Tenure-Track Assistant Professor – Neutron-Based Research of Colloidal Systems in Drug Delivery
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Tenure-Track Assistant Professor – Neutron-Based Research of Colloidal Systems in Drug Delivery
The Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, is offering a position as Tenure-Track Assistant Professor - Neutron-Based Research of Colloidal Systems in Drug Delivery. The work will be carried out within the ESS Lighthouse: Colloids and Interfaces in Food and Pharma (CaIFF), a recently established Center focusing on colloidal out-of-equilibrium multicomponent systems, their investigation by neutron-based methodologies, and their application in food and pharma. The position is one of three, focusing on pharmaceutical applications. The successful applicant will have the opportunity for cross-disciplinary research in collaboration with other researchers in the Center, as well as with external collaborators. The fellowship is available from December 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Position description
The ESS Lighthouse: Colloids and Interfaces in Food and Pharma (CaIFF) was launched in 2025 based on a grant from the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science. The vision of CaIFF is to become an international focal point for harnessing the potential of the European Spallation Source (ESS) and related large-scale facilities for understanding of out-of-equilibrium multi-phase systems and their controlled use in pharmaceutical and food products. This is achieved by: (i) collecting all competences required to harness the opportunities of neutron-based techniques for such research, (ii) engaging 16 research groups from University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and Aarhus University (AU) working with neutron- and synchrotron-based methodologies, (iii) collaborating with researchers at ESS, (iv) collaborating with international research groups, and (v) having a broad interface with industry. CaIFF is centered around 3 Tenure-Track Assistant Professors (TTs), placed at the Department of Pharmacy, UCPH, the Department of Food Science, UCPH, and the Department of Chemistry, AU, respectively. The TTs will have complementary profiles and are expected to work closely together on methodological development and other issues where beneficial effects are foreseen.
As Tenure-Track Assistant Professor - Neutron-Based Research of Colloidal Systems in Drug Delivery, your role will be to develop the research within the Center regarding the use of neutron-based and other state-of-the-art physicochemical methods for investigating non-equilibrium multicomponent colloidal systems and their use in drug delivery. This includes developing experimental methodologies, such neutron reflectometry, small-angle neutron- and X-ray scattering, QCM-d, and ATR-IR, employing these for investigating colloidal delivery systems in a translational setting. We strive to maximize synergies between the different TT’s in the Center, hence you will also be collaborating closely with these, as well as with the Center Director.
Your job
Your key tasks as Tenure-Track Assistant Professor will be:
After no more than six years of employment and on condition of a positive final appraisal, the tenure track assistant professor will be employed as associate professor. Find more information about tenure track at the University of Copenhagen.
Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience.
Overall criteria:
Six overall criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Find information about each criterion here: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf
The applicant is also required to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills.
Essential experience and skills:
The ideal candidate for this project has a research profile within biological colloid and interface science, biophysical chemistry, or the like, particularly in investigations of lipid membranes, protein/peptide self-assembly, lipid self-assembly, and/or colloidal drug delivery systems, employing state-of-the-art physicochemical methodologies for such studies, particularly neutron reflectometry and small-angle neutron/X-ray scattering. Experience of microscopies such as cryoTEM, confocal microscopy, and neutron/X-ray tomography is an advantage.
Place of employment
The position is a permanent position. The position is anchored at Department of Pharmacy. The average working hours are 37 hours per week. Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organizations. The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025.
Questions
Please contact Martin Malmsten, martin.malmsten@sund.ku.dk, if you have questions about the Center, and Head of Department of Pharmacy Jukka Rantanen, jukka.rantanen@sund.ku.dk if you have specific questions about the Department. For information about the Department Pharmacy and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND), please see https://pharmacy.ku.dk/ and http://www.sund.ku.dk/. Foreign applicants may find the following links useful: http://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).
Application
The application must be submitted in English, and must include the following documents:
Application procedure
After the application deadline has expired, the Chair of the Appointment Committee selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment.
The Dean appoints an expert Assessment Committee to assess the selected applicants for the specific position. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the Assessment Committee and each applicant can comment on the part of the assessment that relates to their own application. You can read about the recruitment process at https://jobportal.ku.dk/. The applicant will be contacted if the Assessment Committee requires further documentation.
The application will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
The University of Copenhagen encourages all interested in this position to apply.
Please submit your application with the required documents. The application deadline is Friday, August 8, 2025, 23.59 (CET).
Interviews for this position are expected to be held early November, 2025.
You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/
University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
Position description
The ESS Lighthouse: Colloids and Interfaces in Food and Pharma (CaIFF) was launched in 2025 based on a grant from the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science. The vision of CaIFF is to become an international focal point for harnessing the potential of the European Spallation Source (ESS) and related large-scale facilities for understanding of out-of-equilibrium multi-phase systems and their controlled use in pharmaceutical and food products. This is achieved by: (i) collecting all competences required to harness the opportunities of neutron-based techniques for such research, (ii) engaging 16 research groups from University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and Aarhus University (AU) working with neutron- and synchrotron-based methodologies, (iii) collaborating with researchers at ESS, (iv) collaborating with international research groups, and (v) having a broad interface with industry. CaIFF is centered around 3 Tenure-Track Assistant Professors (TTs), placed at the Department of Pharmacy, UCPH, the Department of Food Science, UCPH, and the Department of Chemistry, AU, respectively. The TTs will have complementary profiles and are expected to work closely together on methodological development and other issues where beneficial effects are foreseen.
As Tenure-Track Assistant Professor - Neutron-Based Research of Colloidal Systems in Drug Delivery, your role will be to develop the research within the Center regarding the use of neutron-based and other state-of-the-art physicochemical methods for investigating non-equilibrium multicomponent colloidal systems and their use in drug delivery. This includes developing experimental methodologies, such neutron reflectometry, small-angle neutron- and X-ray scattering, QCM-d, and ATR-IR, employing these for investigating colloidal delivery systems in a translational setting. We strive to maximize synergies between the different TT’s in the Center, hence you will also be collaborating closely with these, as well as with the Center Director.
Your job
Your key tasks as Tenure-Track Assistant Professor will be:
- Performing research within the area “Neutron-Based Research of Colloidal Systems in Drug Delivery”, including publication/academic dissemination duties, as well as preparing grant applications.
- Participating in collaborative research activities within the Center, including regular travels for experiments at large-scale facilities for neutron and X-ray experiments.
- Supervision and co-supervision of PhD students and undergraduate students.
- Research-based teaching.
- Participating in national and international conferences and scientific meetings.
- Sharing knowledge with society.
- Participating in Center activities.
- Participation in formal pedagogical training program for Assistant Professors.
- Participation in development activities for Tenure-Track Assistant Professors.
After no more than six years of employment and on condition of a positive final appraisal, the tenure track assistant professor will be employed as associate professor. Find more information about tenure track at the University of Copenhagen.
Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience.
Overall criteria:
Six overall criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Find information about each criterion here: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf
The applicant is also required to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills.
Essential experience and skills:
- You have obtained a relevant PhD degree, as well as at least two years postdoctoral experience prior to the starting date.
- You are experienced in neutron- and/or X-ray-based methodologies.
- You are experienced in physicochemical studies of soft and/or biological materials using such methodologies.
- Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams.
- Excellent English skills, written and spoken.
The ideal candidate for this project has a research profile within biological colloid and interface science, biophysical chemistry, or the like, particularly in investigations of lipid membranes, protein/peptide self-assembly, lipid self-assembly, and/or colloidal drug delivery systems, employing state-of-the-art physicochemical methodologies for such studies, particularly neutron reflectometry and small-angle neutron/X-ray scattering. Experience of microscopies such as cryoTEM, confocal microscopy, and neutron/X-ray tomography is an advantage.
Place of employment
The position is a permanent position. The position is anchored at Department of Pharmacy. The average working hours are 37 hours per week. Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organizations. The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025.
Questions
Please contact Martin Malmsten, martin.malmsten@sund.ku.dk, if you have questions about the Center, and Head of Department of Pharmacy Jukka Rantanen, jukka.rantanen@sund.ku.dk if you have specific questions about the Department. For information about the Department Pharmacy and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND), please see https://pharmacy.ku.dk/ and http://www.sund.ku.dk/. Foreign applicants may find the following links useful: http://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).
Application
The application must be submitted in English, and must include the following documents:
- Application, including motivation for applying for this position (maximum 2 pages)
- Curriculum vitae, including information about obtained funding
- Diplomas (Master, PhD, and other relevant certificates)
- A complete list of publications
- Copies of up to five publications to be considered in the assessment
- Research plan (2-4 pages)
- Teaching plan
- Teaching experience/teaching portfolio, including documentation of formal qualifications and teaching experience presented in the portfolio (Guidelines)
Application procedure
After the application deadline has expired, the Chair of the Appointment Committee selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment.
The Dean appoints an expert Assessment Committee to assess the selected applicants for the specific position. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the Assessment Committee and each applicant can comment on the part of the assessment that relates to their own application. You can read about the recruitment process at https://jobportal.ku.dk/. The applicant will be contacted if the Assessment Committee requires further documentation.
The application will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
The University of Copenhagen encourages all interested in this position to apply.
Please submit your application with the required documents. The application deadline is Friday, August 8, 2025, 23.59 (CET).
Interviews for this position are expected to be held early November, 2025.
You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/
University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.