2 year Postdoc position working on the gut-brain axis in Aarhus – Denmark

Applications are invited for a 2-year postdoc position on the topic of the Gut-Brain axis at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark. You will join a new lab working with zebrafish to understand how the enteric nervous system, immune system, brain, and microbiome interact.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 2–year position from 1/5/2022 or as soon as possible.

Job description

This position will involve designing, conducting, and analysing experiments to understand the Gut-Brain axis in the zebrafish model system. Researchers with experience in neuroscience, microbiology and immunology are welcome to apply, it is expected that you will span multiple of these fields once established in the lab. You will have the opportunity to develop your projects based on your existing experience and your own career goals.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• You will conduct research and experiments toward understanding how the microbiome and enteric nervous system affect each other
• Present results of research at meetings at all levels – laboratory, institutional, national and international as appropriate. Publish high quality papers
• Contribute to an inclusive, cooperative, and affirmative culture within the group.
• Assist with mentorship of junior researchers and the development of funding applications

Your profile

Applicants should hold a PhD in Immunology, Microbiology, Neuroscience, or similar.

Essential

• Experience and an international track record in neuroscience, microbiology, or immunology
• Excellent communication skills in English and the ability to work collaboratively
• The ability to direct and take ownership of research projects

Desirable

• Experience with the zebrafish model
• Experience with imaging, especially in vivo imaging
• Coding experience in Matlab, Python or R
• Record of first-author publications or preprints
• Success in competitive funding schemes/awards
• Experience with autism models

Who we are

The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics is part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University and comprises research within the areas of Plant Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, RNA Biology and Innovation, Protein Science, Cellular Health, Intervention and Nutrition. There are currently 75 full time scientific staff and 95 PhD students. The department is responsible for two educations: Molecular Biology and Molecular Medicine with a yearly uptake of 160 students in total. Please refer to http://mbg.au.dk/ for further information about The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and to https://nat.au.dk/ and http://www.au.dk/  for information on Faculty of Natural Sciences and Aarhus University, respectively.

The lab is a new group in the department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. We aim to understand how the gut microbiome affects behaviour and can lead to mental health disorders. We use the transparent larval zebrafish and systems biology approaches in vivo to answer fundamental questions about the Gut-Brain axis.
https://mbg.au.dk/en/gilles-vanwalleghem

What we offer

The department offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international collaborators
• a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Universitetsbyen 81, 8000 Aarhus C,
Denmark, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments. 

Contact information

For further information, please contact: Dr Gilles Vanwalleghem, gilles.vanwalleghem@mbg.au.dk

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than 31th of March 2022.

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

Natural 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.

Please click here to apply.