Postdoctoral Researcher in Landscape Modelling and Nature-Based Solutions

A 2-year position as Postdoctoral Researcher within the field of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) is available at the Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University. The position aims to strengthen and complement the Department’s ongoing activities in landscape-scale modelling, with a specific focus on nature-based solutions in agricultural landscapes. The successful candidate will be integrated into the Nature-Based Solutions Center and work across sections within the Department of Ecoscience. Research and advisory activities at the Department are largely project-based, with a strong tradition for interdisciplinary research and international collaboration.

Expected start date and duration of employment

The expected start date is 1st of September 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Job description

The position is part the project: “NAT-AGRI: Use of nature-based solutions in Danish agricultural landscapes to promote biodiversity, achieve climate targets, and reduce nutrient emissions”, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The overall aim of NAT-AGRI is to integrate nature-based solutions into Danish agricultural landscapes to enhance biodiversity, contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation, and reduce nutrient export. The project focuses on four key NBS types (hedgerows, riparian zones, ponds, and wetlands) which support biodiversity and provide multiple ecosystem services. NAT-AGRI seeks to improve understanding of how NBS increases habitat availability and how landscape configuration and connectivity influence biodiversity and ecosystem services. The project employs a range of cutting-edge methods, including UAV-based landscape mapping, terrestrial and freshwater eDNA, passive acoustic and camera monitoring, and novel sensor and logger networks for real-time analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem metabolism.

The postdoctoral researcher will primarily contribute to the landscape-scale modelling component of the project. This includes integrating national and global spatial datasets, UAV-derived information on NBS, and environmental data to quantify ecosystem services across Danish agricultural landscapes. The postdoc will work within an interdisciplinary team of applied and computational scientists.

The position offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface of landscape ecology, biodiversity science, climate mitigation, and sustainable agriculture, contributing directly to decision-relevant outputs such as restoration and implementation scenarios. The postdoc will collaborate closely with experts in remote sensing, ecology, environmental science, and engineering while developing an independent research profile.

Your profile

The ideal candidate should preferably have:

• A PhD in landscape ecology, environmental science, geography, ecology, hydrology, environmental engineering, or a related field
• Strong experience in spatial and/or landscape modelling
• Proficiency in R and/or Python
• Experience with GIS and remote sensing
• Ability to work with large and heterogeneous datasets
• Experience with scientific writing
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Knowledge of database management

Personal qualifications include the ability to collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary research teams, to engage with external stakeholders and end users, and to contribute positively to a collaborative research environment. Teamwork and cross-disciplinary research are key elements within the Department.

Who we are

The Department of Ecoscience is engaged in research programs and advisory work covering the major biological sub-disciplines. We conduct innovative, advanced research in the areas of aquatic biology and ecology, Arctic environments and ecosystems, biodiversity, conservation biology, and wildlife management. The Department currently employs approximately 300 academic and technical staff, as well as many PhD students.The qualified candidate will work in a supportive and internationally engaged scientific environment at the Section for Freshwater Ecology. The department aims to be a supportive and encouraging workplace that offers interesting challenges, collaborative colleagues, and avenues for academic growth. The department actively facilitates a healthy integration of work and personal life and aspires to recruit and maintain highly skilled individuals who prioritise curiosity and trust.

What we offer

The department/centre offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial 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

Ecoscience Department of Aarhus University is located across two campuses, in Aarhus (C.F. Møllers Allé 3-8, Aarhus, Denmark) and Roskilde (Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde) and the project team is distributed across both campuses. The position will involve working at both campuses as required by the project. The preferred main place of work for the postdoctoral researcher will be at Aarhus Campus, where the modeling team is based. However, the main place of work (Aarhus or Roskilde) can be determined by mutual agreement with the successful candidate.

Contact information

For further information, please contact:

Professor, Nikolai Friberg, +45 31250820; niko@ecos.au.dk or Tenure Track, Tuba Bucak; tbo@ecos.au.dk

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.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

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 Taxation 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 Taxation 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.