Fixed-term

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Avian Influenza in wildlife animals commencing 1 June 2026 or after agreement. Our group and research The DK-VET Veterinary Pathology Service (Patologivagten) is part of the Section for Parasitology and Pathobiology at the University of Copenhagen. The service contributes to national surveillance of diseases in wild mammals and birds, including monitoring of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in avian and mammalian wildlife. Project description The purpose of the PhD project is to achieve more knowledge of interspecies and intraspecies transmission of high pathogenic avian influenza virus. The aims are to investigate spread of high pathogenic influenza virus among birds and mammals using both molecular biological and serological data. Determine cellular receptors present in target species, where in the cells the virus is located and identify species dependent differences in disease development and receptor expression. Techniques employed will include gross pathology, histopathology, immunohistopathology, as well as molecular biological and serological methods. Principal supervisor is associate professor Anne Sofie Hammer, Section for Parasitology and Pathobiology, E-mail: hammer@sund.ku.dk, Direct Phone: +45 23807692. Start: 1 June 2026 or after agreement Duration: 3 years Job description Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are: Carrying through an independent research project under supervision. Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points. Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team. Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project Disseminating your knowledge. Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project Furthermore, the PhD student will contribute to other activities within the DK-VET Veterinary Pathology Service (Patologivagten), primarily tasks related to the project, including activities associated with avian influenza surveillance and research. Key criteria for the assessment of applicants You have an EU recognized education as a veterinarian (DVM). A Danish authorization number. Essential experience and skills included in the assessment of applicants: You have an active interest in gross pathology and histopathology. You have proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams  You have excellent English and Danish skills, written and spoken You have very good interpersonal skills and a high level of adaptability and flexibility You are thriving in a highly dynamic and busy workplace, with ability to work independently and systematically Experience with notifiable diseases would be beneficial, ideally including influenza. Place of employment The place of employment is at Section for Parasitology and Pathobiology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories, necropsy facilities, and a histopathology laboratory 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. The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years. It is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant. The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD program (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Questions For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor Anne Sofie Hammer. General information about PhD study at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/ Application procedure Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page) 2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position 3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science 4. Publication list (if possible) The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below. Application deadline: Sunday 12 April 2026, 23.59pm CET We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned 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. The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement. 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 find information about the recruitment process at: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities. Interviews are expected to be held in week 17/2026. The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background. Apply Now

A PhD fellowship is available in the group of Mariaceleste Aragona at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at the Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMI), Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, commencing as soon as possible. Information on the department can be found at: https://bmi.ku.dk/english/about_department/ Information on the Aragona lab can be found at: https://renew.ku.dk/research/aragona-group/ Our group and research The team studies the molecular mechanisms that dictate stem cell identity and govern stem cell fate in regenerating adult epithelia. The group aims to understand how different cell types coordinate their decisions to build tissues with specialized structure and function, with the long-term goal of developing replacement organs for regenerative therapies. This research project will involve the development of standardized methods aimed at high-content drug screening and the study of the molecular mechanisms of tissue regeneration. Job description: We are seeking an enthusiastic PhD candidate with a strong background in stem cell biology and tissue culture expertise. The candidate will define protocol for the stem cell self-renewal maintenance, expansion and differentiation of in vitro epithelial culture in 2D and 3D from tissue-specific human stem cells to generate in vitro models of the adult bladder urothelium and develop functional drug screening approaches.  Collaboration with researchers within the group and the center, as well as external collaborators, will also be essential to drive the project forward effectively. The candidate is expected to integrate into and adhere to the group’s daily operational routines, including shared responsibilities, scheduling practices, and collaborative workflows. Key Responsibilities: Carrying through an independent research project under supervision with the goal of developing high-content screening approaches to study epithelia regeneration. Collaborate on complementary projects involving multi-omics investigation of tissue regeneration in the bladder urothelium. Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education. Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team. Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project. Teaching and disseminating your knowledge. Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project. Qualifications: Candidates must hold a M.Sc. in Biotechnology or related field in life science. Essential: Documented hands-on experience with cell culture, differentiation of epithelial cells and barrier functions assays. Essential: Candidates must have extensive experience in 2D and 3D culture of epithelial cells and organoids, and a strong background in cell imaging. Essential: Documented hands-on experience in histological practices for analysis of protein expression across tissues. Essential: Previous experience in flow cytometry and image-based sorting. Desirable: Previous experience in the development of screening approaches. Excellent English communication skills, written and spoken, are prerequisite for the successful candidate. A solution-oriented, organizational and positive mindset is required. The ability to work in a highly collaborative environment both independently and as part of the team is essential. Place of employment The place of employment is at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment within a collegial atmosphere emphasizing academic excellence and responsibility. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and access to state-of-the-art facilities and instruments for flow cytometry, imaging, next-generation sequencing and cell engineering. Terms of employment The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week. The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. The start date is as soon as possible. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 31,200 DKK/Roughly 4,170 EUR (November 2025 level) plus pension. The allowance will be agreed with the relevant union. The application must include: Motivation letter (it should describe your long-term research vision, the reason for applying to be part of our team and why you think you are the right candidate to fill this position). Curriculum vitae incl. education, experience, previous employments, language skills and other relevant skills for the position. List of two references (full address, incl. email and phone number). List of publications. A certified/signed copy of the Master of Science certificate. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database/?set_language=en. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science Questions For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor, Associate Professor Mariaceleste Aragona mariaceleste.aragona@sund.ku.dk How to apply Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background. We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements. Assessment procedure After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an expert assessment committee. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and 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    The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities. Application deadline: 14 April 2026, 23.59pm CET Apply Now

Details The brain’s complexity has long been framed through the lens of neurons, yet another class of cells – astrocytes – quietly shapes the very circuits that underlie thought, memory, and disease. Despite comprising up to 40% of brain cells and being recognized since the earliest anatomical studies, astrocytes remained understudied for decades due to the technical challenges of probing their function. This gap is now closing. Advances in optical and genetic tools have opened a new frontier in neuroscience, revealing astrocytes as dynamic regulators of neural activity rather than passive support cells. The Khakh Laboratory has spent nearly 20 years developing methods to understand how astrocytes influence neuronal circuits and behavior. Now relocating from UCLA to the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at Cardiff, the lab is launching an ambitious new research programme focused on uncovering how astrocytes contribute to brain function and, critically, to the development and progression of dementia. This move represents more than a change in geography – it marks the beginning of a new phase of discovery within one of the UK’s most vibrant and collaborative neuroscience environments. The lab’s long-standing record of innovation, continuous competitive funding, and high-quality publications provides a strong foundation for tackling pressing questions in neurodegeneration. A PhD student joining this programme will enter a deeply immersive and supportive training environment. The lab will combine molecular genetics, advanced imaging, electrophysiology, and translational neuroscience to interrogate astrocyte biology across multiple systems, from in vivo mouse models to human stem cell-derived astrocytes. This integrative approach allows trainees to develop a broad and versatile technical skillset while addressing mechanistic questions at the cutting edge of the field. The PhD project will explore how astrocytes shape neural circuit dynamics and drive pathological processes in dementia, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic strategies. Training in the Khakh Laboratory extends beyond experimental work. Students are mentored in data analysis, scientific writing, and presentation, preparing them for leadership roles in academia and beyond. The lab’s track record has been solid: all trainees who pursued academic careers have successfully secured faculty positions. This success reflects not only rigorous scientific training but also a culture that values curiosity, independence, and collaboration. The group itself is internationally diverse, bringing together talented scientists with varied perspectives united by a shared commitment to discovery. Importantly, the lab maintains a hands-on ethos. With active experimental engagement from Khakh and a collaborative atmosphere, students benefit from close mentorship and direct involvement in shaping their research projects. This creates an environment where ideas move quickly from concept to experiment, fostering both creativity and scientific rigor. For a prospective PhD student, this is an opportunity to join a leading lab at a pivotal moment – both in its relocation and in the broader changes within neuroscience. By contributing to a deeper understanding of astrocytes, students will help understand brain function and open new avenues for treating dementia and related disorders. Funding Notes This is a fully funded PhD project. Please contact Baljit Khakh with initial inquiries and kindly include a full CV with the names of two referees. References BS Khakh (2025) On astrocyte-neuron interactions: broad insights from the striatum. Neuron, 113, 3079-107. L. Wu, V. Pandey, VH. Casha, Z. Qu, Y. Jami-Alahmadi, V. Gradinaru, JA. Wohlschlegel & BS Khakh (2025) The cell-surface shared proteome of astrocytes and neurons and the molecular foundations of their multicellular interactions. Neuron 113: 2599-2620. M. Ollivier, JS. Soto, KE. Linker, SL. Moye, Y. Jami-Alahmadi, AE. Jones, AS. Divakaruni, K. Kawaguchi, JA. Wohlschlegel & BS Khakh (2024) Crym-positive striatal astrocytes gate perseverative behavior. Nature (Article), 627: 358-366. JS. Soto, Y. Jami-Alahmadi, J. Chacon, SL. Moye, B. Diaz-Castro, JA. Wohlschlegel & BS. Khakh (2023) Astrocyte and neuron subproteomes and obsessive-compulsive disorder mechanisms. Nature, 616: 764-773. Apply Now