The Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the Rodrigues-Oliveira group to investigate the ecology and biochemistry of Asgard archaea and their role in the emergence of complex life. This ERC-funded position offers the opportunity to pursue cutting-edge research in a collaborative international environment. The position is full-time, starting 1 June 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter), and is initially for two years. As part of the recruitment process, a shortlisting procedure will be applied.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 2–year position from 01/06/2026 or as soon possible.

Application deadline: 16 March 2026

More information and application on the website here.

Job description

This project focuses on the Asgard archaea, which represent the closest prokaryotic relatives of eukaryotes. Yet, due to the scarcity of cultured representatives, functional insights into their biology remain limited and are mostly inferred from genome data. In this context, you will be working on bridging this gap by investigating the biochemical properties of Asgard archaea proteins crucial to the understanding of their ecology and evolution. You will perform:

• heterologous expression in model organisms
• protein purification
• biochemical functional characterizations
• in vivo assays in genetically tractable archaea