Research Assistant and PhD fellow in Molecular Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Diseases Full-time NEW

PhD Fellowship Opportunity

The University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated and talented PhD fellow to commence November 15, 2026, or after agreement in the Guasch Group at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), University of Copenhagen, and the Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health.

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

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.

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.

The Department of Public Health's focus is to improve the health of the population and the connection between health and society. The Department provides the scientific foundation for efforts that aim to improve public health, both nationally and globally, and to create greater insight into the links between health, the individual and society as well as the ethical, equalitarian and political implications. This is achieved through research, education and engagement with stakeholders and the public at large with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary research agenda covering most aspects of public health at a high international level.

The Guasch group investigates how dietary and lifestyle factors influence cardiometabolic diseases and integrates -omics data into epidemiological analyses to identify diet–disease biomarkers and deepen our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Additionally, we have a strong interest in sustainable diets, those that promote both human and environmental health. As part of this initiative, we are conducting a new randomized clinical trial, the PLANETDIET trial, to investigate the effects of sustainable dietary patterns on traditional and novel cardiometabolic risk factors.

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary and international research group. The PhD project will focus on understanding how sustainable dietary patterns influence cardiometabolic diseases. The project specifically aims to uncover molecular mechanisms linking plant-based diets to cardiometabolic health by integrating high-dimensional multi-omics data, including metabolomics, proteomics, and genetics, with detailed dietary, clinical, and epidemiological data from large population-based cohorts and a randomized controlled trial (PLANETDIET).

The candidate will work with high-throughput omics data and apply advanced statistical and computational approaches to identify diet-related molecular signatures and investigate their role in the development of cardiometabolic outcomes. The project includes both observational and interventional components, providing a unique opportunity to study causal pathways and validate findings across diverse study designs and international cohorts.

The specific work tasks will include management and harmonization of large-scale datasets, statistical and bioinformatic analyses of multi-omics data, and their integration with dietary and clinical variables. Additional responsibilities include writing and publishing scientific papers, presenting findings at international conferences, and contributing to the center and university activities. The PhD candidate will need to complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.

Principal supervisor: Associate Professor Marta Guasch-Ferré

Start: November 15, 2026

Duration: 1 year as Research Assistant, followed by 3 years as PhD fellow, contingent on a positive evaluation of the 1st year.

The PhD fellowship is aimed at early-career researchers with a basic science background or clinicians who aspire to a career in academic medicine.

• Master's degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biomedicine, Bioinformatics, or related sciences. Please note that your master's degree must be equivalent to a Danish master's degree (two years).
• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• A curious mindset with a strong interest in working and analysing large and complex datasets
• An active interest in nutrition, lifestyle, metabolomics, proteomics, cardiometabolic diseases, and/or precision health
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral

The PhD fellowships within the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program are open for applicants that hold a Master's degree equivalent to a Danish master's degree (two years). The Master's 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 Research Assistant position for more than two years at the University of Copenhagen prior to the commencement of the fellowship.

The employment consists of 1 year as a Research Assistant followed by 3 years as PhD fellow contingent on a positive evaluation of the 1st year. Starting date is November 15, 2026, or after agreement.

The employment as PhD fellow 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. 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 Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Marta Guasch- Ferré at marta.guasch@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.

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School's website .

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.

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:

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
• CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant to the position
• Certified copy of original Master's diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another 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.
• 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 includes selection of 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.