Postdoc in Therapeutic Potential of Urocortin II to Protect Muscle Mass and Function Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Fellow Position at the University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Fellow to commence on November 15, 2026, or after agreement in the Zierath Group at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), University of Copenhagen.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship is part of the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program.

About Us: The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) is an academic research Center that pioneers groundbreaking research towards better cardiometabolic health. Through collaborative interdisciplinary research from single-cell genomics to whole-body systems, CBMR aims to transform the basic understanding of cardiometabolic health and accelerate its translation into prevention and treatment strategies. The Center's uniquely multi- and interdisciplinary approach combines research in genetics, physiology and pharmacology, to better understand the complex interplay of the many factors that drive cardiometabolic disease. You can learn more in the Executive Summary of CBMR's Strategy 2024–2028.

CBMR was established in 2010 at the Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences and has been located in the Maersk Tower at Panum since 2017. The around 260 employees create an international, highly collaborative research environment across disciplines.

Our Research: The Zierath Group investigates the molecular mechanisms governing skeletal muscle physiology, whole-body metabolic homeostasis, and pharmacological interventions to identify novel translational strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases. We combine in vivo animal physiology, molecular biology, and multi-omics approaches to bridge fundamental discovery with therapeutic application. Our group is international, interdisciplinary, and inclusive, and we actively foster a supportive team environment that welcomes researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds and career stages.

This position sits at the intersection of the Zierath Group and the Gerhart-Hines Group, enabling access to a uniquely broad expertise spanning metabolic phenotyping, pharmacology, circadian biology, and data science. The project will draw on CBMR's state-of-the-art core platforms and benefit from an international collaborative network with Karolinska Institutet and other leading institutions.

Job Description: This project will investigate the therapeutic potential of Urocortin II (UCN2), a peptide hormone that signals through the CRHR2 receptor, to preserve muscle mass and function in disease and pharmacological weight-loss contexts. Your tasks would include designing and executing in vivo studies in models of diabetic myopathy and diet-induced obesity, performing comprehensive metabolic and skeletal muscle phenotyping, processing samples for transcriptomic profiling, conducting bioinformatic analyses of omics-based datasets, and preparing scientific manuscripts and presenting findings at national and international conferences. The fellowship will provide advanced training in translational metabolic physiology, pharmacological target validation, and multi-omics integration.

Profile: The Postdoctoral Fellowship is aimed at early-career researchers with a basic science background or clinicians who aspire to a career in academic medicine. We are particularly interested in candidates who are familiar with integrative research approaches within the broad area of basic cardiometabolic research with an application toward human pathophysiology.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in Physiology, Metabolism, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biomedicine, or a related discipline
• Excellent scientific track record in relation to career stage
• Strong background in skeletal muscle biology, metabolic physiology, or a closely related field
• Hands-on experience with in vivo rodent models of metabolic disease (e.g. diet-induced obesity, type 2 diabetes models)
• Experience with metabolic phenotyping techniques, including body composition assessment and/or functional muscle testing
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, including RNA-isolation and transcriptomic workflows
• Familiarity with bioinformatic analysis of omic-based datasets (transcriptomics, proteomics)
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary, international environment
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral

Eligibility: The Postdoctoral Fellowships within the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program are open for applicants with a PhD degree awarded from a university outside of Denmark. The program is also open for applicants with a Danish PhD degree who can document at least 12 months of full-time research experience from outside Denmark during or after the PhD studies. The PhD degree has to be obtained before November 15, 2026. You are not eligible to apply for the program if you have been employed in a postdoctoral position for more than one year at the University of Copenhagen prior to the commencement of the fellowship.

Terms of Employment: The employment as a Postdoc is a full-time position for 2 years. The starting date is November 15, 2026, or after agreement.

Salary, pension, and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated.

Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark for the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025.

Questions: For further information about the position, please contact Professor Juleen R. Zierath at juleen.zierath@sund.ku.dk. Questions regarding the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program must be directed to Senior Advisor Sarah Christoffersen at sarah.christoffersen@sund.ku.dk. For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact HR at hr-cbmr@adm.ku.dk.

The University of Copenhagen International Staff Mobility office offers support and assistance to all international researchers on all issues related to moving to and settling in Denmark.

Application Procedure: Your online application must be submitted in English via the 'Apply for position' link below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

• Cover letter expressing the motivation and previous research experience of the applicant (max. one page)
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of the PhD degree certificate and the Master's degree certificate. In case the PhD has not yet been completed, a written statement from the supervisor confirming the PhD degree will be obtained before November 15, 2026, is necessary.
• List of publications
• References (name and contact details of at least two references)

Application Deadline: August 10, 2026, 23.59pm CET

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.

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 www.employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process.

The applicant will be assessed according to Ministerial Order No. 242 of March 13, 2012, on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their personal backgrounds.