The University of Thessaly invites applications for a short-term Postdoctoral position in Environmental Risk Assessment, based in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology in Larissa, Greece. This opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe-funded RATION project, which aims to develop innovative risk assessment schemes for low risk pesticides (LRPs) including plant extracts, semiochemicals, microbial pesticides, and emerging solutions such as phages, protists, microbial consortia, and ds-RNA pesticides. The project addresses regulatory constraints that currently hinder the uptake of LRPs in the EU market, and brings together 22 partners from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies across 12 countries.

The successful candidate will work for 5 months, starting June 2026, and will be involved in soil metagenomic analysis, determination of background levels of microbial pesticides in EU soils, and ecological data analysis using advanced bioinformatics tools. Collaboration with other researchers, understanding complex biological questions, and providing analytical solutions to large datasets are key aspects of the role. The candidate will also contribute to scientific reporting and documentation, working closely with the principal investigator, postdocs, and other team members within the RATION consortium.

Applicants must hold a First Degree in Agriculture, Crop Production or related fields, an MSc in Environmental Biotechnology, and a PhD in Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. Essential skills include experience in bioinformatics (especially metaomics and microbiome analysis), proficiency in molecular methods such as DNA extraction, amplicon sequencing preparation, and q-PCR, as well as strong knowledge of advanced ecology statistics. A good command of English and 4–10 years of research experience are required.

The position offers a total funding of 10,500 € for the 5-month period, including social and health security coverage (2,100 € gross per month). Recruitment and appointment will follow national rules and regulations. The University of Thessaly is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or ethnic background.

To apply, candidates should email their application to [email protected], including a full CV and contact details for two professional referees. The deadline for applications is 20 March 2026. After the deadline, the recruitment committee will evaluate all applications, interview the top three candidates, and select the best applicant. For further information, visit the project website at https://www.ration-lrp.eu/ or the department website at http://www.bio.uth.gr/.

This position is ideal for researchers with expertise in environmental microbiology, bioinformatics, and ecological statistics who are interested in contributing to regulatory science and plant protection innovation in Europe.