The posting
We are searching for a skilled and experienced post doc with specific interest in investigating early myeloid disease, clonal haematopoiesis, metabolism and obesity.
Our research/The group
The focus of the Grønbæk group is Translational Haematology. The group is affiliated with Biotech Research and Innovation centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet (Central Copenhagen University Hospital).
Our overall aim is to understand the molecular mechanisms of haematological cancers and based on this; to design, develop and implement novel, scientifically based, clinical trials, with a strong focus on epigenetic therapies. This is done by bridging between clinical research at Rigshospitalet and the basic cancer biology research at BRIC, and in international collaborations with, among others, the Van Andel Research Institute, Michigan, USA and the Nordic MDS study group.
Our location at the Copenhagen Biocentre/BRIC provides optimal conditions for interaction with the basic scientists at BRIC. The group currently consists of 14 scientists, MD/scientists and students, one clinical research coordinator, 1 research nurse and 2 biomedical laboratory scientists.
The project: Deciphering the Mechanistic Links Between Obesity, Clonal Haematopoiesis and Myeloid Neoplasms.
The current position is part of a joint project ‘Deciphering the Mechanistic Links Between Obesity, Clonal Haematopoiesis and Myeloid Neoplasms’ together with Professor George Vassiliou, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom funded by a ‘Molecular Mechanisms Linking Obesity and Cancer (MMLOC)’ grant from the Novo Nordisk foundation, which supports collaborative research projects with the purpose ‘to reverse-translate clinical observations into mechanistic studies that will increase our understanding of how obesity impacts carcinogenesis’.
Obesity is a global health issue linked to increased risk of cancer, including blood cancers such as myeloid neoplasms (MN). Many MN arise from clonal haematopoiesis (CH)—the abnormal expansion of blood stem cell clones carrying somatic mutations. Haematopoietic stem cells interact with bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT), which increases with obesity, which may fuel CH growth and progression to MN. Epidemiological and genetic studies already suggest obesity accelerates CH, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
This project integrates large-scale population data, clinical trials, and mechanistic mouse studies to investigate these links and explore preventive or therapeutic strategies.
Your job
The project focuses on translational analyses of live frozen human cells from patient bone marrow (BM)/(BMAT) and blood samples from completed and ongoing clinical trials. We are searching for a skilled post doc who is very interactive and enjoys collaborations with other scientists – including younger scientists and clinician scientists.
Your tasks will include:
- Process of live frozen patient material from clinical trials including isolation of defined cell populations, and quality control for downstream omics
- Perform in-house molecular techniques which may include Proteomics, PCR, ddPCR, and library/sample preparation for RNA-seq, ATAC-seq and DNA methylation analyses
- Coordinate genomic, transcriptomic, lipidomic, metabolomic analyses with our internal and external collaborating laboratories and take the lead on designing relevant sub-studies, integrating and interpreting the data
- Help establish the practical and regulatory framework for these collaborations, including material transfer and data-sharing agreements
- Participate in grant and manuscript writing
- Present at local and international meetings
- Introduce lab techniques to new lab members and students
- Collaborate with both scientists and clinicians
Start: February 1st, 2027
Duration: 2 years
Profile
We expect you to be a highly motivated and highly ambitious, independent scientist with the following qualifications: •
- A PhD in Life Sciences with a preferred focus on haematology
- A strong background in mechanisms of normal and malignant haematopoiesis and molecular haematology techniques
- Comprehensive lab skills in molecular and cellular biology techniques, including work with primary human cells and cryopreserved patient material
- Experience with genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, metabolomics and ability to analyse and interpret such data
- Experience with running projects across research groups
- Strong publication and presentation record in peer reviewed journals and international conferences
- Excellent written and spoken English skills
- Very collaborative
- Good social skills
Place of employment The workplace is at the Bartholin Institute which is part of Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen. The Bartholin Institute is located at Copenhagen Biocentre/BRIC, close to the centre of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and a number of core facilities (animal unit, flow cytometry, in vivo imaging, NGS, etc.) shared between the research groups at BRIC (www.bric.ku.dk) and the neighbouring Finsen Laboratory. We have weekly journal clubs, data clubs, seminars with invited speakers and a young researchers club ASAP and our own PhD programme, MoMeD.
Terms of employment The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of two years. The starting date is 01.02.2027 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. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 39,900 DKK/approx. 5,300 EUR (August 2026 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 regarding the position, please contact Professor Kirsten Grønbæk, kirsten [email protected]; phone + 4535456086 / +4525211598.
Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).
Application The application must include the following documents/attachments – all 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 completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.
Recommendation Furthermore, the applicant should provide two letters of recommendation or two references. To be taken into consideration, the letters must be signed by the supporting person on paper with institutional letter head and in PDF-format.
Application deadline 15 November 2026, 23.59pm CET.
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications 3 of 4 or letters of recommendation that do not live up to the above-mentioned 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.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
