PhD fellowship in organoid-infection biology
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PhD fellowship in organoid-infection biology
We are offering a PhD fellowship in organoid-infection biology commencing 01.03.2026 or as soon as possible hereafter.
Our group and research
You will join our small team of scientists (currently two post docs and MSc + BSc project students) studying how microbe-host interactions affect host health, in an Evolutionary Medicine framework. We focus on Helicobacter pylori, an ancient inhabitant of the human stomach, colonizing half of the global population but with a rapidly declining prevalence. We use mouse infection experiments, and derived gastric organoids, and screening of clinical samples to explore the impact of infection, and drug-microbe interactions. In addition, we work on evolution of the Helicobacter genus with sampling of Zoo and wild animals.
Project description
In the PhD project you will explore how age and Helicobacter pylori infection shape the cellular composition, transcriptional programs, and developmental trajectories of the gastric epithelium. Early-life infection with H. pylori has lifelong consequences, from chronic gastritis to gastric cancer but also protection against asthma and allergies. The cellular mechanisms by which infection perturbs epithelial development remain unclear. We will use single-cell transcriptomics, immunofluorescent microscopy and methylation sequencing to resolve this, working with stomach glands from mice and derived gastric organoid cultures.
Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Sandra Breum Andersen, sbandersen@sund.ku.dk
Start: 01.03 2026
Duration: 3 years as a PhD fellow
Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at SUND are:
Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. in Biology or Biotechnology. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).
Desirable experience and skills:
Place of employment
The place of employment is the Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics at GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen. This is a Center of Excellence initiated in 2020 where we study host-microbe interactions, and the impact of partner diversity on the outcome (for more information check https://ceh.ku.dk/). We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories with on-site equipment for organoid work and high through-put sequencing. For advanced microscopy we use the nearby core facility (https://cfim.ku.dk/).
About Globe Institute
The Globe Institute is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural and medical sciences and the humanities. Information on the institute can be found at: http://www.globe.ku.dk/.
The Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See website for more information. All qualified applicants will receive full consideration. Candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, contribute to diversity and competencies of our Institute are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families.
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 3 years. The starting date is 1 March 2026 or after agreement.
The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s successful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.
The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.
Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at 31,242 DKK/approximately 4,178 EUR (November 2025 level) plus pension.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/
Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:
1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science
4. Publication list (if possible)
Application deadline: 7 December, 23.59pm 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 abovementioned 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.
The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.
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 find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/
The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Interviews are expected to be held in week 4.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
Our group and research
You will join our small team of scientists (currently two post docs and MSc + BSc project students) studying how microbe-host interactions affect host health, in an Evolutionary Medicine framework. We focus on Helicobacter pylori, an ancient inhabitant of the human stomach, colonizing half of the global population but with a rapidly declining prevalence. We use mouse infection experiments, and derived gastric organoids, and screening of clinical samples to explore the impact of infection, and drug-microbe interactions. In addition, we work on evolution of the Helicobacter genus with sampling of Zoo and wild animals.
Project description
In the PhD project you will explore how age and Helicobacter pylori infection shape the cellular composition, transcriptional programs, and developmental trajectories of the gastric epithelium. Early-life infection with H. pylori has lifelong consequences, from chronic gastritis to gastric cancer but also protection against asthma and allergies. The cellular mechanisms by which infection perturbs epithelial development remain unclear. We will use single-cell transcriptomics, immunofluorescent microscopy and methylation sequencing to resolve this, working with stomach glands from mice and derived gastric organoid cultures.
Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Sandra Breum Andersen, sbandersen@sund.ku.dk
Start: 01.03 2026
Duration: 3 years as a PhD fellow
Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at SUND are:
- Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
- Completing PhD courses or equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
- Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
- Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
- Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
- Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project
Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. in Biology or Biotechnology. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).
Desirable experience and skills:
- Experience in organoid work or cell culturing
- Experience with bioinformatics
- FELASA certification for mouse experimental work
- Experience with microscopy
- Proficient English communication skills and the ability to work in teams
- Experience with scientific publication
Place of employment
The place of employment is the Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics at GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen. This is a Center of Excellence initiated in 2020 where we study host-microbe interactions, and the impact of partner diversity on the outcome (for more information check https://ceh.ku.dk/). We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories with on-site equipment for organoid work and high through-put sequencing. For advanced microscopy we use the nearby core facility (https://cfim.ku.dk/).
About Globe Institute
The Globe Institute is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural and medical sciences and the humanities. Information on the institute can be found at: http://www.globe.ku.dk/.
The Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. See website for more information. All qualified applicants will receive full consideration. Candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, contribute to diversity and competencies of our Institute are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families.
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 3 years. The starting date is 1 March 2026 or after agreement.
The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s successful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.
The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.
Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at 31,242 DKK/approximately 4,178 EUR (November 2025 level) plus pension.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/
Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:
1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science
4. Publication list (if possible)
Application deadline: 7 December, 23.59pm 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 abovementioned 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.
The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.
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 find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/
The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Interviews are expected to be held in week 4.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.