboratory Place of employment The place of employment is at the Section for GeoGenetics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K. About Globe Institute The Globe Institute is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural and medical sciences and the humanities. Information on the institute can be found at: https://www.globe.ku.dk/. Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See website for more information. All qualified applicants will receive full consideration. Candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, contribute to diversity and competencies of our Institute are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year. Researchers that have not been tax liable in Denmark for the last 10 years can apply for a special (reduced) tax scheme. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families. Terms of employment The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week. Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,733 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2025 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund. Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years. The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020. Questions For further information please contact Martin Sikora; martin.sikora@sund.ku.dk Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility). Application procedure Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format: Motivated letter of application (max. one page). CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do. List of publications. Deadline for applications: 15 June 2025, 23.59pm CET. We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements. The further process After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities. The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background. APPLY NOW Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career. Contact Martin Sikora E-mail: martin.sikora@sund.ku.dk Info Application deadline: 15-06-2025 Employment start: 01-08-2025 Working hours: Full time Department/Location: GLOBE If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Bioloxy

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc to head genetic analysis of domestic animals for the project ‘A Multi-species study of biological and social relatedness in Neolithic Sweden’. The duration of the position is 2 years with a possible extension and will commence 1 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Information on the department can be found at https://globe.ku.dk.

Our research
The project ‘A Multi-species study of biological and social relatedness in Neolithic Sweden’ is a multi-species and multi-method study of human and animal relatedness, employing genetic and isotopic methods combined with osteological and archaeological data. Funded by the Swedish Vetenskapsrådet to Gothenburg University in cooperation with Lund University and the Centre for Geogenetics in Copenhagen, this five-year project will focus on Neolithic humans and domestic animals from western Sweden in four main parts: 1) Human kinship, biology and social structure. 2) Animal biological relatedness. 3) Human and animal diseases. 4) Sr isotopes and mobility.

We will use recent advances in the analysis of ancient DNA, which can now detect fine-scale genetic relations between individuals, to identify biological kinship relations among humans as well as among domestic animals on different spatial scales.

We will also detect pathogens in both humans and animals and investigate the role of animals as reservoirs and transmitters of zoonotic diseases as well as the disease load in Neolithic herds.

By contributing knowledge about Neolithic human kinship systems, the project will contribute an important case to the still limited number of such studies and will give us hitherto unattainable level of insight into the functioning of prehistoric societies.

In depth studies of several contemporary burial and settlement sites within a restricted area will significantly enhance our understanding of the complexity of the Neolithic megalithic landscape. To outline how biological relations are socially embedded and spatially distributed will be a significant step forward in the research of Neolithic Europe.

Your job
The successful candidate will join the Copenhagen branch of the project focusing on genomic analysis of human and animal remains from Sweden. Specifically, your task would be to head the genetic analysis of domestic animals, investigating population structure, kinship patterns and disease spread from ~150 samples of Neolithic cattle, pigs and dogs. You will be working closely together with Martin Sikora and Frederik Seersholm at Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, to manage the genetic components of the project. Furthermore, we expect you to collaborate with team members from the University of Gothenburg and the University of Lund through regular project meetings, online and in person with all team members for the project.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:
    You have a PhD in ancient genomics, bioinformatics or population genetics
    You are highly experienced in computational analyses of DNA data
    You have an active interest in ancient DNA research
    Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
    Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:
    Experience in population genomics of pigs, cattle or dogs
    Knowledge of kinship analysis and reconstruction of pedigrees
    Experience in DNA research of ancient pathogens
    Wet lab skills from a dedicated ancient DNA clean laboratory

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Section for GeoGenetics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K.

About Globe Institute
The Globe Institute is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural and medical sciences and the humanities. Information on the institute can be found at: https://www.globe.ku.dk/.

Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See website for more information. All qualified applicants will receive full consideration. Candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, contribute to diversity and competencies of our Institute are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year. Researchers that have not been tax liable in Denmark for the last 10 years can apply for a special (reduced) tax scheme. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,733 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2025 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information please contact Martin Sikora; martin.sikora@sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

    Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
    CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
    A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
    List of publications.

Deadline for applications: 15 June 2025, 23.59pm CET.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
APPLY NOW

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.
Contact
Martin Sikora
E-mail: martin.sikora@sund.ku.dk
Info
Application deadline: 15-06-2025
Employment start: 01-08-2025
Working hours: Full time
Department/Location: GLOBE