Postdoc in protein formulation design at Department of Pharmacy

We are offering a two-year post doc position to commence 1 April 2026 or as early as possible thereafter. The project will be carried out in close collaboration between University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and Servier Symphogen A/S.

At Department of Pharmacy, we advance pharmaceutical sciences within fields of e.g. drug delivery and formulation principles and technologies. The Department of Pharmacy is committed to research-based teaching and interdisciplinary research that supports the development and understanding of chemical, physiological, and pharmaceutical properties of drugs. We work as part of a dynamic academic community of research, education and innovation within pharmaceutical sciences bridging health sciences and life sciences. Information on the department can be found at: https://pharmacy.ku.dk/about/

Our research
The BioDelivery Center is embedded in the Drug Delivery and Biophysics of Biopharmaceuticals group comprising four senior scientists, more than 10 junior researchers, as well as several undergraduate and visiting students at the Department of Pharmacy. The group is international, and our research is interdisciplinary. As a team, we focus on the design and development of optimal drug delivery systems with a focus on biopharmaceuticals, specifically peptides and proteins, used for treatment of e.g. metabolic diseases, inflammations, or infections. Our research spans from biophysical analysis, design of advanced drug delivery systems, to assessment of the efficacy in relevant biological models. We aim to gain and explore detailed, fundamental, and mechanistic understandings of the challenges associated with biopharmaceuticals when administered via injectable and non-injectable routes.

Project description
Protein therapeutics are primarily dosed as injectables to alleviate symptoms and treat serious and debilitating diseases. The use of especially monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and derivatives of such require injection of high-concentration formulations for self-administration that often are highly viscous; a property that challenges the administration and leads to side effects and non-compliance.

This interdisciplinary project aims to design and investigate novel approaches to formulate mAbs and other antibody formats as injectables with improved properties. We strive for thorough fundamental understandings of the mechanisms leading to improved formulation properties. Here, we aim for easier injectability and compatibility of protein particulates to administer ultra-high doses.

The industrial post doc project will be conducted in close collaboration between Servier Symphogen A/S and Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, thus research and meetings will take place at both sites.

Job description
Your key tasks as a post doc at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences are to:

• Independently carry through the research project under supervision by the involved partners
• Actively participate in and collaborate with the research environments
• Disseminate findings in the project
• Participate in some undergraduate teaching of students in pharmaceutical sciences

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, biomedicine, human biology, health technology, or the like
• You are highly experienced in preparing and/or characterizing protein formulations
• You have an active interest in particulate drug systems design, and the methods applied for preparation and characterization
• You have a critical sense for qualitative and quantitative data interpretation
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience in particle design and characterization of therapeutic proteins
• Experience in relevant analytical techniques

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Pharmacy, UCPH. The work will be carried out both at UCPH and at Servier Symphogen A/S according to the project plans. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions and modern laboratories in dynamic and international research environments.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of two years. The starting date is 1 April 2026 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. Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % 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 2020.

Questions
For further information please contact Hanne Mørck Nielsen; [email protected]; www.sund.ku.dk
Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
• CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
• 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.
• List of publications.

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 https://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.

Interviews are expected to be held around week 9.

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

Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.

Kontakt
Hanne Mørck Nielsen
E-mail: [email protected]

Info
Ansøgningsfrist: 23-01-2026

Ansættelsesdato: 01-04-2026

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: Department of Pharmacy