Amelia-Elena Rotaru

Professor Amelia-Elena Rotaru at the University of Southern Denmark is recruiting two postdoctoral scientists in experimental evolution to join her team starting April 2026 or soon after. These positions are the first hires on a Novo Nordisk Foundation strategic initiative grant, based in the Department of Biology. The research will involve collaboration with academic partners at SDU NanoSyd, DTU Sustain, Aarhus University (CORC, AU Viborg & BI), Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, and Wageningen University & Research. The focus is on experimental evolution, with relevance to biology, microbiology, and biotechnology. Candidates should hold a PhD in biology, microbiology, evolutionary biology, or a related field, and experience in experimental evolution is highly desirable. The positions are fully funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation grant. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit the provided job link. This is an excellent opportunity to join a dynamic research team and collaborate with leading institutions in Europe.

The Department of Biology at the University of Southern Denmark is offering a PhD position as part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation–funded Microbial Electrochemical Methanation Initiative. The project is led by Amelia-Elena Rotaru, with Assistant Professor Konstantinos Anestis joining as a supervisor. The research focuses on microbial electrochemical methanation, a cutting-edge area at the intersection of biology, microbiology, chemistry, and sustainable energy. The initiative seeks to advance understanding and application of microbial processes for methanation, contributing to sustainable energy solutions. Two motivated and curious PhD candidates are sought to join this collaborative and interdisciplinary team. The position offers the opportunity to work closely with leading researchers and participate in innovative research funded by a prestigious foundation. While specific entry requirements are not detailed, candidates with backgrounds in biology, microbiology, chemistry, or related fields are encouraged to apply. The position is fully funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, though details on stipend and tuition coverage are not specified in the announcement. Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to Assistant Professor Konstantinos Anestis or share the opportunity within their networks. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit the official University of Southern Denmark career site linked in the announcement.

The University of Southern Denmark is offering two fully funded 3-year postdoctoral positions in the field of microbial experimental evolution and meta-omics. The successful candidates will join the research group of Professor Amelia-Elena Rotaru, an ERC Consolidator grantee and Novo Nordisk Ascending Investigator, based in Odense, Denmark. The research focuses on designing and running directed laboratory evolution experiments in microbial communities under electrochemical stimulation. The aim is to link microbial adaptations to performance using advanced shotgun meta-omics approaches, including metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics. Two distinct roles are available: one focusing on the evolution of defined methanogenic consortia, and the other on the evolution of complex digester-derived microbiomes. Applicants should have hands-on experience with experimental evolution of prokaryotes, such as serial passaging or chemostat/continuous culture, including replicate lines and archiving of evolved lines. Experience with time-series shotgun metagenomics (ideally strain-resolved or variant tracking), and/or metatranscriptomics or metaproteomics is required. Candidates should have 1–2 publications where experimental evolution and sequencing-based trajectory tracking are central methods. The positions are fully funded for three years. The research group offers a dynamic and collaborative environment, with access to state-of-the-art facilities for microbial evolution and omics analyses. The University of Southern Denmark is a leading institution in biological and environmental sciences, providing excellent opportunities for career development. Application deadline is 4 March 2026 (23:59 DK time). Interested candidates should apply online via the SDU Career Site. For more information about the group and research topics, visit Professor Rotaru's academic and LinkedIn profiles. Keywords: microbial evolution, experimental evolution, meta-omics, shotgun metagenomics, methanogenic consortia, microbiomes, electrochemical stimulation, prokaryotes, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics.

The University of Southern Denmark is offering two fully funded PhD positions in Electromicrobiology, focusing on adaptive responses of methanogenic communities and microbiomes. These three-year positions are part of the Microbial Electrochemical Methanation Initiative, a large collaborative research program funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The successful candidates will join the Rotaru Lab within the Department of Biology and Nordcee research section, which provides an interdisciplinary environment spanning environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and Earth–life interactions. Supervised by Professor Amelia-Elena Rotaru, Dr. Rhitu Kotoky, and Dr. Konstantinos Anestis, the PhD projects will investigate how electric fields and electrode-associated niches influence the structure, function, and stability of methanogenic microbial communities in bioelectrochemical reactors. The research combines classical microbiology, microbial physiology, experimental evolution, and omics-based approaches to link microbial interactions and system performance across spatial and functional scales. The first PhD position centers on defined syntrophic microbial consortia, mapping how controlled electrochemical environments shape metabolic interactions, electron-transfer strategies, and functional specialization. The candidate will conduct targeted experiments with defined methanogenic communities, compare ancestral and evolved consortia, and integrate phenotypic readouts with functional omics to identify key performance changes. Collaboration with a postdoc and partners developing genome-scale and process-level models is expected. The second PhD position focuses on complex microbial communities derived from anaerobic digestion systems, investigating how electrochemical environments drive community re-assembly, population dynamics, and functional resilience. The candidate will monitor changes in community composition and function, connect these shifts to reactor-level phenotypes, and contribute to omics-enabled analyses identifying key taxa and functions linked to performance and stability. Close collaboration with a postdoc and modeling partners is also part of the role. Key tasks include setting up, operating, and monitoring bioelectrochemical reactors, mapping microbial distributions, performing functional omics and targeted assays, establishing standards of practice, publishing scientific articles, and presenting research findings at meetings and conferences. Applicants must have a relevant MSc degree (environmental microbiology, molecular ecology, microbiology, biochemistry, or related), an excellent academic track record, commitment to sustainable technology, interest in interdisciplinary research, proficiency in English, and strong collaborative skills. Application materials should include a motivation letter, CV, diplomas, transcripts, and contact details for at least two referees. Applications must be submitted electronically in PDF format via the provided link before the deadline of March 4, 2026. The positions offer full funding for three years, including salary, tuition, and research expenses. The Nordcee section hosts a strong international research community with shared laboratory infrastructure and permanent administrative and technical support. The Rotaru Lab specializes in electromicrobiology, microbial syntrophy, and microbe–mineral/electrode interactions, with a focus on methane-cycling microorganisms and sustainable bioelectrochemical technologies. Academic partners include DTU Biosustain, Aarhus University, Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, and Wageningen University, alongside industry collaborators. For further information, applicants may contact Dr. Konstantinos Anestis, Dr. Rhitu Kotoky, or Prof. Amelia-Elena Rotaru. The University of Southern Denmark encourages applications from all qualified candidates, reflecting the diversity of society. International applicants are advised to consult Work in Denmark and the International Staff Office at SDU for guidance on moving to, working, and living in Denmark.

University of Southern Denmark is advertising a 3-year postdoctoral position in the team of Professor Amelia-Elena Rotaru in Odense, Denmark. The project focuses on extracellular nucleic acids (especially extracellular RNA), interspecies communication , and redox sensing in methanogenic consortia . The research combines RNA biology , anaerobic microbiology , metallomics , secretomics , spatial transcriptomics , and electrochemistry to study microbial interactions among organisms from different domains of life, including Bacteria and Archaea . The successful candidate will cultivate and monitor methanogenic dual-species consortia, design experiments for cell-surface eRNA–cofactor interactions, develop communication and redox-sensing assays, and use secretomics, spatial transcriptomics, and electrochemical/analytical methods to probe RNA-mediated processes. The position is embedded in the Department of Biology and the Nordcee research section, within a strong interdisciplinary environment focused on environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and Earth–life interactions. Applicants should hold a relevant PhD in molecular microbiology, archaeal RNA biology, molecular electrobiology, or a related field. Experience with co-IP assays is requested, along with background in archaeal RNA biology, spatial transcriptomics, secretomics, or electrochemistry of nucleic acid complexes. Strong English communication skills and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team are also important. This is a full-time, fixed-term postdoc with a competitive salary , supported by a Semper Ardens Accomplish grant. The application deadline is 1 May 2026 at 23:59 local Danish time. Applicants are directed to the University of Southern Denmark website for the full call and application instructions.