Summary
The Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology (Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen) is offering 1–2 fully funded PhD fellowships in Chemical Biology within the Kofoed Lab. The research focuses on developing state-of-the-art molecular tools and next-generation chemical biology platforms to study the molecular complexity of immune-cell interfaces and protein–protein interaction networks.
PhD Fellowships in Chemical Biology at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
Key Information Overview
| Attribute | Details |
| Position / Designation | PhD Fellow / PhD Student (1–2 positions) |
| Host Institution | University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet – UCPH) |
| Faculty / Department | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences / Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology |
| Principal Supervisor | Assistant Professor Christian Kofoed (christian.kofoed@sund.ku.dk) |
| Research Area | Chemical Biology, Protein Engineering, Immunological Synapses |
| Location | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Duration | 3 Years (Full-time, 37 hours/week) |
| Monthly Salary / Stipend | Starts at approx. 31,800 DKK / ~€4,300 EUR per month + pension scheme |
| Expected Start Date | 15 November 2026 (or 1 November 2026 / upon agreement) |
| Application Deadline | 25 August 2026, 23:59 CET |
Designation
- PhD Fellow / PhD Candidate in Chemical Biology
Research Area
- Chemical Biology & Molecular Pharmacology
- Specific Focus: Investigating the molecular complexity of immune-cell interfaces and protein–protein interactions governing cell–cell communication. The project incorporates interdisciplinary techniques such as:
- Protein engineering
- Cell culture
- Confocal microscopy
- Mass spectrometry
- Molecular tool development
Location
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Copenhagen, Denmark.
Eligibility / Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Academic Degree:
- Danish Degree: A relevant Master’s degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS BSc + 120 ECTS MSc).
- International Degree: A degree equivalent to a Danish Master’s degree (180 ECTS + 120 ECTS MSc), or at minimum a bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) with documented qualifications at the master’s level.
- Academic Merit: Strong Grade Point Average (GPA), relevant background in chemical biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, or related life science disciplines.
- Additional Evaluation Factors:
- Previous scientific publications and relevant laboratory/work experience.
- Strong curiosity and interest in chemical biology.
- Proficient English language and communication skills.
- Enrolment Requirement: Employment is conditional upon successful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH.
Scholarship / Fellowship Description
- Comprehensive Funding: Standard Danish collective academic agreement with competitive starting salary (~31,800 DKK / ~€4,300/month) plus pension contributions.
- Scope of Work & Training:
- Complete an independent 3-year research project leading to a PhD thesis.
- Complete coursework / doctoral courses corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
- External research stay/exchange with another international research group.
- Teaching and dissemination activities corresponding to roughly 10% of the fellowship (including co-supervising Master’s students).
- Work Environment: State-of-the-art laboratory facilities aligned with the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) principles within an inclusive, international research setting.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via the official University of Copenhagen job portal (UCPH Job Portal) by clicking the “Apply now” button.
All documents must be uploaded in PDF format and include:
- Motivated Cover Letter (max. 1 page) describing background, research interests, and motivation.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) including education, research experience, technical skills, and language competencies.
- Certified Copies of Diplomas & Transcripts (BSc and MSc) with certified English translations if original is not in English or Danish.
- List of Publications (if applicable).
Last Date to Apply
- 25 August 2026 at 23:59 CET
