Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management and Department of Biology, invites applicants for three two-year Postdoc positions within forest microbiome manipulation. The positions are part of the project “MycoForest - Stimulating Forest carbon uptake and storage by mycorrhizal inoculation”, which is financed under the Innomission partnership INNO-CCUS by Innovation Fund Denmark.
Start date is 1 February 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
The soil microbiome plays a crucial role in soil- and ecosystem functioning including ecosystem carbon sequestration and support of plant nutrient acquisition.
Denmark is devoted to become carbon neutral by 2045/2050, a goal involving a significant role for biological carbon sequestration and storage. A part of the Danish strategy to reach carbon neutrality is to afforest former agricultural land thereby increasing biological ecosystem carbon capture and storage. However, agricultural soils do not harbor an optimal microbiome for initial tree growth and forest ecosystem development. This may lead to increased mortality, reduced tree growth and slower development of forest soil functions and ultimately non-optimal carbon capture, especially in the early stages of afforestation.
Therefore, the MycoForest project aims to manipulate and assist the microbiome of agricultural soils through mycorrhizal inoculation as an integrated part of tree planting to stimulate tree growth and carbon sequestration. Therefore, MycoForest at University of Copenhagen is hiring three postdocs to become part of this novel journey towards increased biological carbon sequestration and to play key roles in the scientific investigations.
Each of the three postdocs will cover one of three distinct areas of fundamental importance to understand and document the role of the microbiome in afforestation.
The three key areas are:
The studies will involve controlled greenhouse as well as field scale experiments, and the three postdocs will each be responsible for one of the three specific parts of the project. At the same time, they will be closely linked to each other through tight collaboration on establishment and sampling of the afforestation experiment. The postdoc positions will start as soon as possible and will run for 2 years. For the requirements of the specific postdocs, please see the descriptions below.
Contact: Specific questions for each of the postdocs, please see below. For general MycoForest questions, please contact Claus Beier, [email protected].
Postdoc 1 – Soil microbial development after mycorrhizal inoculation
The post doc will oversee the formulation and addition of fungal or other types of inoculums and will follow and quantify the mycorrhizal fungal colonization of seedlings, root and soil. Experimentation will be both in mesocosm/greenhouse conditions and in the field. Colonization will be followed in different soils and host trees with a combination of classical microscopic techniques and novel molecular methods. The studies aim to document successful establishment of mycorrhizal fungi within the indigenous communities.
Therefore, we are looking for candidates with specific knowledge and hands-on with:
The post doc will work closely together with PD 2 and 3 for plant and soil responses to inoculations.
Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Rasmus Kjøller, Department of Biology, [email protected], Phone: +45 35322311
Postdoc 2 – Soil functioning and soil carbon dynamics in response to mycorrhizal inoculation
The post doc will study effects of inoculation in different soil types and tree species on soil carbon processes including formation of persistent SOC fractions. The postdoc will study soil carbon dynamics in mesocosm/greenhouse conditions in close cooperation with postdoc 1 and in field experimental conditions in cooperation with postdoc 3. The project will address how inoculation and changes in the mycorrhizal community composition will affect soil carbon sequestration processes in post-agricultural soils. The studies will shed light on the extent to which inoculation with forest-associated mycorrhiza and forest soil will change the soil C input quantity and quality from roots and microbial necromass, eventually enhancing accumulation of persistent forms of SOC.
We are looking for a candidate with a PhD in the fields of soil science and organic matter studies, soil ecology and biogeochemistry. Previous experience with plant-soil interactions in field, mesocosm and laboratory experiments using chemical soil analyses including soil organic carbon (organic matter fractionation and biomarkers targeting microbial and plant origin of organic matter), carbon isotopes, roots, and microbial taxonomic and functional community composition will be considered a plus.
Principal supervisor is Professor Lars Vesterdal, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, [email protected], Phone: +45 61670865
Postdoc 3 – Tree responses to mycorrhiza inoculation
The postdoc will establish and follow field experiments in practical afforestation sites and monitor plant responses such as growth and survival, mycorrhizal colonization, and plant community development.
The studies will address the potential of inoculation with forest-associated mycorrhiza and forest soil to stimulate survival, growth and carbon draw down of forest trees and communities including the role of tree species and soil type interactions.
We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a PhD in plant or forestry science and interest and experience in:
Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Niclas Scott Bentsen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, [email protected], Phone: +45 20206318.
General qualifications
Apart from the specific qualifications and interests listed above, we look for candidates with general competences in:
Our groups and research – and what do we offer?
The positions are located in three different groups at the university.
Postdoc 1 is with Department of Biology, Fungal Ecology lab within Section of Terrestrial Ecology. The group works with/focuses on mycorrhizal fungal communities and their impact on ecosystem processes and plant health. We apply molecular markers to disentangle these otherwise invisible fungal populations and communities associated with plants and soil. Besides molecular markers, we also apply biochemical markers as well as classic microscopy and microbiological culturing of fungi. Another methodological strongpoint is various mesh-enclosure techniques to study and compartmentalize both the function and community composition of mycorrhizal fungal mycelia in soil.
Postdoc 2 and 3 are with Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, one in the Biogeochemistry group and one in the Silviculture, Trees and Bioresources group. In the Biogeochemistry Group we are dedicated to improving the understanding of ecosystem functioning with particular focus on how ecosystems will respond to environmental changes and to management actions. We quantify the pools and fluxes of matter in semi-natural and managed ecosystems and measure the processes related to input and output fluxes in control of soil C stocks to answer questions such as “Can we sequester C in soils by afforestation of cropland soils, and how does this interact with the soil fauna and microbes when using certain tree species or tree species mixtures?” The Silviculture, Trees and Bioresources group encompas expertise in forestry, ecological restoration, growth modelling and systems analysis. The group is dedicated to advance the understanding, development, and management of forest ecosystems to support a wide range of ecosystem services, including carbon storage, material and energy provision, groundwater regulation, and biodiversity conservation.
Department of Biology is located at Norre Campus and Department of Geosciences on Frederiksberg Campus, close to central Copenhagen. The departments offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environments. The departments are planning to increase their focus on the climate change mitigation potential of forests in upcoming projects. We therefore welcome applications from candidates with a broader interest in the intersection of forests, forest-based climate solutions, biosphere-atmosphere interaction, and related themes.
Responsibilities and tasks
We are looking for the following further qualifications:
Terms of employment
Employment is full-time and for 2 years.
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.
You can read more about salary levels in the state sector www.loenoverblik.dk (in Danish).
Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and indicate which of the 3 positions you are applying for.
The application is submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include:
Application deadline:
The deadline for applications is 29 October 2026, 23:59 GMT +1.
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.
The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified whether you will be passed for assessment.
The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 49-50 2026.
Applicants must be prepared for further security screening related to international research collaborations as part of the recruitment process, when UCPH considers it appropriate from a holistic consideration
Questions
For specific information about the Postdoc position, please contact the principal supervisor.
Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.
Job details are sourced from the employer's original posting.
Open job postingAbout the company
The University of Copenhagen is a public research university in Copenhagen, Denmark.