Postdoc position in the Horizon Europe project SHIELD aimed at advancing pandemic preparedness and response by characterizing and exploiting viral glycosylation

We are offering a post doctoral position at the Copenhagen Center for Glycocalyx Research (CCGR) with the Wandall Group, commencing from April 1st 2025 or after agreement.

The candidate will be part of a Horizon Europe project SHIELD with the goal to improve the EU’s preparedness to predict and respond to emerging infectious health threats by advancing the research on viral pathogens with high pandemic potential.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate with a strong background in biochemistry, mass spectrometry, cell biology, virology, or immunology.

The project aims to advance our knowledge for combating viral pathogens that have a high potential for causing the next pandemic. The ambition of the SHIELD consortium is to bring a paradigm shift in therapeutic strategies for targeting devastating virus families such as Arenaviridae (Lassa virus), Paramyxoviridae (Nipah virus, Hendra virus) and Flaviviridae (West Nile virus, Zika virus, Dengue virus, and Yellow Fever virus) that are responsible for millions of infections globally. Our current ability to predict, monitor and combat a potential pandemic outbreak of these viruses is very limited and our understanding of host factors required for efficient viral transmission and replication is incomplete. You will be part of a team of scientists from eight European countries studying different virus families and working on various aspects of tacling viral infections. The sub-program that you will be heading has the goal of characterizing the glycan structures and glycan attachment sites on different viral envelope proteins by mass spectrometry-based workflows, as well as creating glycoengineered cell lines for functional studies and production of immunogens and viruses with defined homogeneous glycosylation. In collaboration with the consortium partners the glycoengineered production platform will be used to investigate the importance of different host and viral glycan structures for the viral infectious cycle, as well as to define the role of glycosylation in shaping immune responses. You will also work on setting up viral replication assays for Zika virus in an established organotypic human 3D skin model built with glycoengineered cells and investigating the host responses. The research will advance our understanding of the importance of glycans for viral infections and pave new avenues for development of effective treatments and vaccines.

 

Our research
Copenhagen Center for Glycocalyx Research (CCGR) is composed of 5 research groups and hosts about 10 postdocs and 15 PhD students in addition to Master students and guest researchers. CCGR strives to be a leader in glycosciences in pioneering the transformation of the field towards wider integration into mainstream cell biology by developing experimental strategies, informatics approaches, and sustainable resources amenable not only to experts. We aim to facilitate the discovery of diseases caused by altered glycosylation, develop new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and identify new ways to design and produce improved glycoprotein drugs. 

CCGR is a cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and training Center located on the 10th floor of the new Mærsk Tower science building within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM). CCGR has state-of-the-art facilities for mass spectrometry, mass photometry, flow cytometry, cell engineering, and glycan arrays, and group leaders hold diverse expertise in all areas of glycosciences. Our core valuables include glycoproteome data and bioinformatics tools, validated gene editing tools, glycoengineered cell libraries, and design matrices for the recombinant production of glycotherapeutics. CCGR hosts an international seminar series, PhD courses in glycobiology and gene editing, and participates in ICMMs education program.

Supervisors: Assistant Professor Ieva Bagdonaite (ieva@sund.ku.dk) and Professor Hans Wandall (hhw@sund.ku.dk)

Start date:    April 2025 or after agreement.

Duration:      2 years.

The successful candidate will conduct independent research related to the topics above at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM). We expect the candidate to engage in an active research environment and take part in student guidance.

 

Profile 

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

 

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants for the postdoc position:  

• You have a Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology, (bio)medicine, biology, immunology, or similar.                   
• Knowledge and preferable skills in mass spectrometry, glycoprofiling and/or (glyco)proteomics.
• Experience in working with mammalian cell culture or virus culture systems.
• Familiarity with protein expression and purification, mammalian genome editing, microscopy, flow cytometry, or 3D organoid tissue culture is an advantage.

Other important criteria are:

• You have a curious mindset and an active interest in glycosylation and cell biology.
• Proficient communication and organisational skills and ability to work in teams.
• Relevant and competitive publications.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.

Applicants should be highly organized and motivated to carry out research related to the topics described above. Candidates with prior experience in glycobiology, virology, and/or quantitative glycoproteomics will receive advantaged consideration.

 

Place of employment 
The place of employment is at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), University of Copenhagen. ICMM offers a creative and ambitious scientific environment, with many different nationalities represented. ICMM aims to produce research with high international impact focusing on the functional cell, its genetic components, and molecular cellular mechanisms in a medical context.

ICMM currently comprises five research programs, three high profile Research Centers as well as several international research groups. The scientists at ICMM are involved in high quality research based undergraduate and graduate teaching programs at the University of Copenhagen.

More information can be found at https://icmm.ku.dk/english/.

 

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 2 years. The starting date is April 1st 2025 or after agreement.

Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at DKK 38,500 / approx. EUR 5,100 (April 2024-level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated.
The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

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

 

Questions
For further information please contact the hiring group leaders mentioned above.

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

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills, and other skills relevant to the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a Ph.D. and Master of Science certificate.
4. List of publications.

Deadline for applications: 23 January 2025, 23.59 p.m. 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 above-mentioned 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. 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 can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

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 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7,823 students, 1,886 PhD students and 5,100 employees. The faculty advances the field of health sciences through its core activities: research, teaching, knowledge sharing and communication. With basic research fields ranging from molecular studies to studies of society, the faculty contributes to a healthy future through its graduates, research findings and inventions benefitting patients and the community.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

 

Contact

Hans H. Wandall or Ieva Bagdonaite

E-mail: hhw@sund.ku.dk

ieva@sund.ku.dk

 

Info

Application deadline: 23 January 2025

Employment start: 01-04-2025 or after agreement

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM)