One Short Term Postdoc Position in Environmental Risk Assessment

9 Mar 2026
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Thessaly

Department

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Research Field

Environmental science » Ecology
Biological sciences » Biodiversity
Agricultural sciences » Soil science

Researcher Profile

Established Researcher (R3)

Positions

Postdoc Positions

Application Deadline

19 Mar 2026 - 17:00 (Europe/Athens)

Country

Greece

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Jun 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe (other)

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

University of Thessaly is offering a Postdoc position in environmental microbiology and risk assessment with expected commencement in June 2026. The position is offered in the frame of the project RATION, a Horizon Europe project. RATION is a 4-year project started at 1.11.2021 and involves 22 partners.

 

Brief Project Description

Low risk pesticides (LRP) including (i) plant extracts (ii) semiochemicals like pheromones and allelochemicals, (iii) microbial pesticides, are gaining ground in the global market, as substitutes of synthetic pesticides. In addition, new microbial solutions (phages, protists, microbial consortia) and ds-RNA pesticides are emerging, low-risk solutions expect to reach the market in coming years. Despite ongoing regulatory efforts by the European Commission, we are still lacking a concrete risk assessment (RA) scheme relevant to LRPs, a point which blocks LRPs reaching the EU market. RATION timely comes to address these regulatory constraints and aims to develop a novel RA scheme, supported by the necessary guidance on methods and tools, tailored to the specific characteristics of established and emerging LRP solutions. This main goal will be achieved through a series of interrelated WPs aiming (i) to map the current status of LRPs in Europe and identify main regulatory constraints (WP1). In this quest it will be supported by a stakeholders forum composed of all relevant actors (industry, regulators, academics, famers, general public); (ii) to develop and validate, through a proof-of-concept exercise, innovative RA (and associated tools) for microbials (WP2), plant extracts, semiochemicals, pheromones (WP3) and, ds-RNA (WP4); and from there (iii) build a harmonized RA for all LRP and determine its socioeconomic impact (WP5), (iv) to effectively communicate and disseminate the new RA knowledge and its associated tools developed by RATION to relevant actors ensuring sustainability beyond project duration (WP6). RATION will benchmark EU regulatory science, uplift blockers holding back LRP uptake by the EU market and motivate research innovation in plant protection. To achieve these goals 22 partners from academia, industry and regulatory bodies, representing 10 member states and 2 non-EU member states, will join forces in a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary effort.

 

Job description

The position is available for 5 months. The main working tasks of the successful candidate will be: 

• To be able to use appropriate bioinformatic tools for soil metagenomic analysis
• To help on the determination of the background levels of microbial pesticides in EU soils
• To analyze ecological the data using appropriate bioinformatic tools
• To be able to collaborate with other researchers, understand biological scientific questions and provide analytical solutions to complex datasets
• To work closely with the PI, Postdocs and other researchers working on RATION
• To be able to right reports and scientific documents  

Where to apply

E-mail

avoul@uth.gr

Requirements

Research Field

Agricultural sciences » Agronomics

Education Level

Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Biological sciences » Other

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biological engineering

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• First Degree in Agriculture, Crop Production or related topics
• MSc in Environmental Biotechnology
• PhD in Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology  
• Experience in bioinformatics and especially on the analysis of metaomics data and microbiome analysis
• Experience in basic molecular methods like DNA extraction, amplicon sequencing preparation, q-PCR
• Good and proven knowledge of advanced ecology statistics

 

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Research Field

Biological sciences » BiologyEnvironmental science » Other

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Additional Information
Benefits

Terms of employment

Recruitment and Terms of appointment will be done according to the national rules and regulations. The total amount allocated for this position is 10500 € including social and health security coverage (2100 euro gross). 

Selection process

The application, must be submitted by mail to avoul@uth.gr

 

Please include 

• Full CV including studies, research experience, work experience and publications (if available)
• 2 professional referees (Name, address, telephone & email) 

 

The University of Thessaly wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, religion or ethnic background.

 

The deadline for applications is 20.3.2026. Applications received later than this date will not be considered. 

 

Recruitment Process: After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the project manager will provide all applications to the members of the recruitment committee which will evaluate all applications and select the best three candidates based on the quality of the candidates’ previous training, qualifications and skills (as listed above), CV. The best three candidates will be interviewed by the recruitment committee which will select the best applicant for the position. The applicants will be notified of the final selection by the Project Manager and will be given 7 days to accept or decline.

Website for additional job details

https://www.ration-lrp.eu/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Country

Greece

State/Province

Thessaly

City

Larissa

Postal Code

41500

Street

Viopolis Campus

Geofield

Contact

State/Province

Thessaly

City

Larissa

Website

http://www.bio.uth.gr/

Street

Biopolis

Postal Code

41500

E-Mail

avoul@uth.gr
dkarpouzas@uth.gr

Phone

+302410565294

Mobile Phone

+306944796646

STATUS: EXPIRED

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