PhD fellowship in Chemical communication between non-vascular plants and associated cyanobacteria
The Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in interactions between non-vascular plants and associated symbionts, including cyanobacteria. The project is is available at the Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT), funded by the DNRF.
Start date is 1 February 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
The successful candidate will focus on understudied plants –mosses- and their interactions with microbes, in particular, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. The goal of the PhD project is to 1) quantify and identify volatiles used for communication between mosses and microorganisms under different environmental conditions; 2) determine the distribution volatile mediated communication between moss and microorganisms across moss species and ecosystems; 3) track isotopic labelled volatiles into moss and microbial cells, using either mosses from the field or the model moss Physcomitrella patens. There is also the possibility to focus on nitrogen-containing volatiles emitted from mosses and /or soil crusts.
Who are we looking for?
Applicants should hold a MSc degree or equivalent in biology, ecology, microbial ecology, molecular biology, biogeochemistry or a closely related field. As criteria for the assessment of your qualifications, emphasis will also be laid on previous publications (if any) and relevant work experience.
We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious individual with good interpersonal and communication skills. Previous experience in collecting of and working with live plant material; gas analyses; microbiology; and/or molecular biology techniques; is an asset.
Scientific environment
The successful candidate will join the Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT) at UCPH. We offer a creative, supportive and lively research environment covering a wide range of topics such as microbial ecology, plant ecophysiology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, soil biology and ecosystem-atmosphere interactions. VOLT is dedicated to exploring the transformative role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ecosystems and their interactions with the atmosphere. We are a diverse group comprising research and teaching staff members, laboratory technicians, PhD candidates and MSc and BSc students, focusing on many aspects of plant and microbial ecology, biogeochemistry and global change. The center is housed at the North Campus in Copenhagen, where we have laboratory facilities and state-of-the-art instrumentation for analyses of VOCs and nitrous compounds, molecular analyses of microbial community structure and activity, gas measurements as well as incubation and climate chamber facilities.
Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Kathrin Rousk, Dept. of Biology, kathrin.rousk@bio.ku.dk., +46705290367. Co-supervisor is Prof. Riikka Rinnan, riikkar@bio.ku.dk, Dept. of Biology.
The PhD programme
Depending of your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:
Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.
Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.
Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme
Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. biology, ecology, microbial ecology, molecular biology. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.
Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.
Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme
Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme
If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.
Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in biology.
Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.
The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”
Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of 150 working hours per year.
When you have obtained the MSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes
Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)
Carry through an independent research project under supervision
Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project
We are looking for the following qualifications:
Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
Relevant publications
Relevant work experience
Other relevant professional activities
Curious mind-set with a strong interest in ecology
Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement
Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include:
Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
A short abstract of the MSc or BSc thesis
Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
Publication list (if possible)
Application deadline:
The deadline for applications is 15 November 2025, 23:59 (CET).
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 and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.
Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex
