About this position
Are you interested in understanding how Arctic phytoplankton communities respond to climate and environmental change? We are looking for a PhD fellow to investigate spatial and temporal changes in Arctic phytoplankton using molecular approaches. This 3-year PhD position is part of a large research project POLARIS “Probing the future of Arctic marine productivity from the seabed” funded by the Carlsberg Foundation at GEUS in Copenhagen, with an expected start date of 01-01-2027.
About the position
Phytoplankton are the foundation of Arctic marine ecosystems, driving primary production and supporting marine food webs. Their communities are shaped by changes in sea-ice cover, ocean circulation, temperature, salinity, stratification and nutrient availability. Understanding how Arctic phytoplankton communities vary across space and through time is therefore essential for predicting how marine ecosystems will respond to ongoing and future climate change.
Within the POLARIS project, the successful candidate will investigate spatial and temporal changes in Arctic phytoplankton communities using molecular approaches. The project will combine analyses of contemporary and sedimentary environmental samples with genomic and molecular methods, including resurrection ecology, to characterise phytoplankton diversity and explore how communities have changed in response to environmental variability.
The project will involve molecular analyses of phytoplankton communities, potentially including metabarcoding, targeted sequencing and genomic approaches. You will contribute to the development and application of molecular markers and reference databases for Arctic phytoplankton, with particular emphasis on taxa that are poorly represented in existing databases.
An important component of the project will be to integrate molecular data with information from other approaches used within POLARIS, including micropaleontology, biomarkers, sedimentology and paleoceanographic reconstructions. This will allow you to investigate how changes in phytoplankton communities relate to changes in sea ice, ocean circulation, water masses, temperature, salinity and nutrient conditions.
A particular focus will be on developing and applying molecular approaches to reconstruct phytoplankton community composition from Arctic marine sediments and other environmental archives. These records will be integrated with ecological, paleoceanographic and environmental data to investigate the drivers of phytoplankton community change over different spatial and temporal scales.
The project therefore provides an opportunity to develop expertise across molecular ecology, phytoplankton ecology and Arctic paleoceanography, while contributing to a broader understanding of how Arctic marine productivity responds to climate change.
Who are you?
You have a Master's degree in marine sciences, biology, ecology, microbiology, environmental science or a related discipline.
We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with an interest in Arctic marine ecosystems, phytoplankton ecology and molecular approaches.
Experience with one or more of the following is an advantage:
- phytoplankton ecology, taxonomy and diversity;
- molecular ecology or environmental DNA
- genomics or bioinformatics
- ecological data analysis
Experience with all of these techniques is not expected. Curiosity, independence and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary science are more important than experience in every aspect of the project.
You have good analytical and problem-solving skills and are motivated to develop new methodological and computational skills. You enjoy working across disciplinary boundaries and are able to connect molecular data with ecological and environmental information.
You should be able to work independently while also contributing actively to a collaborative research environment. Good communication and collaboration skills are important, as the project will involve interaction with researchers working across geosciences and biosciences.
You must be able to communicate in English, both orally and in writing, and have an interest in learning Danish.
Meet your new colleagues
You will become part of the Department of Glaciology and Climate. Our department studies both the current and past changes of the Greenland ice sheet and the ocean surrounding it. Besides doing research, we provide advice to government agencies and the private sector and provide supervision to university students.
The department has an international staff of approximately 30 researchers, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. We have a great focus on multi-disciplinary collaboration across the department and conduct department seminars and other activities to foster this. We also prioritize social arrangements to welcome and integrate new employees to our informal and friendly working environment.
You will join a vibrant research environment working with Arctic climate and marine ecosystems and work closely with colleagues at the University of Copenhagen and international collaborators.
A working environment with a focus on professional development and well-being
There are many good reasons why you should choose a working life at GEUS.
We are a diverse staff of about 300 committed employees. Trust and flexibility are keywords. The working environment is lively, informal and international. Our tasks are versatile and there are plenty of opportunities for you to influence the development of your task portfolio.
We prioritise professional development, among other things by offering access to courses and other relevant activities. Socialising is also very important at GEUS, and we have a rich social life with a staff club, an art association and more.
At GEUS, we prioritise the well-being of every single employee. We prioritise that the Heads of Departments are close to the employees, and we have flexible working hours that allow you to organise your life so that there is time for what matters to you. If you need to work from home occasionally, that is also possible.
Furthermore, we have a gym with associated physiotherapists.
Salary and terms of employment
Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the relevant trade union agreement.
The appointment presupposes that the student will be enrolled at the PhD Graduate Programme of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The employment period is 3 years, the working week is 37 hours.
The appointment area is the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and its institutions.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities considers diversity to be an asset and encourages anyone regardless of gender, age, religion or ethnicity to seek the position.
Further information
If you would like additional information, please contact the Head of Department Signe Bech Andersen on siba@geus.dk or the project leader Professor Sofia Ribeiro on sri@geus.dk.
If you are an international applicant, you can read more about living and working in Denmark on GEUS’ website .
Are you interested?
The application must include a motivation letter, your CV and MSc degree certificate or a pre-approval signed by the supervisor and examiner, showing that the thesis will be approved. The pre-approval must be confirmed by the educational institution.
Please apply for the position by clicking “Apply for position”. We must have your application at the latest on 18-10-2026 at 23:59 (Danish time).
Applications or other material received after the deadline will not be considered.
Funding
Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the relevant trade union agreement.
How to apply
- Read the full advert on the source site — it carries the authoritative terms.
- Email the contact below with your CV and a short, specific message. See Emailing Professors.
- Prepare your SOP, CV, transcripts and referees before the deadline.
- Apply through the university's own portal. Never pay a fee to a third party.