Postdoc at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity, NIVI Research, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen
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Postdoc at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity, NIVI Research, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen
LNP Formulation - High Throughput Screening and Characterization – Automation – Upscaling – Targeting
Who are we?
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.
The aim of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI) is to revolutionize and accelerate vaccine development in Denmark by bridging the gap between academic research and industry innovation. NIVI Research Center is a mission-driven academic research center, anchored at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Copenhagen. The primary focus of the center is the development of new or improved vaccine candidates against infectious respiratory diseases including tuberculosis, influenza and group A Streptococcus. NIVI Research Center aims to achieve this by gaining an enhanced understanding of airway immunity and incorporating innovations in vaccine technologies and delivery methods.
More information can be found:
Key skills for formulating lipid nanoparticles, and other delivery systems, involve a blend of expertise in lipid chemistry, pharmaceutical formulation, analytical development, and manufacturing process optimization. These skills are crucial for developing safe, effective, and reproducible delivery systems for various applications, particularly for nucleic acid-based therapeutics. We are searching for experts able to formulate and characterize nanoparticles carrying nucleic acids and other cargos. If you are familiar with different colloidal systems, such as lipid nanoparticles, emulsions, micelles or polymers or similar, please apply. We need researchers experienced with high throughput screening techniques and those experienced with manufacturing and upscaling of delivery systems.
manufacturing and delivery systems upscaling.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
HIGHLY WELCOME SKILLS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.
The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 2-4 years. The starting date is 1 October 2025 or after agreement.
Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 18.07 % 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 Professor and Group Leader Joanna Rejman, e-mail joanna.rejman@sund.ku.dk.
Homepage
www.isim.ku.dk and www.niviresearch.ku.dk
Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).
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:
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. 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 http://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.
Interviews are expected to be held in August.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
Who are we?
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.
The aim of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI) is to revolutionize and accelerate vaccine development in Denmark by bridging the gap between academic research and industry innovation. NIVI Research Center is a mission-driven academic research center, anchored at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Copenhagen. The primary focus of the center is the development of new or improved vaccine candidates against infectious respiratory diseases including tuberculosis, influenza and group A Streptococcus. NIVI Research Center aims to achieve this by gaining an enhanced understanding of airway immunity and incorporating innovations in vaccine technologies and delivery methods.
More information can be found:
- 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 (Home - NIVI Development)
Key skills for formulating lipid nanoparticles, and other delivery systems, involve a blend of expertise in lipid chemistry, pharmaceutical formulation, analytical development, and manufacturing process optimization. These skills are crucial for developing safe, effective, and reproducible delivery systems for various applications, particularly for nucleic acid-based therapeutics. We are searching for experts able to formulate and characterize nanoparticles carrying nucleic acids and other cargos. If you are familiar with different colloidal systems, such as lipid nanoparticles, emulsions, micelles or polymers or similar, please apply. We need researchers experienced with high throughput screening techniques and those experienced with manufacturing and upscaling of delivery systems.
manufacturing and delivery systems upscaling.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
- Understanding the properties and functions of different lipid types (e.g., ionizable lipids, cholesterol, phospholipids, PEG-modified lipids).
- Experience with lipid synthesis and purification, as well as the ability to select and optimize lipid ratios for specific payloads and delivery routes.
- Knowledge of formulation principles, including stability and bioavailability.
- Good understanding of analytical techniques for characterizing nanoparticle attributes (e.g., particle size, PDI, encapsulation efficiency, lipid content, impurities).
- Ability to develop and optimize lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and virus-like particles (VLPs) formulations for different delivery routes (e.g., intravenous, nebulization, inhalation).
- Experience with high throughput screening (HTS) techniques, including automated liquid handling, and knowledge of various screening strategies (e.g., in vitro and in vivo).
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- Ability to analyze data from HTS experiments, identify trends, and draw conclusions to optimize nanoparticle formulations.
- Experience with automated liquid handling systems and robotic workflows for running HTS experiments and processing large datasets.
- Knowledge of statistical analysis and Design of Experiments (DOE) principles for systematic evaluation of nanoparticle parameters and optimization of formulations.
- Good understanding of mRNA delivery principles and the role of LNPs in efficient targeted delivery.
- Experience with nanoparticle barcoding.
- Experience with running in vivo experiments.
- Ability to attach targeting moieties to nanoparticles.
- Hands-on experience with flow cytometry instruments and techniques.
HIGHLY WELCOME SKILLS
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- Experience with various manufacturing upscaling methods.
- Ability to optimize manufacturing processes for scalability and reproducibility, including batch-to-batch consistency and stability studies.
- Ability to develop and validate analytical methods for nanoparticle quality control and stability studies.
- Understanding of critical process parameters (CPPs) and critical quality attributes (CQAs) and their impact on LNP production.
- Experience with devices employed for airway delivery.
- Experience with vaccine development.
- Hands-on experience with the following analytical techniques: HPLC, LC/MS, Capillary Electrophoresis, Light Scattering, X-ray/neutron scattering, UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence, spectroscopy, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy
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- Effective communication and collaboration with other teams.
- Excellent organizational skills, strategic thinking, and ability to follow up with overarching goals.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to interact and communicate in multidisciplinary, multifunctional, and multicultural teams.
- Outgoing, open-minded.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- PhD degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Material Science, Immunology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related fields.
- Proven scientific expertise in the application of analytical, bioanalytical or physicochemical methods for characterization of lipids, (bio)polymers and complex molecular systems, ideally with focus on pharmaceutical products.
- 2-4 years of relevant experience.
- Formulate nanoparticles using standard techniques and equipment.
- Analyze nanoparticles for size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency using a broad spectrum of methods.
- Work with others to further develop NP formulation protocols.
- Prepare detailed quality summaries.
- Function as a lead researcher on one or more research projects, serving as an expert in specialized areas.
- Design, develop and conduct large and complex research experiments.
- Review progress of research and evaluate results.
- Share expertise in equipment operation and laboratory techniques.
- Develop new techniques.
- Refine methodologies to fit specific experiment requirements.
- Develop and apply analytical characterization methods of nucleic acids and other cargo-loaded nanoparticles.
- Write SOPs, development reports for internal and external use, research papers, etc.
- Train team members
- Testing raw materials, protein ligands, and NP formulations
- Maintain document records of all experiments including methods, experimental results, and report accordingly into electronic laboratory notebooks.
- Present scientific results to relevant teams and external partners.
- Interpret results, build data visualizations, and communicate results to teams.
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.
The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 2-4 years. The starting date is 1 October 2025 or after agreement.
Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 18.07 % 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 Professor and Group Leader Joanna Rejman, e-mail joanna.rejman@sund.ku.dk.
Homepage
www.isim.ku.dk and www.niviresearch.ku.dk
Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).
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:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
- CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
- A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
- List of publications.
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. 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 http://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.
Interviews are expected to be held in August.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.