Position of Professor in Innate Antiviral Immunology and Translational Disease Biology in the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine

We seek an internationally recognised scientist to join the Section for Medical Biotechnology within the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Bioengineering). The position targets a researcher with a strong profile in translational infectious disease biology, with expertise in innate immune mechanisms of host responses to infections studied in physiologically relevant animal models, and a strong interest and documented background in understanding the role of host factors in shaping the pathogenesis of infectious and inflammatory diseases with relevance to human health.

You will establish and lead a group focused on disease pathogenesis at molecular, cellular, and tissue resolution. Central to the position is a focus on innate immune mechanisms and host–pathogen interactions that determine respiratory viral infection outcomes, including disease severity, treatment efficacy, and in particular host factors involved in inflammatory regulation and zoonotic transmission. The research programme belonging to our new professor is also expected to address how co-morbidities such as obesity/metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation modify immune responses, and the consequences of this for disease outcomes, viral replication and evolution, and therapeutic effectiveness.

The research must integrate experimental and systems-level approaches, combining molecular profiling, functional assays, and computational analysis to uncover mechanisms underlying disease heterogeneity and progression. You will play a central role in mentoring and training students and early-career researchers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthening DTU’s international profile in translational disease biology, transcriptional analysis, immune assay technology, and therapeutic innovation.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The position requires strong scientific leadership and a clear commitment to interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration, including active engagement with relevant research environments internationally and across Danish universities and national public health institutions. You are expected to contribute to the strategic development of collaborative research activities that bridge fundamental disease biology, engineering approaches, and translational application.

You will collaborate closely with departmental faculty to further develop engineering-based education within biochemistry, immunology, and immune assay technology. This includes contributing to the development of research-driven teaching and integrating emerging research activities into existing and planned study programmes at the bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels. 

You are expected to actively engage in collaborative research projects across the Department and with relevant DTU environments with the aim of complementing existing competencies and creating synergies around biomarker discovery, molecular diagnostics, and the study of biological complexity in disease-relevant systems. Through these activities, the professor will contribute to strengthening the Department’s profile in molecular disease research and translational diagnostics. You must demonstrate well-documented international recognition and a strong track record as an independent researcher.

You are expected to take a lead role in teaching at the BEng, BSc, MSc and PhD levels.

DTU employs two working languages: Danish and English. You are expected to be fluent in at least one of these languages, and in time are expected to master both.

You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

• Documented experience and quality of teaching and curriculum development
• Research impact and experience, funding track record and research vision
• International impact and experience 
• Societal impact
• Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry
• Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills
• Communication skills

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Head of Department Bjarke Bak Christensen and Head of Section, Professor Susanne Brix Pedersen, tel.: +45 4525 2784.

You can read more about Department for Biotechnology and Biomedicine at https://www.bioengineering.dtu.dk/

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. 

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 10 June 2026 (23:59 Danish time). 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply now”, fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter) addressed to the President
• Vision for teaching and research 
• CV including employment history, list of publications indicating scientific highlights, H-index and ORCID (see http://orcid.org/)
• Teaching portfolio including documentation of teaching experience
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)

You can learn more about the recruitment process here.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.