Postdoc position in Effect-Based Methods and Non-targeted Analysis

The Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Denmark invites applications for a position as Postdoc for 2 years at the Environmental Metabolomics Lab. The position is to be filled October 1st 2021 or as soon as possible.

The available position is cross-disciplinary within (environmental) analytical chemistry, non-targeted analysis and toxicology. The postdoc will be highly active in the Independent Research Fund Denmark funded project SafeWater: Effect-based chemical screening of drinking water. The research project is a scientific collaboration project between Aarhus University and the National Food Institute, DTU FOOD. The postdoc will develop effect-based methods to screen drinking water extracts for hazardous substances. Moreover, the postdoc will be responsible for suspect screening, targeted and non-targeted analysis using Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry platforms, and the development of cheminformatic methods to untangle non-targeted data. Besides these key responsibilities, the postdoc will also have state-of-the-art facilities available (e.g. metabolomics, proteomics and transcriptomics) to pursue own research visions.

Environmental Metabolomics Lab
The lab studies and identifies emerging environmental pollutants, i.e. ecosystem pollutants that impede the endocrine systems in wildlife and humans. By conducting fundamental lab and field experiments at the molecular level, we investigate the environmental occurrence, fate and effects of pollutants, such as natural toxins, pesticides and medicine residues. Our interdisciplinary research lies at the interface of analytical and computational chemistry and in vitro toxicology, and is based on state-of-the-art mass spectrometry for targeted and non-targeted analysis for metabolome, exposome and proteome characterizations.

The selected candidate will be affiliated with the Section for Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, but will also work at DTU Food in the cell lab.

The work tasks include 1) Fractionate enriched drinking water; 2) perform effect-based screening of fractions by in vitro methods for endocrine disrupting endpoints; 3) Non-targeted chemical analysis of bioactive fractions; 4) Molecular network analysis; 5) Machine learning and semi-quantification; 6) Publish scientific papers in peer reviewed journals.

The work will take place in close cooperation with other researchers at the Environmental Metabolomics Lab and DTU Food. The connected lab personnel at Aarhus University currently count five PhD students, two postdocs, one lab manager and Associate Professor Martin Hansen.

Description of the position
The Postdoc is expected to:

• Cooperate with PhD students, student workers and other researchers in designing and carrying out experimental work
• Take an active scientific role in SafeWater, participating in seminars, workshops and summer schools, and fostering good team spirit within the consortia
• Take active part in developing and enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration both internally and externally. The latter with both national and international partners
• Actively contribute to the project portfolio in the department by taking part in applications for externally funded research projects
• Supervise graduate (Master and PhD level) students in research projects
• Contribute to teaching on graduate and post-graduate courses

Qualifications requirements
The position requires knowledge within analytical and computational chemistry, biochemistry, as well as experimental work and the ability to solve practical challenges. Previous experience with Orbitrap (GC-MS or LC-MS) systems, untargeted metabolomics and in vitro toxicological assays is an advantage. Good oral and written communication skills, a good team spirit and collaborative skills are mandatory. The candidate is expected to be enthusiastic about working in an interdisciplinary international academic environment.
The applicant needs to hold scientific qualifications at Ph.D. level. Participation in national and international networks of researchers is preferable.

Work location — The Department of Environmental Science
The main place of work will be at Aarhus University in Roskilde, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. The city of Roskilde (www.roskilde.dk) is located close to Copenhagen. The area provides immediate access to a wealth of cultural and recreational pursuits. Department of Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary department under the Faculty of Science & Technology at Aarhus University. The expertise ranges from social science, geography, economics and policy analysis to mathematical modelling, physics, chemistry, toxicology, and microbiology. Both pure and applied research is conducted on some of the major challenges facing society, such as pollution and pollution control mechanisms, management of land, soil, water, air and biodiversity, protection of ecosystem services and climate change. Advisory services within these areas are offered to ministries and other stakeholders. Currently, about 145 staff and PhD-students are working at the department. Further information may be found at http://www.envs.au.dk.

Further information
Further information about the position may be obtained by contacting Associate Professor Martin Hansen, [email protected] or Head of Section Pia Lassen, [email protected].

International candidates may find information concerning living and working in Denmark at www.workindenmark.dk. AU International Center offers a full range of services to make your transition to Denmark as smooth as possible (http://www.au.dk/en/internationalcentre/ias/), and the department will assist foreign candidates with finding a suitable place to live.

English is spoken on a daily basis at the department.

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range
Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Deadline: 09 August 2021
Kilde: Jobnet.dk