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PhD programme

PhD programme at Department of Agroecology

Agroecology deals with the interaction between soil, plants, animals and the environment in ecosystems for the production of food, feed and biomass. Our aim is to train and promote the next generation of scientists and technology developers in the field of agroecological science and technology at the highest scientific level in a truly interdisciplinary and international atmosphere. 

Read more about what we can offer you as a PhD student at the Department of Agroecology and Aarhus University here: 


Contact persons

AGRO PhD courses

2025

February 10-15: (INTERNAL) Biostatistics Modelling (5ECTS). Course fee: 200 Euro, Course responsible: Franca Giannini-Kurina and Maarit Mäenpää. Sign-up for AU PhD students via email (m.maenpaa@agro.au.dk).

June 16-20: Soil Classification (4 ECTS). Course fee: 1000 Euro, course responsible: Mogens Humlekrog Greve and Anders B. Møller. For sign-up click here.

June 16-27: Hands-on Liquid Chromatography–Mass spectrometry course in the analysis of small molecules (phytochemicals, contaminants, primary metabolites) (8 ECTS). Course fee: 3020 Euro incl. hotel, 1580 excl. hotel, course responsible: Benjamin Fuchs and Charlotte Knudsen. Sign-up here until 1 May 2025.

September – November: Soil organic matter and organically bound nutrients - turnover and stabilization (4ECTS). Course fee: 200 Euro, course responsible: Jim Rasmussen, Zhi Liang and Kirsten Lønne Enggrob. For sign-up click here.

September 22-26: Modelling production and environmental impacts of cropping and grassland systems using APSIM (5 ECTS). Course fee: 600 Euro, course responsible: Iris Vogeler Cronin. For sign-up click here.

PhD students in AGRO

Here is a list of PhD students in Department of Agroecology, devided on sections. 

Wellbeing initiatives in AGRO

The wellbeing of all members of staff in AGRO is very important, but we have several initiatives related specifically to PhD students and junior scientists. These initiatives have been established and improved over the years as we find it very important to support especially our young people the best way we can. Many of the initiatives are very unique and only offered at AGRO.

Buddy-scheme

AGRO’s buddy-scheme was established in 2007 on requirement from the PhD students. The list of tasks was made by the students, and it is continuously updated to reflect the needs of the current students. In 2016 the buddy-scheme was introduced to the entire department as part of our onboarding programme.

The purpose of the buddy-scheme is to make new students feel welcome and to make sure that they become a part of the scientific and social part of the department.

Introduction meetings for new students

4 times a year we will in continuation of the department introduction meetings have specific introduction meetings for new PhD students in the department. The meeting will contain information on our specific PhD initiatives and other things to be aware of in connection with doing a PhD in our department.

Wellbeing conversations

Wellbeing conversations were implemented in 2015 and have since been part of the PhD committee’s tasks. The conversations are held twice a year between one of the senior PhD committee members and the student.

The purpose of the conversations is to give the student a room to discuss topics with a person who is not involved in the PhD project. The student sets the agenda and decides which topics should be discussed.

It is mandatory to participate in the talks, they are confidential, and no minutes are taken. It is  possible to book more conversations if it is needed.

Working Environment Forum (W.E.F.) for PhDs and Postdocs

W.E.F. was established in 2021 and is a platform to address all kinds of social, mental, or professional issues related to our work at AGRO-Foulum as well as a forum to share knowledge and relevant links for further help and information.

The group aims to be a dynamic and constructive forum to discuss relevant issues among PhDs and Post Docs.

W.E.F. can raise issues/problems towards the management/committees in AGRO and thereby act as a connector between the young scientists and the management/committees.  

AGRO Researcher Days

Once a year a two-day event for all VIP and PhDs in the department takes place. The days can be used to discuss relevant topics both together (VIP and PhDs) and in relevant groups.

It is a possibility to get together across the sections and locations and it is great opportunity to discuss things that are relevant for both VIP and PhD.

The PhD committee gives suggestions to the topics that should be treated at the meeting.

PhD committee workday

Once a year the PhD committee meets for a physical meeting. At this meeting all guidelines and descriptions on the PhD homepage are being evaluated and updated. At this event the students have the possibility to influence the way things are done and described and we make sure that the guidelines, processes, and descriptions reflect the current PhD students’ needs.