PhD Fellowship in Avian Influenza Pathology

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Avian Influenza in wildlife animals commencing 1 June 2026 or after agreement.

Our group and research
The DK-VET Veterinary Pathology Service (Patologivagten) is part of the Section for Parasitology and Pathobiology at the University of Copenhagen. The service contributes to national surveillance of diseases in wild mammals and birds, including monitoring of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in avian and mammalian wildlife.

Project description

The purpose of the PhD project is to achieve more knowledge of interspecies and intraspecies transmission of high pathogenic avian influenza virus. The aims are to investigate spread of high pathogenic influenza virus among birds and mammals using both molecular biological and serological data. Determine cellular receptors present in target species, where in the cells the virus is located and identify species dependent differences in disease development and receptor expression. Techniques employed will include gross pathology, histopathology, immunohistopathology, as well as molecular biological and serological methods.

Principal supervisor isassociate professor Anne Sofie Hammer, Section for Parasitology and Pathobiology, E-mail: hammer@sund.ku.dk, Direct Phone: +45 23807692.

Start: 1 June 2026 or after agreement

Duration: 3 years

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Furthermore, the PhD student will contribute to other activities within the DK-VET Veterinary Pathology Service (Patologivagten), primarily tasks related to the project, including activities associated with avian influenza surveillance and research.

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants

You have an EU recognized education as a veterinarian (DVM). A Danish authorization number. Essential experience and skills included in the assessment of applicants:

• You have an active interest in gross pathology and histopathology.
• You have proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• You have excellent English and Danish skills, written and spoken
• You have very good interpersonal skills and a high level of adaptability and flexibility
• You are thriving in a highly dynamic and busy workplace, with ability to work independently and systematically
• Experience with notifiable diseases would be beneficial, ideally including influenza.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at Section for Parasitology and Pathobiology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories, necropsy facilities, and a histopathology laboratory

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years. It is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD program (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor Anne Sofie Hammer.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science

4. Publication list (if possible)

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Application deadline: Sunday 12 April 2****026, 23.59pm 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 find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicants 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 week 17/2026.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.