Postdoc in Structure-Guided Vaccine and Protein Design at NIVI Full-time

Postdoctoral Fellow Position

We are looking for a highly motivated and curious postdoctoral fellow for a three-year period who has experience in mucosal immunity and/or mucosal vaccines and has a passion for the development of novel vaccine platforms for respiratory pathogens. The position is scheduled to commence on the 1st of September 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, as agreed with the chosen candidate.

The fellow will join the soon to be established Vaccine Platforms Group at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI) Research Center, which is embedded in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI), launched in December 2023, has a unique mission to harness airway immunity through innovative vaccine research and development to prevent airborne epidemics. NIVI has two parts:

• NIVI Research Center (NIVI-R): A state-of-the-art research center anchored to the University of Copenhagen, Department of Immunology and Microbiology.
• NIVI Development (NIVI-D): A company that focuses on translational sciences and advancing vaccine development.

NIVI-R conducts scientific research, while NIVI-D works to quickly turn that research into new vaccine candidates. NIVI-D accelerates clinical trials (phases 1 and 2) and ensures a smooth transition to partners for later stages of development.

By connecting science, innovation, clinical trials, regulatory processes, and product development, NIVI aims to streamline the journey from research to real-world vaccines.

Our group is part of the NIVI-R interdisciplinary research consortium. We develop structure-guided and computational approaches to understand immune recognition and design next-generation vaccines against respiratory pathogens. Our work integrates cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), cryo-EM-based polyclonal serology (cryo-EMPEM), molecular dynamics simulations, computational protein design, structural biology to define and discover epitopes and engineer improved vaccine antigens. A central question we pursue is how structural and serological insights into antibody recognition can be leveraged to guide the rational design of broadly protective vaccines.

We are a young, international, and collaborative team that values open exchange of ideas, mentorship, and scientific rigor. As part of NIVI, we work in close collaboration with leading groups in airway immunity, vaccine formulation and adjuvants, structural biology, and we benefit from close ties to Statens Serum Institut and to NIVI-D's translational pipeline. We are committed to an inclusive environment and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds; we believe diverse teams — across gender, nationality, career stage, and scientific training — do better science.

Your job

We strive to build a cohesive team where each member's project contributes to a shared mission: understanding immune recognition and engineering next-generation vaccines against respiratory pathogens. As our new postdoctoral fellow, your tasks would include designing and characterizing vaccine antigens and immunogens, analyzing antibody responses using cryo-EM, cryo-EMPEM, and structural serology approaches, contributing to computational and structure-guided protein design efforts, preparing manuscripts, and presenting your work at group meetings, consortium meetings, and international conferences. You will be supported by frequent formal and informal mentoring meetings with the PI, structured around your scientific and professional development goals. It is expected that you will perform an independent research project with a high degree of autonomy in project planning, and that you positively embrace collaborations with other team members on your own project as well as the projects of your colleagues within the group and the broader NIVI ecosystem.

Depending on your background and interests, your project will focus on one or more of the following directions:

1. Structure-guided design of vaccine antigens targeting B-cell and T-cell epitopes on respiratory pathogens.
2. Cryo-EM and cryo-EMPEM analysis of antibody responses to vaccination or infection.
3. Antibody discovery, protein engineering and de novo immunogen design using computational and experimental approaches.
4. Integration of serology, structural biology, and protein design to define correlates of protective mucosal immunity.
5. Development of multivalent, nanoparticle-based, or mRNA-compatible vaccine platforms.

Profile

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

Essential experience and skills

• You have a PhD in structural biology, protein biochemistry, vaccinology, immunology, computational biology, or a closely related field.
• You have experience with protein design, recombinant protein expression and purification, or structure-guided vaccine design.
• You have a strong interest in antibody recognition, antigen design, and vaccine development for respiratory pathogens.
• You have a strong record of scientific productivity, demonstrated by publications, grants, fellowships, and awards.
• You are collaborative, communicative, and motivated to work in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• You have excellent English skills, written and spoken.

Desirable experience and skills

• Experience with cryo-EM single-particle analysis and/or other structural biology experience.
• Experience with cryo-EMPEM, structural serology, or polyclonal antibody response mapping.
• Experience with computational protein design tools such as RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN, AlphaFold, Rosetta, or related methods.
• Experience with antibody characterization techniques such as SPR/BLI, ELISA or Fc-effector assays.
• Experience with influenza, coronavirus, RSV, or other respiratory pathogens.
• Experience with nanoparticle display, multivalent antigen design, or mRNA-compatible immunogen development.

Overall, it is expected that you contribute actively to a joyful and productive work environment. A strong scientific track record with a productive publication list and positive reviews from previous supervisors, collaborators or mentors will also weigh strongly in the assessment.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at NIVI Research Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories for cellular and molecular immunology, BSL-2 containment suites, dedicated small-animal facilities, and access to core facilities for flow cytometry and cell sorting, single-cell genomics, advanced imaging, and mass spectrometry.

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 3 years. The starting date is 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

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). 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 2020.

Questions

For further information, please contact Group Leader, Monica Fernandez-Quintero, monica.fernandez@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:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
3. 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.
4. List of publications.
5. List of up to 3 References and their contact information

Deadline for applications: 2 July 2026, 23.59 CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline and not to consider applications that do not meet 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