Postdoc fellowship in novel peptide hormone discovery and exploration

Postdoc fellowship in novel peptide hormone discovery and exploration

Department of Biology
Faculty of SCIENCE

University of Copenhagen

Start Date: November 15, 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter)

The Department of Biology invites applications for a 2-year Postdoctoral fellowship focused on the discovery and functional exploration of novel peptide hormones. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and interdisciplinary team at the forefront of endocrine and metabolic research.

The project

We are seeking a highly motivated and curious candidate to contribute to a cutting-edge project that integrates computational prediction, cell-based assays, and in vivo mouse models to identify and characterize novel peptide hormones. The goal is to uncover new regulators of metabolism with potential therapeutic relevance for obesity and related disorders.

Your Role

As part of our team, you will:

• Develop and refine computational pipelines for peptide hormone prediction.
• Conduct cell culture experiments to assess peptide bioactivity.
• Design and perform mouse studies to evaluate metabolic effects.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data using statistical and bioinformatics tools.
• Stay current with scientific literature and contribute to shaping future research directions.
• Present findings at lab meetings, conferences, and in publications.

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applicants with a background in biology, biochemistry, biomedicine, bioinformatics, or computational biology, and a strong interest in endocrinology and metabolic disease.

Important Qualifications

• The perfect candidate would have experience in both wet lab (e.g., cell culture, molecular biology) and dry lab (e.g., scripting in R, Bash, or Python) environments. However, we encourage candidates with either wet or dry lab competences to apply.
• Comfortable working in a Linux environment and developing computational workflows.
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools and databases.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Desirable (but not required)

• FELASA certification and experience with mouse handling and experimental design.
• Knowledge of peptide hormone biology and metabolic regulation.
• Experience with metabolic assays and in vivo imaging techniques.

About Our Group

We are a newly established research group combining computational prediction models with experimental validation to discover novel peptide hormones. Our interdisciplinary approach leverages mammalian sequencing data, machine learning, and metabolic phenotyping to uncover new hormonal regulators with therapeutic potential.

We offer

• A collaborative and supportive research environment.
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources.
• Opportunities for professional development and international collaboration.

If you're passionate about bridging computational biology with experimental science to tackle major health challenges, we encourage you to apply!

The postdoc’s duties will include research within metabolism as well as teaching. The post may also include performance of other duties.

Further information on the Department is linked at www.bio.ku.dk. Inquiries about the position can be made to Niels Banhos Danneskiold-Samsøe, nds@bio.ku.dk.

The position is open from November 15, 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

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.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

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

Please include

• Curriculum vitae
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan – description of current and future research plans
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is August 4th 2025, 23:59 GMT +2.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.