PhD fellowship in virus-host interactions at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology Full-time

PhD Fellowship In Virus-Host Interactions

We are offering a PhD fellowship in virus-host interactions commencing 15 November 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. During the PhD, you will be working on the molecular and cell biology of RNA virus infections. You will join the group of Professor Troels K. H. Scheel, who leads a research team of around twelve scientists. The group is part of Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP) with around 50 researchers and affiliated with Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), University of Copenhagen and with Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital. Your primary work location will be at the university. Our work environment is ambitious, dynamic and international.

Our core research interest is how viruses hijack cellular systems. A particular focus on this relates to RNA biology. RNA viruses are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pathogens of our interest include hepatitis viruses, flaviviruses (e.g. tick-borne encephalitis, yellow fever, and zika virus), alphaviruses (e.g. sindbis, chikungunya) and animal pathogens such as pestiviruses. We have specific interest in virus-host interactions, including RNA interactions that are becoming increasingly important, also as potential therapeutic targets. We recently identified and characterized interactions for several viruses. Much, however, remains to be understood on virus-host interactions during infection, including implications for innate immunity. Recent publications from our group include:

• Larsen, Sherwood, Rivera-Rangel et al. 2026 Nat Comms: “Discovery of 5' NAD capped viral RNAs reveals evolutionary divergent 5' metabolite capping across hepaciviruses”
• Damas, Seemann, Costa, Krambrich et al. 2026 PLoS Pathog: “Characterization of the virus-host RNA-RNA interactome across important human pathogenic RNA viruses” (PMID: 42139316)
• Sherwood, Rivera-Rangel et al. 2023 Nature: “Hepatitis C virus RNA is 5'-capped with flavin adenine dinucleotide” (PMID: 37407817)
• Fossat et al. 2023 Cell Rep: “Identification of the viral and cellular microRNA interactomes during SARS-CoV-2 infection” (PMID: 36961814)
• Wolfisberg et al. 2022 Hepatology: “Neutralization and receptor use of infectious culture-derived rat hepacivirus as a model for HCV” (PMID: 35445423)

Your project on virus-host interactions will be defined together with your supervisor, Troels Scheel, and will involve methodology such as virus cultivation, molecular biology assays, functional characterization, translation and replication reporter assays, crosslinking immune-precipitation (CLIP), RNA-seq and related methods. You will be expected to actively participate in method development and development of the project. A high level of motivation, ambition and involvement will be expected.

Principal supervisor is Professor Troels K. H. Scheel, Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, tscheel@sund.ku.dk, +45 25122771.

Start: 15 November 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Duration: 3 years as a PhD student with the potential option of an additional lead-in period as research assistant of up to 3 months.

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
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

The PhD programme is a three-year full-time research education within the framework of the 5+3 scheme, intended for candidates holding a relevant academic degree (MSc) within the project's subject area (e.g., virology, molecular, cellular or systems biology, or related fields). Applicants expecting to obtain the MSc degree in the near future are also encouraged to apply.

If you have completed your academic education in Denmark, the admission to the PhD programme requires a relevant Master's degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS BSc + 120 ECTS MSc).

If you have an academic education from abroad, you must have either a degree equivalent to a Danish master's degree (180 ETCS + 120 ECTS MSc), or at a minimum, a bachelor's degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) and be academically qualified at master's level.

As part of the assessment of whether you meet the educational requirements, you must also achieve a positive academic evaluation and be assessed as the best qualified for the position.

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Hands-on experience in long-term scientific projects during and/or after your MSc studies.
• Experience with virology, cell culture, molecular biology, microbiology, high-throughput technology or immunology is an advantage.
• Interest in RNA viruses, molecular biology and novel deep sequencing methods.
• Authorship on publications in high quality journals is an advantage.
• Other professional activities

The applicant is further expected to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills. The working language is English and good English speaking, reading and writing skills are therefore required. You will be expected to drive your research with independence and initiative, but also to interact well with the group in a dedicated but pleasant work atmosphere.

The place of employment is at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and office space.

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years.

The employment 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 on collaboration with the primary supervisor. This can be developed during an initial three-month employment as a research assistant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (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 Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 30,000 DKK/Roughly 4,000 EUR (April 2026 level) plus pension.

For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

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

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

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
• CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
• 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
• Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline: 31 August 2026, 23.59pm CET

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