A position as a Postdoctoral Research Associate is available at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, in the group headed by Dr. Andrew Blackford. The post is available from 1 July 2026, although it may be possible to start earlier or later by prior agreement. Highly motivated and committed candidates with an interest in DNA damage response pathways and chromosome biology are encouraged to apply.

The post is fully funded, although the post-holder will be encouraged to seek a personal fellowship to support their research.

Our research
The Blackford group (https://icmm.ku.dk/english/research-groups/blackford-group/) is an interdisciplinary team supported by an international network of world-class collaborators. The primary focus of the lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms that cells use to maintain genome stability, using a combination of genetic, biochemical and cell biology approaches. Research in the Blackford group is generously funded by Cancer Research UK, the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Danish National Research Foundation. The working language in the group is English.

Your job
The successful candidate will be able to choose one of two projects, depending on their personal interests and skillsets: either (1) investigating how cells recognize and repair DNA damage in mitosis; or (2) CRISPR screening approaches to define how RecQ helicases maintain genome stability to limit premature aging and cancer development.

These projects will benefit from access to cutting-edge mass spectrometry, imaging, screening and computational biology infrastructure at the Center for Chromosome Stability and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Collaborations are in place locally to access additional facilities and techniques including state-of-the-art optical tweezers, super-resolution microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy.

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

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in cell biology, biochemistry, structural biology or a related discipline.
• You are highly experienced in either 1) molecular biology, mammalian cell culture and immunofluorescence microscopy; 2) proteomics; or 3) protein purification and structural biology.
• You have at least one first author primary paper, or a first author manuscript deposited on bioRxiv, or a submitted manuscript under review (must be attached with your application to be considered). Publications or submissions in journals with predatory characteristics (listed here: https://www.predatoryjournals.org/the-list) will not be considered and should be excluded from your list of publications.
• You display a high degree of motivation, familiarity with scientific literature and attention to detail.
• You have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and fluency in written and spoken English.

Desirable experience and skills:

• A background in DNA replication or repair, mitosis, cell cycle or another area of chromosome biology.
• Extensive experience in DNA fibre analyses, super-resolution microscopy, CRISPR screening in mammalian cells, cryo-EM, next-generation sequencing techniques, chromosome capture techniques, or bioinformatics.

Place of employment and scientific environment
The place of employment is at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a world-class, dynamic and international research environment with many nationalities represented. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and access to state-of-the-art equipment. 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. The scientists at ICMM are involved in high quality research based undergraduate and graduate teaching programs at the University of Copenhagen.

You can read more 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 1 year. The start date is July 1, 2026, or after agreement.

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) or another relevant organisation.
Currently, the monthly salary starts at DKK 39,237 / approx. EUR 5,266 EUR (November 2025-level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated.
The employer will pay an additional 18.07 % to your pension fund.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025.

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.

Questions
For specific information about the position, please e-mail Andrew Blackford (ablackford@sund.ku.dk).

Applicants from outside Denmark may find this link useful: https://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 in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not yet completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.
5. Any first-author manuscripts under review in reputable journals (see “Essential experience and skills” above)

Deadline for applications: Thursday 30 April 2026, 23:59 pm. 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 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 7,855 students and approx. 4,056 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.