163585 Research Group Leaders (Associate Professor) Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI Research)

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI Research)

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI Research) is actively seeking 4 Research Group Leaders. 

The positions are a unique opportunity to join the newly established initiative that is a potential game changer in the field of vaccines. Joining now offers the opportunity to help shape NIVI Research. As a Group Leader, you will be provided with the resources and funding to build and grow your research team, as well as the necessary finances for research projects during the grant period. Extra funding may also be available as activities progress.

Background
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI), launched in December 2023, has a unique mission to harness airway immunity through innovative vaccine research and development to prevent airborne epidemics. NIVI has two parts:

• NIVI Research (NIVI-R): A state-of-the-art research center anchored at the University of Copenhagen, Department of Immunology and Microbiology (www.isim.ku.dk).
• NIVI Development (NIVI-D): A company that focuses on translational sciences and advancing vaccine development.

NIVI-R conducts scientific research, while NIVI-D works to quickly turn that research into new vaccine candidates. NIVI-D accelerates clinical trials (phases 1 and 2) and ensures a smooth transition to partners for later stages of development.

By connecting science, innovation, clinical trials, regulatory processes, and product development, NIVI aims to streamline the journey from research to real-world vaccines.

Job Descriptions

We are actively seeking applications for four Research Group Leader positions, Principal Investigators, at the associate professor level in the following areas: 

1. Streptococcus pneumoniae Vaccine Research
2. Airway Immunology
3. Group A Streptococcus Vaccine Research
4. Influenza Research

The positions offer the opportunity to conduct world-class research with a strong translational potential, in an environment that fosters strong collaboration between internal, external and international partners. Successful candidates will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and research support that promotes cutting-edge innovation.

We are looking for candidates who are either just starting their group leader journey or have already a few years of experience leading a group. NIVI Research will provide the environment and growth opportunities for the successful candidate to advance their careers rapidly.

Associate Professor, Group Leader of Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine research
The incumbent will serve as Group Leader, responsible for championing NIVI Research’s S. pneumoniae vaccine research program. This role includes leading pathogen-orientated research and antigen discovery that results in an enhanced understanding of how to generate and maintain protective immunity against S. pneumoniae, specifically to prevent community-acquired pneumonia and the reduction of associated carriage initially targeting older adults. By way of example, the research could involve studies of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level with a focus on pathogenesis and the mechanisms leading to the establishment of infection & disease in the airways. This could allow research into how the immune system can be activated to prevent pathology, what profile of immunity such as Th1/Th17 responses and how to elicit durable responses. The Group Leader would be encouraged to consider the definition and prioritization of vaccine antigen targets, including mucosal-delivered protein-based vaccines used as a complementation (and potentially synergistic) to the administration of currently licensed polysaccharide vaccines (PCV) that protect against invasive disease through intramuscular delivery. The incumbent may consider leveraging relevant animal models, 3D tissue models and potentially controlled human infection models (CHIMs) to better understand protective immune responses and robustly assess immune responses elicited by vaccination.

The Group Leader will be expected to work in close collaboration with other Group Leaders, experts in structural biology, protein- and glycol-chemistry, vaccine platforms, airway immunity and vaccine formulation, both internally, as well as within the wider S. pneumoniae community.

Associate Professor, Group Leader of Airway Immunology
The Group Leader will lead and supervise a multidisciplinary research group focused on understanding the fundamental principles of airway immunity related to prophylaxis with a view to improving the efficacy of vaccines. Research could aim to identify and optimize sites of innate and adaptive immunity suitable for the delivery of next generation vaccines. Important scientific questions could include a fundamental understanding of B and T cell tissue resident memory in the airways and the ability to manipulate such immunity for durable prophylaxis. Systemic immunity will also play an important role in the research activities such as the investigation of biomarkers able to predict airway immunity, or how to improve the homing of immunity to the airway through systemic delivery. The incumbent could consider leveraging relevant animal models and 3D in-vitro models for a better understanding of airway immunity, with a strong emphasis placed on the assessment of human immunology. The Group Leader will be encouraged to lead translational sciences for the team and work closely across NIVI on new innovations that will originate from the research including clinical evaluation and assessment of vaccines for improved airway and systemic immunity.

Associate Professor, Group Leader of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) vaccine research
The incumbent will serve as Group Leader, responsible for championing NIVI Research’s GAS vaccine research program. This role could include leading pathogen-orientated research and antigen discovery that results in an enhanced understanding of how to generate and maintain protective immunity against GAS, to prevent pharyngitis and associated colonization/transmission (and potentially also scarlet fever, skin infections and invasive disease). The research could involve studies of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level, with a focus on pathogenesis and the mechanisms leading to the establishment of infection in the oropharyngeal. This could facilitate research into how the immune system can be activated to prevent pathology, reduce carriage and elicit protective immunity through vaccination. A state-of-the-art application of bacteriology multi-omics, immunology, bioinformatics and machine learning tools will be essential to success.  The Group Leader will be expected to define and prioritize vaccine antigens and relevant delivery platforms and collaborate across NIVI to advance vaccines into clinical development. The incumbent could consider leveraging relevant animal models, 3D tissue models, non-interventional clinical studies and potentially controlled human infection models (CHIMs) to better understand protective immune responses and robustly assess immune responses elicited by vaccination. 

The Group Leader will be expected to work in close collaboration internally with other Group Leaders, experts in structural biology, protein- and glycol-chemistry, vaccine platforms, airway immunity and vaccine formulation, as well as with the wider GAS community, including global consortiums such as SAVAC.

Associate Professor, Group Leader of Influenza research
The incumbent will serve as Group Leader with responsibility for championing NIVI Research’s Influenza program. The influenza research may encompass three principal areas. Firstly, the application of influenza for prototypic activities to fundamentally understand airway immunity in response to a viral infection, address the performance of vaccine technologies, and assess different adjuvant systems and formulations. Secondly, to advance the next generation of Broadly Protective Influenza Vaccines (BPIVs) to improve efficacy against seasonal influenza due to the antigenic shift of circulating strains.  State-of-the-art applications in immunogen design, computational approaches and innovative structural protein biology may be required to elicit robust, broad and durable humoral and cellular effector responses, mucosal and systemic, as well as B and T cell tissue resident memory.  Rather than pursue a single immunogen approach the incumbent is encouraged to consider combinations of innovative haemagglutinin, neuraminidase and other influenza protein constructs to advance next generation BPIV. Thirdly, to apply such innovations to improve the breadth of protection elicited by H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccines able to protect against disease from a range of putative emergent clades, and crucially to reduce transmission.  In summary, this role includes leading pathogen-orientated research and antigen design that results in an enhanced understanding of how to generate and maintain broadly protective immunity against Influenza infection, disease and transmission. Other viruses may serve as model pathogens to further methods and innovations applicable for the influenza program and the totality of NIVI’s airway scientific agenda.

The incumbent is encouraged to consider leveraging the most relevant animal models, state of the art immunological approaches, potentially 3D tissue models where applicable and potentially controlled human infection models for better understanding of protective immune responses and robust assessment of immune responses elicited by vaccination. The Group Leader will be expected to work in close collaboration with other Group Leaders, experts in structural biology, protein- and glycol-chemistry, vaccine platforms, airway immunity and vaccine formulation.

Research Group Leader Responsibilities

• Scientific/Research Leadership & Management: As Group Leader, the incumbent will be responsible for hiring the group, and will subsequently lead and manage the multidisciplinary group, providing guidance and supervision.
• Research Facilities: Design, implement and maintain state-of-the-art facilities for the purposes of discovery and research.
• Cross Collaboration: Provide collaborative leadership and participate in cross-cutting teams to ensure research will be closely integrated with other closely related NIVI research groups. Ensure collaboration with the rest of the Department, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the University of Copenhagen.
• External Partnerships & Collaborations: Working closely with NIVI Research’s Director of External R&D and partner and collaborate with external groups to gain access to model systems and related technologies. 
• Strive for Translational Sciences: Lead close collaborations with NIVI Development to ensure that research activities have a strong basis in translational sciences.
• Research-based teaching, in the form of supervision and course-based teaching in relevant fields as well as associated examination.
• Representation: Act as a representative externally for NIVI Research and NIVI at scientific events and congresses internationally, as well as support NIVI Research’s Leadership Team. The incumbent will also play a crucial role supporting the governance of NIVI Research.
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate.
• Publication: Responsible for the publication strategy for the group, striving for the highest impact publications and presentations at key congresses for the group and themselves.
• Network: Build and maintain a Key Opinion Leader network.
• Academic Assessments: Assessments of qualifications of potential candidates.

Qualifications and Requirements:
Six overall criteria apply for associate professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. These criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Please find information about each criterion here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit.

Furthermore, the candidate must be able to document:

• Research qualifications corresponding to that achieved after completing an employment as postdoc/assistant professor – or similar.
• Ph.D. and/or M.D. in a relevant field of biology for the aforementioned positions.  
• Documented research outputs at an international level and ideally with relevant vaccine related experience.
• Interest in leading a research group of scientists and technicians located within state-of-the-art facilities.
• Research-based teaching experience, and preferably pedagogical competencies.
• Leadership skills able to champion NIVI and NIVI Research’s values and motivate diverse teams – or interest in developing these skills.
• Agile ways of working, with an appetite for change and challenging dogma.
• Interest in working on complex projects across multiple geographical locations.
• Well-connected within the relevant field(s).
• Familiarity with or interest in knowledge and technology transfer.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and experience in complex organizations. 

Terms of employment
The positions are permanent.

Employment will be as Associate Professor at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. For the right candidate, it may be possible to advance to a full professorship later. 

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week. The starting date is targeted to the 1 September 2025, or soon thereafter. We recognize that a transition period is sometimes required for the selected candidate to assume the position based on their current commitments.

Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisation. Candidates who have never worked in Denmark before are normally eligible to apply for a significant tax reduction.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information, please contact the CEO and Executive Director of NIVI, Dr. Nicholas Jackson, email: nicholas.jackson@sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: https://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).

Application
The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:

• Application, including motivation for applying for this position (Maximum 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae, including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (3‐5 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 10 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio)

Application 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. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee in order to make an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and each applicant will have 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 https://jobportal.ku.dk/.

Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.

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 encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position.

Please submit the application with the required attachments using the online application system. 

The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, Wednesday 2 April 2025.