Research Assistant with opportunity for PhD-fellowship continuation at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, NNF Center of Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW)

Research Assistant with opportunity for PhD-fellowship continuation at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, NNF Center of Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen

The Friesen group is looking for a motivated research assistant (RA) with experience in mammalian cell culture starting on January 15, 2027 (or after agreement). The successful candidate will have the opportunity to transition into a funded PhD position, pending evaluation and mutual agreement.

About us

The newly established Friesen lab aims to understand, treat and prevent metabolic disease. We want to explore how a cell transitions from a healthy state to insulin resistance to type 2 diabetes and to reverse this process. Our group leverages human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived in vitro disease models that accurately represent the in vivo cell state. We study the molecular underpinnings of metabolism and insulin signaling in a variety of cell types, improving in vitro hPSC-derived metabolic disease models, and applying these for translational research.

Your role

You will initially work on one or multiple projects involving the establishment of our hPSC-derived metabolic disease models, genome editing of hPSC tool cell lines including reporter lines, setup optimization of translational screening experiments, and analysis of existing and new -omics data.

After the initial RA period of 12 months and upon positive evaluation and mutual agreement, you will get the opportunity to transition into a funded 3-year PhD position. At this point, we will decide together on a focused PhD project based on your interest and the preliminary data acquired during the RA period. As a founding team member in a new lab, you will have a hand in shaping the lab’s culture and research direction. You will have early ownership of projects in the lab and help set up systems that enable the future success of our group.

Profile

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a MSc degree in biology, biomedicine, biochemistry, or similar
• Experience with human cell culture
• An interest in fundamental or translational research, including disease mechanisms, hPSC biology, and metabolic disease
• Demonstrated wet-lab experience
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Good interpersonal and communication skills in English
• High level of intrinsic motivation, responsibility, and reliability
• Enjoyment of international and diverse work environments

Desirable experience and skills:

• You have experience with hPSC culture
• You have experience with genome editing and related molecular/cell biology techniques
• You have experience with or an aptitude for bioinformatic analysis

PhD Job description, upon successful enrolment:

Your key tasks as a PhD fellow 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
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Terms of salary and employment

Your employment will be at Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,

NNF Center of Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen.

The position is full-time (37 hours per week) and initially for 1 year as Research Assistant; it is open for appointment starting on January 15, 2027 (or after agreement).


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. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

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: Tax – University of Copenhagen

Following agreement and enrollment as PhD student, the PhD employment is for 3 years.

The position is also 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

Questions

For further information please contact Max Friesen; Max.Friesen@sund.ku.dk

Application

The application should consist of the following documents in English:

• Cover letter describing your application and motivation (max 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae including information about your education, research experience with laboratory skills/techniques, previous employments, language skills, other relevant skills, publication list if applicable
• Copy of relevant certificates/diplomas
• Contact information of 2 references

Please submit your application by clicking on “Apply Now” below.

Deadline for application 29 November 2026, 24:00 CET

Interviews are expected to be held in week 50-51.

We reserve the right to not consider material received after the deadline, or applications that do not live up to the 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