About Position/Job
University of Copenhagen (UCPH) invites applications for two Postdoctoral Positions in Ancient Pathogen Genomics at the Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Denmark. These full-time, fixed-term research roles are funded for two years, with the possibility of extension, and are expected to start from April 2026. The positions are based within the research group of Associate Professor Martin Sikora and are closely linked to the APOLLO Ancient Genomics Initiative and the AEGIS – Ancient Environmental Genomics Initiative for Sustainability.
The research focuses on computational, bioinformatic, and evolutionary analyses of ancient pathogen DNA, integrating genomic data with archaeological, historical, and environmental evidence. This interdisciplinary project spans human, animal, and plant pathogen systems, offering postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to work on globally significant questions related to the evolution, emergence, and spread of infectious diseases using large-scale ancient DNA datasets within an internationally leading research environment.
Position/Job Details
- Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
- Institution: University of Copenhagen
- Department: Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
- Research Field: Ancient Pathogen Genomics
- Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Number of Posts: 2
- Job Type: Full-time, Postdoctoral (Fixed-term)
- Start Date (Anticipated): April 2026
- Working Hours: 37 hours per week
- Salary Range: As per Danish collective agreement (with pension contribution of 18.07%)
- Required Degree/Diploma: PhD
Research Area
- Ancient pathogen genomics
- Bioinformatics and computational genomics
- Evolutionary and population genomics
- Metagenomic shotgun sequencing
- Phylogenetics and phylogenomics
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, evolutionary biology, statistics, or a closely related field
- Strong experience in analysing large-scale sequencing or metagenomic datasets
- Proficiency in R and/or Python
- Experience with HPC environments and workflow tools such as Snakemake or Nextflow
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with ancient DNA or low-biomass sequencing data
- Knowledge of evolutionary inference, molecular dating, or demographic modelling
- Ability to integrate genomic data with archaeological, historical, or environmental metadata
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and apply bioinformatic and statistical methods for ancient pathogen DNA analysis
- Conduct evolutionary, population genomic, and phylogenomic analyses
- Integrate genomic findings with archaeological and environmental context
- Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed publications
- Collaborate in a highly interdisciplinary and international research team
- Assist in the supervision of graduate students
Application Process
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online in English via the University of Copenhagen Job Portal.
Required Documents:
- Motivated letter of application (maximum one page)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Certified copy of PhD and Master’s degree certificates (or supervisor’s statement if PhD is pending)
- List of publications
Important Dates
- Application Opens: Open now
- Deadline: 26 January 2026 (23:59 CET)
- Interview Date: Not specified
Useful Links
- Institution Website: University of Copenhagen
- Official Notification Link: click here
- Apply now: via UCPH Job Portal
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