Senior Scientist in Biodiversity and Applied Ecology

Department of Ecoscience seeks a senior scientist to advance data-driven biodiversity science and strengthen advisory work.

Join a dynamic research environment at Ecoscience, Aarhus University, where you will strengthen biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and national monitoring. You will collaborate across research sections to link biodiversity data with ecological processes and contribute to evidence‑based advice for authorities and society.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a permanent position starting on 1st of September 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Job description

The Department of Ecoscience (ECOS) at Aarhus University seeks a Senior Scientist for a permanent position to strengthen research and advisory activities within biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and nature monitoring. The position is anchored in the Biodiversity Section, but the successful candidate is expected to collaborate actively and build bridges across other sections in the department, including Terrestrial Ecology. This includes opportunities to link biodiversity monitoring with ecological processes such as plant-insect interactions and other key terrestrial dynamics.

The job includes conducting research and synthesising findings, and communicating results to authorities, stakeholders, and the public. A key task will be quantitative analysis of ecological datasets, including community data on plants or invertebrates derived from observations, sensors, or eDNA, in combination with environmental drivers, land-use history, and management. Experience with large and heterogeneous datasets is important.

The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing and future projects on biodiversity monitoring, pollinator ecology, vegetation dynamics, ecological indicators and applied conservation. Collaboration across disciplines is expected, as is participation in attracting external funding. The position includes scientific publishing, advisory work and limited teaching (guest lectures and student supervision).

Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate with strong analytical skills and broad ecological experience. The ideal applicant will have:

• A strong foundation in quantitative ecology and applied statistics, including use of tools such as R, Python, GIS, Git or similar data-science software.
• Solid experience with community data and biodiversity monitoring.
• A broad ecological background, ideally including plants and invertebrates.
• A documented ability to produce high-quality research in applied ecology or conservation.
• Commitment to support colleagues with methodological or statistical input and working in interdisciplinary teams.
• Interest in applying research to support society in addressing urgent needs in biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning.
• A PhD or equivalent in biology, and excellent English communication skills.

Additional assets include:

• Broad natural history knowledge of Danish biodiversity and nature.
• Ambition to take part in and help shape large research and monitoring programmes.
• A track record in obtaining or contributing to external research funding.
• Experience managing multiple projects and supervising students.
• Knowledge of modern monitoring techniques such as eDNA, advanced sensors and automated monitoring.

Who we are

The Department of Ecoscience is engaged in applied research and advisory work for authorities covering the major biological subdisciplines. We conduct research in the areas of conservation biology and wildlife management, aquatic biology and ecology, and biodiversity. The Department currently employs approximately 275 academic and technical staff, as well as PhD students, distributed at two geographical locations in Aarhus and Roskilde. The Section for Biodiversity is situated in Aarhus and employs about 25 staff members.
For more information on the Department see: http://ecos.au.dk/en/

What we offer

• Excellent research infrastructure with access to state-of-the-art facilities, shared technical equipment, and strong technical support for fieldwork and data-intensive projects.
• A vibrant interdisciplinary environment, with close links across ecology, biodiversity, AI, and remote sensing — both within Aarhus University and with leading collaborators worldwide.
• A stimulating research culture that values open discussion, academic freedom, and innovation across disciplines, set in a workplace characterized by professionalism, equality, and a healthy work–life balance.
• Applied research with real-world impact: instead of traditional teaching, you will contribute to the department’s advisory work for governmental institutions, ensuring your research is actively used in shaping evidence-based policy and management of nature.
• Life in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city: Aarhus offers a vibrant research hub, a dynamic cultural scene, and easy access to nature and coastline. The city is internationally oriented yet compact and livable, making it an ideal place to balance a research career with a high quality of life.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 8, bld. 1110, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Contact information

For further information, please contact:
Head of Section, Camilla Fløjgaard +45 6169 3836 (martinezbrittanyxsnydercamf@ecos.aunixonmartin-zavalaberger.dk) or
Deputy Head of Department, Flemming Skov +45 2334 3274 (fsimorsehintonkaren@ecos.aufloresfrancisholland-johnson.dk)

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than March 16, 2026

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks 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 will receive his/her assessment. 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.Nattechrichardchristiancrichardsongregoryheather@thompsonhuangaunelson-washington.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.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/