Two fully funded PhD candidate positions in Electromicrobiology (3 years)

Two fully funded PhD candidate positions in Electromicrobiology (3 years)
We invite applications for two 3-year PhD student positions in the team of Professor Amelia-Elena Rotaru at the University of Southern Denmark. The PhD candidates will be supervised by Dr. Rhitu Kotoky and Dr. Konstantinos Anestis in close collaboration with Prof. Amelia-Elena Rotaru.

The two PhD projects will address complementary aspects of how electric fields and electrode-associated niches influence the structure, function, and stability of methanogenic microbial communities in bioelectrochemical reactors. Together, the projects combine classical microbiology, microbial physiology, experimental evolution, and omics-based approaches to link microbial interactions and system performance across spatial and functional scales.

PhD position in adaptive responses of defined methanogenic communities (3 years)
This position centers on defined syntrophic microbial consortia, mapping how controlled electrochemical environments shape metabolic interactions, electron-transfer strategies, and functional specialization. You will run targeted experiments with defined methanogenic communities, compare ancestral and evolved consortia across conditions and integrate phenotypic readouts with functional omics to identify the processes underlying key performance changes. You will work closely with a postdoc evolving these consortia and with collaborators developing genome-scale and process-level models.

PhD position in adaptive responses of complex methanogenic microbiomes (3 years)
This position centers on complex microbial communities derived from anaerobic digestion systems, investigating how electrochemical environments drive community re-assembly, population dynamics and functional resilience. You will follow changes in community composition and function across conditions, connect these shifts to reactor-level phenotypes, and contribute to omics-enabled analyses that identify key taxa and functions linked to performance and stability. You will work closely with a postdoc evolving these microbiomes and with collaborators developing genome-scale and process-level models.

Your tasks will be:
-    setting up, operating, and monitoring bioelectrochemical reactors
-    mapping microbial distributions across reactor niches 
-    functional omics and targeted assays for key taxa/functions
-    establish standards of practice in collaboration with staff scientists in the team
-    publish scientific articles based on the data you generate
-    present research findings at research meetings and conferences

Your profile:
We seek candidates with:
-    a relevant MSc degree in environmental microbiology, molecular ecology, microbiology, biochemistry or a closely related field 
-    an excellent academic track record
-    a strong commitment to sustainable technology developments
-    interest in interdisciplinary research 
-    ability to write and communicate professionally in English 
-    ability to collaborate tightly within a multidisciplinary consortium and across career stages

Starting date: April 1st 2026, or soon after.

Applicants seeking further information can contact: Dr. Konstantinos Anestis (anestis@biology.sdu.dk), Dr. Rhitu Kotoky (kotoky@biology.sdu.dk) or Prof. Amelia-Elena Rotaru arotaru@biology.sdu.dk

Who are we?
The successful candidates will be employed at the Department of Biology (~200 people) and embedded in the Nordcee research section (~60 people), an interdisciplinary environment spanning environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry, microbial ecology, and Earth–life interactions. Nordcee hosts a strong international research community with shared laboratory infrastructure and permanent administrative and technical support.

The positions will be hosted by the Rotaru Lab, which studies electromicrobiology, microbial syntrophy, and microbe–mineral/electrode interactions, with a particular focus on methane-cycling microorganisms and the development of sustainable bioelectrochemical technologies.

The positions are part of the Microbial Electrochemical Methanation Initiative, a large collaborative research program funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (50 million DKK) with academic partners at DTU Biosustain, Aarhus University (CORC and Biology), Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, and Wageningen University, as well as industry partners.

We recommend that as an international applicant, you take the time to visit Work in Denmark where you will find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.

Contact information
If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk 

Application, salary etc.
Appointment as a PhD Research Fellow is for three years. Employment stops automatically at the end of the period.(the 5 plus 3 programme).

Further information about the PhD programme at the Faculty of Science can be found at the homepage of the University.

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

Application must be in English and made in the form of a Declaration of Interest including the following:

• A letter explaining your motivation and qualifications to join this project
• Detailed CV, including personal contact information and date entries
• Copies of diplomas, Bachelor as well as Master’s degree, including transcript of notes/grades.
• The names and complete contact details (phone numbers and e-mail) of at least two referees details for at least 2 referees who can vouch for your skills.   

Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process. Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated. This also applies to reference letters.

Applications will be assessed by an expert assessor/committee. Applicants will be informed of their assessment by the university.

Applications should be sent electronically via the link "Apply now". The faculty expects applicants to read the information "How to apply for a position at SDU" before applying. Please note that the application documents should be in pdf-format and attached as three documents: motivation letter, CV and the remaining documents.

We recommend that as an international applicant you take the time to visit Work in Denmark where you will find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.