Postdoc in protein O-glycosylation during pancreatic inflammation at the Department of Biomedical Science Full-time

Postdoctoral Position in Daugbjerg Madsen Group

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic researcher for a three-year postdoctoral position to commence on 1st November 2026 or after agreement.

The position is part of the newly established Daugbjerg Madsen group and focuses on understanding how prediabetic progression induces changes in protein O-glycosylation in the pancreas and how these changes dysregulate pancreatic function during the development of type 2 diabetes.

The Daugbjerg Madsen group aims to understand how compromised protein secretion from endocrine and exocrine cells drives metabolic diseases with a specific focus on protein O-glycosylation. This type of post-translational modification is known to regulate a wide array of cellular processes, including the regulated secretion of hormones and digestive enzymes as well as inflammation. Our work combines multiplex immunofluorescent staining, spatial 'omics, intravital subcellular microscopy, mouse models of obesity and/or diabetes, and clinical samples to understand how protein O-glycosylation contributes to the underlying mechanisms of metabolic diseases and whether this serves as a vulnerability that can be targeted in prevalent diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus.

As a postdoc in the Daugbjerg Madsen group, your overarching aim is to determine how O-glycans and glycan-binding receptors regulate inflammatory signaling in the pancreas during prediabetes and the early stages of type 2 diabetes. Your tasks will include:

• Designing and performing experiments on diet-induced mouse models of prediabetes.
• Developing protocols for and applying new spatial multiplex staining workflows.
• Leading collaborative spatial proteomics & transcriptomic analyses.
• Studying patient-derived isolated islets from healthy and diabetic donors.
• Performing in vivo studies using intravital microscopy of the pancreas.
• Disseminating results through publications and conference presentations.
• Contributing to the supervision of students and junior researchers in the group.

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

• You have a PhD in life science or a related, relevant field.
• You have documented experimental experience in biomedical research, including previous publications.
• You have an active interest in driving independent research projects.
• You have proficient communication skills and thrive in collaborative projects.
• You have excellent English skills, written and spoken.
• You have experience in at least one of the following:
• The fields of Glycobiology, Inflammation, or Type 2 Diabetes
• Multiplexed staining methods
• Quantitative image analysis
• Spatial Omics
• Omics analysis
• Desirable experience and skills:
• You have experience with mouse work (such as a FELASA certificate)
• You have experience with R, Python, or a similar language

The position is based at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. The department offers a vibrant research environment within metabolism and endocrinology, with strong collaborations across groups studying metabolism, hormone signaling, as well as diseases affecting body weight and energy balance. The department hosts modern laboratories and state-of-the-art core facilities, including microscopy, proteomics, and histology, providing excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week. The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of three years. The starting date is 1st November 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 18.07% 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 2025.