The HADAL Center at Department of Biology at SDU invites applications for a position as research assistant. The position is available for two years from around the 1st of September 2026.

The HADAL center explores the diversity of microbial life and the dynamics of elemental cycling in hadal trenches with focus material transport and deposition, transformation and decomposition of organic matter microbial ecology, community composition, biogeochemical processing.

The research assistant will work on exploring the role of bacteriophages in elemental cycling in hadal environments with emphasis on prophages and their AMGs, using a combination of bioinformatic and experimental approaches. This will include 1) analyzing AMGs from lytic and temperate phages and mapping their associations to environmental conditions using metagenomic data. 2) identifying phage-host systems from metagenomic data for in silico evaluation of the role of AMGs in phage-host interactions. 3) investigating trade-offs of lysogeny for the host by quantifying the metabolic contribution and regulation of prophage-encoded AMGs in benthic element cycling using experimental approaches with phage-host systems in cultivation.

The work will therefore entail a combination of bioinformatic approaches (analysis of large metagenomic and genomic dataset), microbiological analyses (phage and host Isolation, cultivations, and characterization) and molecular approaches (e.g. Real-Time PCR and genomic sequencing), in association with laboratory experiments.

We seek a candidate with a M.Sc. degree in marine microbiology and viral ecology, strong experience in experimental work with marine microbiology and bioinformatic skills.

About SDU
The University of Southern Denmark is Denmark’s third largest university with campuses across the country. As part of the Faculty of Science, the Department of Biology is located in Odense, the University’s largest campus. Odense is the country’s third largest city and is centrally located with easy commutes to Copenhagen and Aarhus (approximately 1½ hour).

We recommend that as an international applicant, you take the time to visit Work in Denmark where you will find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.

Contact information
Contact persons for further information: Mathias Middelboe, [email protected] or Ronnie Glud, [email protected].
If you experience technical problems, please contact [email protected].

Application, salary etc.
The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Please check links for more information on salary (only available in Danish) and taxation.

The application must include the following:

• A curriculum vitae including information on previous employment with start and end dates
• A full list of publications stating the scientific publications on which the applicant wishes to rely

Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

Shortlisting may be used as part of the assessment process, and an interview may be included in the overall evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link “Apply now”. Attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Location
Odense M, Denmark

Apply Before
2026-06-17T21:59:00+00:00