The Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, invites applications for a fulltime 3-year postdoc position to join our research on the cultivation, characterization and application of N2O reducing bacteria for off-gas N2O treatment.

This is a 3-year position from 15 April 2025 or as soon possible thereafter. This is a fixed-term position to end on 14 April 2028.

The project aims to develop a novel concept for point source mitigation of N2O emissions, particularly suitable for treatment off-gases from wastewater operations. Specific NOS carrying N2O respiring bacteria (N2ORB) will be enriched.Through targeted microbial selection, genome inspection and genome engineering, we will design oxygen tolerant N2O respiring strains, to be immobilized into artificial biofilms resulting in an environmentally robust biocatalyst.

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• You will develop sequential microbial enrichment platforms for N2O respiration, from various source materials. You will monitor these enrichments through both chemical analysis and molecular community analysis.
• You will examine the physiology of isolates and enrichments.
• You will execute well-defined gene knock-out experiments.
• You will develop methods for immobilization and optimal use of the enrichments/isolates. You will examine their performance on synthetic N2O containing gas mixtures.
• You will interact with others who will focus on genome analysis.
• You will collaborate with partners in SE and DE
• You will interact and guide junior researchers.
• You will publish findings in peer reviewed publications

Applicants should hold a PhD in Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or similar. Ideally, with documented experience in:

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• Carrying out microbial cultivation experiments
• Designing and executing molecular characterizations
• Basic bioinformatic tools and pipelines
• Basic analytical chemistry; both for gaseous and liquid targets
• Summarizing findings and writing scientific publications
• Writing of short reports and research proposals

Where experience is lacking, the candidate must be motivated to learn and will get the opportunity to develop new skills. 

Ideally, you have good collaboration and management skills, and excellence in both written and spoken English communication skills.