Website Aarhus University
Contact Name: – Florin Musat / Niculina Musat
Contact Mail: florin.musat@bio.au.dk / niculina.musat@bio.au.dk
Department/Faculty: Graduate School of Natural Sciences
Deadline: 01-02-2026
Research area and project description:
The Research Group Archaea within the Department of Biology – Microbiology, investigates the ecophysiology and metabolism of deep-sea Archaea that catalyze the anaerobic oxidation of volatile alkanes like ethane, propane, and butane. These hydrocarbons are major components of natural gas and play key roles in the carbon and energy fluxes of marine sediments.
In this PhD project, you will work to identify and characterize novel clades of hydrocarbon-oxidizing Archaea, Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB), or Archaea-SRB consortia from diverse environments. You will initiate enrichment cultures using single or mixed hydrocarbons as substrates, with sediments from deep sea sites, intertidal zones, hydrocarbon seeps, and mud volcanoes as inocula. Participation in sampling campaigns is possible during the early phase of the PhD.
The microbial communities of these sediments will be analyzed by community sequencing, metagenomics, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and fluorescence microscopy. Hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms will be identified by a combination of molecular biology methods and advanced imaging techniques, including confocal laser scanning microscopy and nano scale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (nanoSIMS)-based chemical imaging. Their physiology and metabolic capabilities will be resolved using culture-based experiments and metabolomics.
The overarching goal is to discover novel phylogenetic lineages and functional types of anaerobic hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms, and to expand our understanding of the metabolic pathways and interactions that enable alkane oxidation in anoxic environments.
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Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants must have a relevant MSc degree in biology, biochemistry, microbiology or equivalent and have graduated before the application deadline.
We expect the applicants to
- Have a strong background in one of the following research fields: microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, microbial ecology, or other relevant research areas
- Have excellent collaborative skills, strong potential to publish at a high international level, excellent command of English, and an interest to join an interdisciplinary team. International applicants who do not have English as their first language must prove excellent English language writing skills and fluency.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact: Florin Musat (florin.musat@bio.au.dk) or Niculina Musat (niculina.musat@bio.au.dk).
How to apply:
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see the Application guide. Please read the Application guide thoroughly before applying.
When ready to apply, go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/ (Note, the online application system opens 1 December 2025)
- Choose February 2026 Call with deadline 1 February 2026 at 23:59 CET.
- You will be directed to the call and must choose the programme “Biology”.
- In the boxed named “Study”: In the dropdown menu, please choose: “Hunt for new clades of anaerobic hydrocarbon-oxidizing microbes (Hncahm)”
Please note:
- The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.
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. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.