Research Assistant in One Crop Health

The Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, is offering a research assistant position in One Crop Health, starting 01 March 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position will be available for a three-year period.

You will be part of a research environment focusing on the ecology and management of agro-biodiversity (including weedy plants, beneficial and pest insects, plant pathogens and crop health. You will be contributing to the area of field agroecology and the focus of your position will be field monitoring, sample collection and sample analysis for key agricultural pests, weeds, diseases and functional biodiversity. You will work experimentally with established farm networks and field experiments. You will work collaboratively with project partners in Denmark and England.

We expect that you will be an important part of the research environment and that you will contribute positively to the social working environment.

Your profile
We are searching for a highly motivated candidate who has

• A MSc in agroecology, agricultural science, plant science, ecology or similar.
• Solid organizational skills with the ability to coordinate field activities across multiple farms and locations.
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with farmers and project partners.
• Good written and spoken Danish, sufficient for supporting communication with Danish farmers, and proficiency in English.
• A practical and responsive approach to research with motivation for working outdoors and undertaking fieldwork, including during busy seasonal periods.
• A driving license valid in Denmark

Additional qualifications
Further, we will prefer candidates with some of the following qualifications:

• Experience in fieldwork and glasshouse work involving crops, weeds, insect pests and/or plant pathogens.
• Knowledge of Danish agricultural systems and practical farming operations.
• Experience with data management, quality assurance and the use of digital tools for field data collection.

Who we are
At the Department of Agroecology, our main goal is to contribute to sustainable solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems within the areas of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the environment. We want to make a difference by contributing to both fundamental knowledge generation and the attainment of sustainable production systems via innovative research, contracted policy advice, and education. We offer professional laboratories, greenhouses, semi-field, and field-scale research facilities, advanced computing capacities as well as an extensive national and international researcher network. The department consists of nine research sections with around 350 highly skilled employees, of which approximately 50% are scientific staff. More information can be found here.

We believe in encouraging inclusion, acceptance, and understanding by employing staff who bring unique perspectives to our department.

What we offer

• A collaborative, international research environment that combines high academic standards with an informal and supportive atmosphere. We value accountability, curiosity, flexibility, and teamwork in everything we do.
• An inclusive and respectful workplace culture, where mutual trust, kindness, and professional dialogue are part of daily life. We encourage open communication and develop a cohesive sense of community across teams and disciplines.
• A flexible working environment that supports work-life balance and individual needs.
• An active institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – in recruitment, career development, and everyday interactions.
• An innovative and meaningful workplace where your work contributes to solving real-world challenges. No two days are alike, and we welcome creative thinking and new ideas.
• Support for international researchers and their families, including Relocation Service and an Expat Partner Programme

Living and working in Denmark

• Subsidised childcare and free education from primary school through university.
• Universal healthcare for you and your family as residents.
• Five weeks of paid holiday per year.
• Generous parental leave – up to 52 weeks shared between parents, with full or partial salary.

Place of Work
The place of work is Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg Campus, Forsøgsvej 1 4200 Slagelse. The affiliation will be with the Department of Agroecology.

More information can be obtained from the project PI, Professor Paul Neve (pneve@agro.au.dk).

Application procedure
Short-listing 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.

Formalities and salary range
Natural 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 and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Unions at basic salary steps 4-8.

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.

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

About 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 for its 37,500 students, including PhD students, and has 9,000 employees (full-time equivalents) and an annual revenue of EUR 1.2 billion. Learn more at international.au.dk