PhD position for 3 years in stem cell-based disease modelling of schizophrenia Full-time NEW

PhD Student Position

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at University of Copenhagen is looking for a PhD student to join the research group led by PI Agnete Kirkeby. The position is scheduled to commence on the 15th of December 2026 or on a nearby date as per agreement between the candidate and the PI. The position as PhD student is for 3 years, with potential possibility for extension.

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 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.

We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious PhD candidate with a strong educational background from the field of stem cell biology, biotechnology, neuroscience or similar. You will be part of a project studying the molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia in human stem cell-derived organoids in vitro. You will find yourself working in a highly collaborative environment, closely engaged with other team members who are also working on in vitro stem cell models.

The technologies you will apply are:

• Culturing and subtype-specific differentiation of patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into 3D neuronal villages
• Quality control of neural cultures through qRT-PCR and immunocytochemistry
• Embedding of microglia into 3D neuronal cultures
• Large-scale single cell and single nucleus RNA sequencing of village differentiations
• Bioinformatic analysis of single cell transcriptomic data and donor deconvolution based on RNA transcript SNPs

Key criteria for the assessment of the applicants will be assessed as follows:

Mandatory requirements:

• Master's degree related to the subject area of the project e.g. Biology, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Human Biology, Medicine or similar
• Experience in working with pluripotent stem cells and 3D neural organoid culturing
• Experience with single cell transcriptomics, wet lab and bioinformatics
• Collaborative mindset with strong team spirit
• Fluency in English, written and spoken.

Positively assessed criteria:

• Experience in working with assembloid cultures and microglia-neuronal co-cultures
• Experience in working with assessment of neuronal connectivity, synapse formation or neuronal function (i.e. electrophysiology, MEA or Calcium imaging)
• Experience in qRT-PCR, ICC, confocal imaging and automated image analysis

It is expected that you as the candidate will perform an independent research project with a high degree of autonomy in project planning. We're looking for a candidate with strong scientific depth and intellectual curiosity, with the ability to interrogate complex biology, challenge assumptions, and critically interpret the existing literature. You are expected to positively embrace collaborations with other team members on your own project as well as on 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 PhD student. 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 “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities” of June 28, 2013. 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.

Position: PhD position, full-time, 3 years

Start: 15/12-2026 or upon agreement

Application deadline: 28 September 2026, 23.59pm CET

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.

Note that applications must be submitted through the KU job portal. Applications submitted via e-mail will not be taken into consideration.

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

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 assessor.

The 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 https://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.