Postdoctoral position on archaea-bacteria interactions and cooperation

Postdoctoral position on archaea‑bacteria interactions

Deadline 30 Jan :59 CET
Expected start 1 Apr 2026
Fixed term full‑time 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Dec 2028
Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, 8000 Aarhus C

Project Overview

The project “Teaming Up: Archaea‑Bacteria partnerships to thrive in low‑energy anoxic environments” investigates the formation and functioning of aggregate‑forming archaeal‑bacterial consortia in syntrophic deep‑sea environments. The postdoc will work in the Archaea group with collaborations in cryo‑EM & correlative imaging, iNANO, and NanoSIMS labs.

Responsibilities

Research activities include:

• Handling and experimenting with anaerobic syntrophic cultures
• Stable isotope labelling coupled to nanoSIMS
• Fluorescence microscopy & expansion microscopy
• Cryo‑FIB in tandem with Cryo‑EM

Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, write scientific manuscripts, and present results at conferences.

Qualifications

• PhD in microbiology, cell biology, microbial ecology, imaging, or related field.
• Experience with one or more of the following: FISH (CARD‑FISH), expansion microscopy, confocal or electron microscopy, cryo‑TEM.
• Ability to work in a collaborative group and communicate clearly in English.

Application Procedure

Please submit a CV, a cover letter, a statement of future research plans, and a list of publications through the Aarhus University recruitment system by 30 Jan 2026 . For additional information contact Associate Professor Niculina Musat ( ). All applicants will be notified about the selection process.

Who we are

The Section for Microbiology at Aarhus University hosts 12 permanent staff, ~20 PhD students, and postdocs. The section focuses on microbial physiology, evolution, ecology, and biogeochemistry. A new multimodal imaging facility – MicroCorr – will be available from summer 2026.

Aarhus University is committed to equality and diversity. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.