Professor i Protein Design til Sundhed og Medicin ved KU

Professor, Sundhedsvidenskab / Uddannelse / protein design / forskning / sundhedsteknologi

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Design

University of Copenhagen

The new Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Design at University of Copenhagen is seeking a professor within Protein Design in Health and Medicine to commence July 1st 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

About the Center
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Design (CPD) is a new initiative spanning Faculty of Health and Medical Science and Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen. The aim of the center is to accelerate protein design by gaining a deeper understanding of sequence-to-structure/function relationships in proteins and developing methods to programme these into functional designed protein. The center will train the next generation of protein scientists for careers in protein design and engineering; and to apply protein-design methods to a diverse array of fundamental and real-world challenges. The center is funded by a 700M DKK (94M EUR) grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. For further information on the Center, see the Center’s web page.

Job description
The successful candidate should have a strong background in computational protein design, and present ambitious plans for research and teaching in protein design tailored to health and medicine. In addition to a strong research and teaching portfolio, we seek a professor with a proven track record in academic leadership, collaboration, and community engagement. The new professor is also expected to contribute to developing a collegial atmosphere, mentoring students and junior colleagues, and foster an innovative and inclusive academic environment in the CPD. Aligned with this, it is anticipated that the post holder would work closely and alongside the CPD Director, Professor Derek Woolfson. Furthermore, we welcome applicants with a commitment to diversity, knowledge transfer, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public engagement, and who can contribute to the CPD’s and the department’s broader missions of societal impact of its research.

The CPD will support a generous start-up package including PhD studentships, post-doctoral co-workers, associated running costs, and access to integrated laboratory and office space and shared equipment. The successful applicant will have capacity to grow their research group by raising external funds.

The professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• Research, including publication and academic dissemination
• Contributions to the management, running, growth and promotion of the CPD
• Research-based teaching, including associated examination
• Research leadership, including guidance and supervision of students and researchers
• Securing funding for establishing strong research programs and leading interdisciplinary research projects
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate
• Academic assessments

Required qualifications
To be qualified for a professor position, you will be assessed according to the six overall criteria for recognizing merit at University of Copenhagen: Research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership. Find information about each criterion here.

When evaluating applicants, primary emphasis will be placed on the applicant's ability to document original scientific work of the highest international standard, an innovative mindset, and strong ambitions for advancing teaching at all levels within the field of protein design for applications in health and medicine.

Furthermore, applicants must be able to document:

• Strong research profile in computational and experimental protein design
• Original academic production at an international level, including considerable contributions to the development of research, teaching, innovation, and outreach in protein design
• Research leadership and other management functions, e.g. course leadership, engagement in the university’s external academic activities as well as knowledge and technology transfer
• Extensive experience with development, organisation, and delivery of research-based teaching as well as supervision of students

Applicants are also required to possess excellent interpersonal and communicative skills.

Desired qualifications

When evaluating applicants, primary emphasis will be placed on the applicant's ability to document original scientific work of the highest international standard, an innovative mindset, and strong ambitions for advancing teaching at all levels within the field of protein design for applications in health and medicine. Other desired qualifications include:

• Research profile of protein design applied to health and medicine
• Track record in attracting external funding
• Track record in innovation
• Strong commitment for the development of innovative and student-centered research-based teaching

Applicants already having sustainability integrated in all aspects of their research and teaching, or a clear plan for doing so, will have preference.

Terms of employment
The position is a permanent position. The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations. The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025.

Questions
For further information, please contact the Director of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Design Professor Derek N. Wolfson, channicoled.n.woolfsonrachelblackjonathansantiago@lambert.dkbio.ku.dkmelton.dk, +45 35 32 02 50, or Head of Department Dan Stærk, melissa28dsmaria04villarrealmakayla@sund.ku.dkheath.dkmiller-porter.dk, +45 23648836. For information about the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Design, please see the Center’s web page. For information about the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND), please see www.drug.ku.dk and https://sund.ku.dk/.

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: https://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Design is anchored at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and in collaboration with the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, at the University of Copenhagen. This professor position within protein design in Health and Medicine will organizationally be at Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology. At the Shanghai Ranking with Academic Ranking of World Universities, the University of Copenhagen is ranking 7th world-wide within the subjects of ”Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences”.

The Center is located at Nørre Campus in the Copenhagen district Østerbro. It can be reached in 10 minutes by public transportation from one of the city’s central transportation hubs, Nørreport station, however, most staff choose to cycle to work. Copenhagen, Denmark, is placed 2nd in the 2023 Global Liveability Ranking published by the Economist Intelligence Unit, based on assessments of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

Application

The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:

• Application cover letter (including motivations for applying for this position (maximum 2 pages))
• Curriculum vitae (including information about external funding)
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD, and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (maxium 3 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 10 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines)

Application procedure
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee to make an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee, and 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://jobportal.ku.dk/.

Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.

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 encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position.

Please submit the application with the required attachments. The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, 4 January 2026. Interviews for this position are likely to be held on 4 May 2026.