Erik Østergaard is 64 years old. He took both his Master's and PhD degrees at Aarhus University, and with a  with a couple of sojourns to Max Planck in Germany (1986-87) and CSIRO in Australia (1993-94), he has worked at the department since 1981.

Erik Østergaard's research interest lies within plant molecular biology, where he has investigated the interaction between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Erik Østergaard has always been passionate about teaching and has therefore decided to continue to take part in teaching activities at the department. The more applied aspects of research have also attracted his interest, and this has led him to set up a biotechnology company to produce plant-based medicines. He has also served on the board of Agro Business Innovation. 

Erik Østergaard is looking forward to continuing as head of department: "There’s a lot going on, and I'm looking forward to seeing it al materialize. I am particularly pleased to be able to complete the relocation of MBG to the University City – thus uniting all staff and students in one place – at the beginning of 2022, a project that we have been working on for many years. And right now, I am very busy with the exciting work in the faculty management setting up the new faculty and a new strategy,” says Erik Østergaard.

Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Kristian Pedersen, is pleased to continue to have Erik Østergaard on the team.

"He is a huge capacity, with a good and balanced eye for both research, education, business collaboration and management. I am very much looking forward to continuing the good collaboration with him on the development of the department and the faculty," says Kristian Pedersen. 

More information

Head of Department Erik Østergaard Jensen
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
eoj@mbg.au.dk - +4528992567