Eske Willerslev

The Ancient Environmental Genomics Initiative for Sustainability (AEGIS) at the University of Copenhagen is recruiting one or more postdoctoral researchers for two-year positions in ancient environmental genomics, starting March 1, 2026. The positions are based at the Globe Institute, Section for GeoGenetics, and are part of a pioneering interdisciplinary research center led by Professor Eske Willerslev. The research focuses on leveraging ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) and metagenomics to reconstruct past ecosystems, understand biodiversity dynamics, and develop computational methods for analyzing large-scale ancient DNA datasets. The work sits at the intersection of community ecology, population genomics, and computational biology, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and climate change mitigation in agriculture. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will apply computational and statistical approaches to analyze ancient and contemporary environmental DNA, reconstruct past communities, quantify species interactions, and test ecosystem responses to environmental change. The role involves integrating population-genomic analyses to infer evolutionary dynamics, demography, gene flow, and adaptation. You will contribute to work packages focused on interglacial deposits and ancient desertification, advancing methods that connect population-level processes with community assembly. Applicants should have a PhD in bioinformatics, statistics, community ecology, biology, computational ecology, or a related field. Essential skills include expertise in aeDNA analysis, metagenomic pipelines, command-line tools, high-throughput data analysis, version control, and reproducible research. Experience with R, Python, or similar programming languages, high-performance computing, and a strong publication record in relevant fields are desirable. Excellent English communication skills and the ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams are required. The University of Copenhagen offers a competitive salary starting at 38,733 DKK per month (approx. 5,100 EUR), plus an 18.07% pension contribution. International researchers may be eligible for tax reductions. The university provides a family-friendly and flexible working environment, with generous parental leave and paid holidays. The Globe Institute is committed to diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from candidates of all backgrounds. To apply, submit your application online in English, including a motivated letter, CV, certified PhD and MSc certificates, and a publication list in PDF format. The application deadline is January 4, 2026, at 23:59 CET. For more information, contact Mikkel Winther Pedersen at [email protected] or visit the Globe Institute website.

The University of Copenhagen's Globe Institute is offering two postdoctoral positions in ancient pathogen genomics, focusing on bioinformatic, statistical, and evolutionary analyses of ancient DNA data. The research is part of the APOLLO Ancient Genomics Initiative, led by Associate Professor Martin Sikora, and the Ancient Environmental Genomics Initiative for Sustainability (AEGIS), led by Professor Eske Willerslev. These interdisciplinary programs aim to uncover the evolutionary origins of human disease risk and support sustainable solutions to global challenges by integrating analyses of ancient human, pathogen, and environmental DNA. The successful candidates will join a collaborative and international research environment at the forefront of ancient pathogen genomics. Responsibilities include developing and applying bioinformatic and statistical methods to analyze large-scale ancient metagenomic datasets, performing evolutionary and population genomic analyses, and integrating genomic data with archaeological, historical, and environmental context. The positions emphasize computational and evolutionary analyses across human, animal, and plant systems. Applicants must hold a PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, evolutionary biology, statistics, or a closely related field. Essential skills include experience with large-scale sequencing or metagenomic data analysis, proficiency in R and/or Python, familiarity with high-performance computing and workflow management tools, and a solid understanding of next-generation sequencing data. Desirable qualifications include experience with ancient DNA, Bayesian or likelihood-based evolutionary inference, and integrating genomic data with archaeological or environmental metadata. Excellent communication skills in English are required. The positions are based at the Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Each position is initially for two years, with the possibility of extension, and is expected to start on April 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. Salary is determined by experience and collective agreement, with an additional pension contribution. The University offers a supportive, family-friendly, and inclusive work environment. To apply, submit your application online in English, including a motivated letter, CV, certified copies of PhD and MSc certificates, and a list of publications, by January 26, 2026. For further information, contact Associate Professor Martin Sikora at [email protected]. More details and the application link are provided in the announcement.