Postdoc in headache research
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Postdoc in headache research
We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 2.5-year position. As postdoc you will investigate the signalling pathways driving the migraine phenotype in a rodent model. The position will start on the 1st of February 2026, and the job is in the Kaag Rasmussen lab at Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Center for Translational Neuromedicine focuses on developing new approaches for examining and treating neurological diseases, primarily using the tools of physiology and imaging coupled with cell and gene therapy. Our emphasis is on using these technologies to enable neural and glial cell replacement in the adult brain and spinal cord, as a means of both disease modelling and therapeutic repair.
Information on the department can be found at: https://ctn.ku.dk/.
Our center
Center for Translational Neuromedicine currently has 55 employees and students and is divided into five labs. CTN is characterized by a highly ambitious research environment. The Center is highly interdisciplinary and has many international collaborators. The post doc will be part of the Kaag Rasmussen lab, Division of Pain Volume Transmission. Being part of the Kaag Rasmussen lab offers an opportunity to work in an in vivo lab engaged in the neuroscience of pain signalling, focusing on transgenic animal models, behaviour, in vivo imaging and omics technologies.
CTN is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and is located at Panum. The Center comprises modern laboratories and excellent facilities within neuroscience.
The project that we are recruiting for focuses on delineating the signalling pathways that are driving the migraine phenotype. The project is a continuation of this research paper published in Science July 2024: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0544. Here we identified how the peripheral sensory nerves are activated in a mouse model of migraine with aura. In this current project we will investigate the engagement of downstream signalling pathways of the proteins identified in the research paper above with a goal of delineating the specific signalling pathways that are driving the migraine phenotype.
Your job
You will be investigating how specific signalling pathways affect migraine-like behaviour in mice. As a postdoc in the Kaag Rasmussen lab, you will be working with generating novel animal models of migraine using transgenic tools such as DREADD receptors and optogenetics. Using standard behavioural assays as well as novel tools like Deep Lab Cut you will characterize what signalling pathways are essential for the migraine phenotype in rodents. You will use proteomic and transcriptomic tools to define what pathways are activated in the generated migraine models.
The successful candidate will utilize transgenic and molecular biology tools, optogenetics, and behavioural assays. This research aims to pinpoint what extracellular messengers are essential in driving migraine and pain phenotypes.
Your tasks will be to generate transgenic animals where specific signalling pathways are activated. You will then perform behavioural and neurophysiological assays assays like periorbital von Frey, open field, light vs dark preferences, and pupillometrics in the generated animal models. Lastly, you will use proteomics and transcriptomic tools to identify the downstream signalling pathways that are engaged to define the causative pathway leading to the migraine phenotype in rodents.
Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic postdoc with the following competencies and experience:
Essential experience and skills:
The place of employment is at Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment.
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 2.5 years. The start date is 1 February 2026 or after agreement.
You will refer to Group Leader Martin Kaag Rasmussen
Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,700 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2025 level). 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 2025.
Questions
For further information please contact Martin Kaag Rasmussen martin.rasmussen@sund.ku.dk or Center Administrator Ann Christensen, ann.christensen@sund.ku.dk.
International 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 November 2025.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
Center for Translational Neuromedicine focuses on developing new approaches for examining and treating neurological diseases, primarily using the tools of physiology and imaging coupled with cell and gene therapy. Our emphasis is on using these technologies to enable neural and glial cell replacement in the adult brain and spinal cord, as a means of both disease modelling and therapeutic repair.
Information on the department can be found at: https://ctn.ku.dk/.
Our center
Center for Translational Neuromedicine currently has 55 employees and students and is divided into five labs. CTN is characterized by a highly ambitious research environment. The Center is highly interdisciplinary and has many international collaborators. The post doc will be part of the Kaag Rasmussen lab, Division of Pain Volume Transmission. Being part of the Kaag Rasmussen lab offers an opportunity to work in an in vivo lab engaged in the neuroscience of pain signalling, focusing on transgenic animal models, behaviour, in vivo imaging and omics technologies.
CTN is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and is located at Panum. The Center comprises modern laboratories and excellent facilities within neuroscience.
The project that we are recruiting for focuses on delineating the signalling pathways that are driving the migraine phenotype. The project is a continuation of this research paper published in Science July 2024: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0544. Here we identified how the peripheral sensory nerves are activated in a mouse model of migraine with aura. In this current project we will investigate the engagement of downstream signalling pathways of the proteins identified in the research paper above with a goal of delineating the specific signalling pathways that are driving the migraine phenotype.
Your job
You will be investigating how specific signalling pathways affect migraine-like behaviour in mice. As a postdoc in the Kaag Rasmussen lab, you will be working with generating novel animal models of migraine using transgenic tools such as DREADD receptors and optogenetics. Using standard behavioural assays as well as novel tools like Deep Lab Cut you will characterize what signalling pathways are essential for the migraine phenotype in rodents. You will use proteomic and transcriptomic tools to define what pathways are activated in the generated migraine models.
The successful candidate will utilize transgenic and molecular biology tools, optogenetics, and behavioural assays. This research aims to pinpoint what extracellular messengers are essential in driving migraine and pain phenotypes.
Your tasks will be to generate transgenic animals where specific signalling pathways are activated. You will then perform behavioural and neurophysiological assays assays like periorbital von Frey, open field, light vs dark preferences, and pupillometrics in the generated animal models. Lastly, you will use proteomics and transcriptomic tools to identify the downstream signalling pathways that are engaged to define the causative pathway leading to the migraine phenotype in rodents.
Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic postdoc with the following competencies and experience:
Essential experience and skills:
- You have a PhD in neuroscience or a related field
- You have great expertise with behavioural experiments and analysis thereof or a great motivation to commit to this
- You have at least a FELASA A and D certificate for animal experiments
- You are experienced in the use and breeding strategies of transgenic animals
- Preferably you have experience in coding and in the use of deep neural networks, e.g., Deep Lab Cut
- You have an active interest in neurophysiology with focus on the glymphatic system and pain
- Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
- Excellent English skills written and spoken
The place of employment is at Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment.
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 2.5 years. The start date is 1 February 2026 or after agreement.
You will refer to Group Leader Martin Kaag Rasmussen
Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,700 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2025 level). 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 2025.
Questions
For further information please contact Martin Kaag Rasmussen martin.rasmussen@sund.ku.dk or Center Administrator Ann Christensen, ann.christensen@sund.ku.dk.
International 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 November 2025.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.