Postdoc in Stem Cell Disease Modelling (Parkinson's) – 3 years

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW)
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at University of Copenhagen is looking for a postdoc fellow to join the research group led by PI Agnete Kirkeby. The position is scheduled to commence on the 1st of July 2026 or in the following months, as per agreement with the chosen candidate. The position as Postdoc is for 3 years, with potential possibility for extension.

Research group
The Kirkeby research team is located at the The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences of University of Copenhagen. Our group works with stem cell-based models to produce high-quality neuronal, glial, 3D and assembloid models. We use these to develop stem cell transplantation therapies for neurodegenerative disorders as well as to perform disease modelling of CNS diseases in vitro. Our work has a strong translational focus, and we build our research on decade-long experience in clinical translational from bringing the first European pluripotent stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s Disease into clinical trial. In our disease modelling projects, we work on Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and models of hypothalamic appetite regulation.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and highly international research environment. Our team at University of Copenhagen currently consists of around 20 team members representing 13 different nationalities. Our students and postdocs always work collaboratively together in teams towards common goals to ensure that no one is left to work alone on a project. Our labs are located in the Center for stem cell medicine (reNEW), placed in modernised research facilities and include state-of-the-art laboratories, pleasant office facilities and access to high-quality core facilities in transcriptomics, imaging, flow cytometry and proteomics. You can read more about the team here.

Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious postdoctoral candidate with a strong research background from the field of stem cell biology, neuroscience or similar. You will be part of a large interdisciplinary consortium project studying the effect of pesticides and environmental toxicants on the development of Parkinson’s Disease. As part of the consortium, you will interact closely with toxicologists, epidemiologists, clinicians and chemical analysts to identify links between environmental toxicants/pesticides and Parkinson’s Disease. You will as part of the consortium further gain unique access to meetings and close interactions with hundreds of prominent Parkinson’s researchers world-wide. This position offers a rare opportunity to work at the interface of stem cell biology, toxicology, neurodegeneration, and advanced data science, using state-of-the-art human stem cell models to uncover previously unrecognized environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s Disease. You will, in close collaboration with a PhD student, investigate the effects of the toxicants in a physiologically relevant stem cell model of co-cultured neuronal and glial cells relevant to Parkinson’s Disease. You will find

As the postdoctoral fellow, you will:

• Drive hypothesis formulation, method development, and experimental design of the project based on literature and input from consorium partners
• Lead a systematic in vitro screening of environmental toxicants on human stem cell-derived neuronal and glial cells using high-content imaging and dopamine sniffer cells.
• Co-supervise and collaborate daily with a PhD student working on complementary aspects of the project.
• Work with consortium partners to translate findings from epidemiologists and toxicologists into mechanistic testing in vitro.
• Engage with an enthusiastic, collaborative team of stem cell biologists, neuroscientists, and bioinformaticians working on parallel disease modeling efforts.

The technologies you will apply are:

• Culturing and subtype-specific differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into neurons, astrocytes and microglia
• Assessment of neuronal subtypes in the dish through qRT-PCR and immunocytochemistry
• Scaling up of stem cell cultures to high-throughput multiwell format for automated analysis
• High-throughput screening of pesticides and toxicants in the dish for assessment of pathology
• Assessment of neuronal function and neuronal network activity in complex mixed neuronal cultures through multi-electrode array (MEA) analysis, calcium imaging, analysis of neurotransmitter release and automated immunofluorescence imaging
• Performing single cell RNA sequencing (Parse platform) and working with bioinformaticians on analysing the data

Key criteria for the assessment of the applicants

The following requirements for the candidate will be assessed as key criteria for the recruitment.

Mandatory requirements:

• Master’s degree related to the subject area of the project e.g. Biology, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Human Biology, Medicine or similar
• PhD degree in the field of stem cell biology, neuroscience, developmental neurobiology or neurodegenerative diseases
• Prior experience in stem cell-based disease modelling and/or in the field of neurodegenerative diseases
• Strong scientific productivity as demonstrated by publications
• Collaborative mindset with strong team spirit
• Fluency in English, written and spoken.

Positively assessed criteria:

• Prior experience in neuronal, microglial and/or astrocyte differentiation
• Prior experience in high-throughput screening assays and high-content image analysis
• Prior experience in working with assessment of neuronal connectivity, synapse formation or neuronal function (i.e. electrophysiology or MEA)
• Prior experience in qRT-PCR, ICC, confocal imaging and automated image analysis
• Prior experience in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of hiPSCs and hESCs
• Prior experience in single cell RNAseq (wet lab and bioinformatic analysis)

It is expected that you as the candidate will perform an independent research project with a high degree of autonomy in project planning, and that you positively embrace collaborations with other team members on your own project as well as the projects of your colleagues. Overall, it is expected that you contribute actively to a pleasant work environment within the group. A strong academic track record with a productive publication list and positive reviews from previous supervisors, collaborators or mentors will also weigh strongly in the assessment.

Terms of salary, work, and employment
The successful candidate will be offered a full-time position for a total of 3 years as a postdoctoral fellow. 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 organization. The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025. In addition to the basic salary, a monthly contribution to a pension fund is added (18.07% of the salary). Candidates from abroad may be eligible to reduced tax payment, according to the Special Tax Scheme for Researchers. More information about this can be found here: https://ufm.dk/en/research-and-innovation/cooperation-between-research-and-innovation/researchers-mobility/the-special-tax-scheme-for-researchers

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 from previous research projects, previous employments, technical skills, language skills and other skills relevant for the position + contact information of two references.
3. Publication list
4. Master of Science diploma and transcript of records.
5. PhD diploma. If PhD is not completed, provide a written statement from the institution or supervisor stating that the PhD degree is expected in the coming months.
6. Optional: reference letters

Contact information
For questions about the project and group, please contact the principal supervisor:
Associate Professor Agnete Kirkeby, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine
e-mail: agnete.kirkeby@sund.ku.dk phone: +45 5168 5353

Application deadline: 26 April 2026, 23.59pm CEST

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.

Assessment procedure
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 assessorThe 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.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7500 students, 1500 PhD students and 3200 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**. www.ku.dk