Postdoc at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, NNF Center of Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen

Postdoc at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, NNF Center of Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen

The Friesen group is looking for a motivated researcher with experience in stem cell biology and metabolism for a postdoctoral position, to commence on January 15, 2027 (or after agreement).

About us

The newly established Friesen lab aims to understand, treat and prevent metabolic disease. We want to explore how a cell transitions from a healthy state to insulin resistance to type 2 diabetes and to reverse this process. Our group leverages human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived in vitro disease models that accurately represent the in vivo cell state. We study the molecular underpinnings of metabolism and insulin signaling in a variety of cell types, improving in vitro hPSC-derived metabolic disease models, and applying these for translational research.

Your role

Your tasks will include designing experimental strategies, executing wet lab biology experiments, data analysis, and scientific writing and presentation. Additional tasks could include contributing to grant applications, and research-based supervision of MSc or PhD students.

As a postdoctoral researcher in our lab, you will play a key role in leading a research project to completion. As a founding team member in a new lab, you will have a hand in shaping the lab’s culture and research direction, and you will have early ownership of projects. You will contribute to metabolic-disease focused translational research, implementing hPSC-derived disease models to deepen our understanding and potentially impact translational strategies.

Your profile

Essential experience and skills:

• A PhD in life sciences or a similar relevant field
• Experience with hPSCs and tissue culture
• A background in metabolism or metabolic disease
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Good interpersonal and communication skills in English
• High level of motivation, reliability, and sense of responsibility
• Enjoyment of international and diverse work environments

Desirable experience and skills:

• You have experience with genome editing
• You have a first-author publication in a relevant field
• You have experience with or an aptitude for -omics methods and bioinformatic analysis

Terms of salary and employment

Your employment will be at Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, NNF Center of Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen. The position is full-time (37 hours per week) and initially for 2 years, and it is open for appointment starting on January 15, 2027 (or after agreement).

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.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025. In addition to the basic salary, a monthly contribution to a pension fund is added (18.07% of the salary). Candidates from abroad may be eligible to reduced tax payment, according to the Special Tax Scheme for Researchers. More information about this can be found here: Tax – University of Copenhagen

Questions

For further information please contact Max Friesen; Max.Friesen@sund.ku.dk.

Application

The application should consist of the following documents in English:

• Cover letter describing your application and motivation including research interests (max 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae including information about your education, research experience, previous employments, and complete publication list
• Diplomas (PhD degree or equivalent)
• Contact information of 3 references

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

Deadline for application 19. November, 24:00 CET

Interviews are expected to be held in week 50

We reserve the right to not consider material received after the deadline, or applications that do not live up to the requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

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

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background