Laboratory Manager - Volatile Interactions Research, University of Copenhagen

A Center of Excellence, Center for Volatile Interactions, is recruiting a laboratory manager or laboratory specialist starting 1 November 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is for 3 years and 3 months.

The Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT)

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have a profound impact on local and regional climates. Yet, there is high uncertainty of this impact due to the lack of reliable estimates for natural emissions and uptake of these reactive volatiles. All organisms produce, and some consume, mixtures of diverse volatile compounds such as VOCs, reactive nitrogen gases (e.g., HONO), and sulfur/halogenated compounds (e.g., DMS and methylhalides). However, biological sources and sinks of volatiles, other than terrestrial plants, remain poorly characterized. In VOLT, we focus on VOC transformations associated with soil, cryptogams, freshwater, seawater, and glacial ice environments, as well as plant leaf and rhizosphere microbial communities. Our research encompasses field, experimental, and laboratory work and includes rate measurements, experiments with stable isotopes, and molecular analyses to assess volatile production/consumption processes and identify the organisms involved.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic, collaborative, and international research environment. VOLT is housed in Universitetsparken, Copenhagen, where we have laboratory facilities and state-of-the-art instrumentation for analyses of volatile compounds, molecular analyses of microbial community structure and activity, as well as incubation and climate chamber facilities. Marine Biological Section, located in Helsingør (Elsinore), provides state-of-the-art facilities for molecular and process-based studies of marine microorganisms.

Main tasks and responsibilities

The candidate will be a vital part of the research activities at the research center and responsible for the operation and maintenance of the PTR-TOF-MS and GC-MS-instruments as well as related auxiliary instrumentation. This includes coordination of laboratory and field activities, quality control and calibration, problem solving, and assistance with technical installations in laboratory and field experiments, as well as providing technical support to the researchers. For example, the candidate will facilitate the design and develop incubation setups for plant, soil or water systems in laboratory experiments, including building the technical configurations and programming automation with data loggers/solenoid valves and PTR-MS software. The candidate will also participate in processing of raw measurement data using dedicated software and custom-made code. Other tasks include keeping track of equipment and consumables, purchasing equipment and consumables, and providing procedures and guidance in center’s database management.

Qualifications

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a relevant MSc or PhD degree, who has experience from research environments and who thrives in a dynamic research center supporting multiple research projects. The candidate may have a university degree in chemistry, environmental science, engineering or a related field, or other relevant education. Hands-on experience with PTR-MS or other online gas analytical instrumentation is a requirement. Hands-on experience with isotope labeling experiments and analyses, GC-MS analysis and maintenance, and programming skills (e.g., R statistical software, Arduino) are benefits. Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement. The most important personal qualifications are good communication skills, flexibility and the ability to work independently, structured, organized, and goal-oriented.

Terms of salary and employment

Terms of employment and payment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) or other relevant collective agreement. The salary is based on seniority, plus pension contribution and the possibility to negotiate further supplement.

How to apply

Applications must be in English, submitted electronically and include:

• A cover letter describing motivation, experience, career goals and personal qualities
• Curriculum vitae
• Reference letters (if available)

Please forward your application via the Job Portal of The University of Copenhagen. Press “APPLY NOW” to fill in the application form. The deadline for applications is 15 September, 2025 at 23:00 CET.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Contact person

Further information can be obtained by email from Professor Riikka Rinnan, michaelpatrickriikkartara15@donaldson-torres.dkhill.dkwilliamson.dkbio.ku.dk.