Research Assistant

The Applied Arthropod Ecology group at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN), is seeking to employ a research assistant for 16 months. The research will be financed by a grant from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency within the research project WheatSustain – Sustainable wheat futures: Natural enemies in gout fly management. The position will be based at UCPH Frederiksberg campus.

Further information on the Department can be found at Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences – Institut for Plante- og Miljøvidenskab - Københavns Universitet. Inquiries about the position can be made to Morten Petersen, head of department.

The position is open from 15 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

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

Job description

The project seeks to address a critical knowledge gap by investigating the natural enemies of the gout fly in Danish wheat fields, with focus on three groups of natural enemies: parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), combined targeting all stages of the gout fly from egg to adult.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate who can take initiative, responsibility, and work independently in a collaborative environment. The candidate we are looking for has the following competencies and experience:

• Highly experienced in planning and conducting field work
• Experience with methods of insect sampling and trapping
• Competences within insect taxonomy
• Knowledge of insect ecology and natural enemies of arthropod pests
• Experience with establishing and maintaining insect rearings
• Able to conduct laboratory experiments of predation and parasitism
• Have obtained a MSc degree in Agriculture or related field
• Driving license is required

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

Questions
For further information about the position please contact Associate professor Stine Kramer Jacobsen, stikra@plen.ku.dk, +45 35332675.

Application
The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Curriculum vitae
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
• Publication list

The deadline for applications is 2 September 2026, 23:59 GMT +2.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.