Research assistant and PhD fellowship in epigenetics and gene regulation Full-time

PhD Fellowship At The Choudhary Group

The Choudhary Group at the University of Copenhagen is offering a three-year PhD fellowship with an initial one-year temporary position as research assistant.

The position is available from 1 July 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

About The Group

The Choudhary lab is technically and internationally diverse and embedded in an excellent environment that supports high-quality research and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. The Choudhary lab conducts research using interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art technologies, including quantitative proteomics, next-generation nucleic acid sequencing, advanced microscopy, CRISPR-based genome editing, and bioinformatics. The lab uses diverse cell models, including embryonic stem cells and their differentiated derivatives. The research in the Choudhary group is mainly funded by an ERC Advanced Grant and a Laureate Grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The group extensively collaborates with top-level international researchers, routinely publishes in top-ranked journals, and has an outstanding track record in training the next generation of researchers. The major publications from the groups include Narita et al. Narita et al. Nature Genetics 2025, Prus et al. Cell 2024, Narita et al. Nature Genetics 2023; Narita et al., Mol Cell . 2021, Narita et al. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2019; Weinert and Narita et al., Cell 2018; Gupta et al., Cell 2018; Scholz et al., Nat Biotech 2015; Weinert et al., Mol Cell 2013.

Project Description

Our group works in the broad area of proteomics, genomics, epigenetics, and cell signaling. In this project, we are interested in understanding epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation, with special focus to understand the mechanisms of gene activation by cis-regulatory enhancers. The project will use quantitative proteomics and genomics to further understand the role of epigenetic regulators in gene regulation. The project will combine CRISPR-based genome editing with NGS-based approaches (i.e. RNA-seq, Nascent RNA sequencing, ChIP-seq, and ATAC-seq), quantitative mass spectrometry, and cell biological approaches to uncover new regulatory pathways and decipher underlying mechanisms.

Candidate will perform experimental laboratory work, including generation of CRISPR-edited cell models, mass spectrometry-based analysis of protein interaction networks, and generation of next-generation sequencing data by ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, Nascent-seq, and ATAC-seq. The candidate with experience in both wet lab and bioinformatics will be able to do both (i.e. work in the wet lab and perform bioinformatics analyses). If you would like to know more about the project(s), please contact us!

Start date: 1 July 2026, or later.

Qualifications

The candidate should have demonstrated excellent academic track-record, be able to conduct independent and creative research, and show good interpersonal and communication skills.

• The candidate is required to have a level of education corresponding to a Danish Master's Degree in natural or medical science (two years)
• Prior experience in one or more of the following areas will be considered advantageous:

1. Experience in molecular biology techniques, including culturing mammalian cells, cloning, and generation of genetically modified cells using CRISPR-based editing.
2. Hands-on experience in the generation and/or bioinformatic analysis of next-generation sequencing datasets, such as ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq
3. Experience in computer programming languages, such as R, Python
4. Experience in quantitative mass spectrometry for analyzing proteins, their modifications, and protein-protein interactions
5. Proficiency in English, both oral and written.

For further information, please contact Professor Chunaram Choudhary, email: chuna.choudhary@cpr.ku.dk

Place Of Employment And Work

The employment is at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, at the University of Copenhagen, located in central Copenhagen. Currently, the Choudhary group is part of the Center for Protein Research. From 2027, the group will be affiliated with the Department of Biomedical Sciences. The workplace offers modern laboratories, state-of-the-art research facilities for microscopy, next-generation sequencing, mass spectrometry, and high-performance computing. Denmark is often ranked as the happiest nation and Copenhagen is consistently ranked as one of the best cities for living. For more information on working and living in Denmark visit www.ism.ku.dk (International staff mobility) and www.workingconditions.ku.dk.

Terms Of Salary And Employment

The duration of the full-time position is 4 years (1 year as a Research Assistant + 3 years as a PhD Fellow). The employment as a PhD student is conditioned upon a positive assessment of the candidate's research performance and a 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 before the PhD period can be initiated.

Tentative start date: 1 July 2026 or after agreement. The start date can be negotiated. Salary, pension, and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Academics Central organization. Currently, the monthly salary is approx. 33,564 DKK / 4,491 EUR (1 year as a Research Assistant) and 31,242 DKK / 4,181 EUR (3 years as a PhD Fellow) (November 2025 level), plus 18.07 % in pension contribution.

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.

The Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) have agreed on a protocol that makes it possible for all international researchers employed by the University to achieve a pension exemption, where the pension will be paid as salary.

Application Procedure

Your application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking 'Apply for position' below or via this advertisement found at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/.

Your application should include the following documents:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae, incl. educational qualifications, experience, and a list of publications (if any)
3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other 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. As a prerequisite for a PhD position, your master's degree must be equivalent to a Danish master's degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Applicants with a Master´s degree from abroad should also enclose a short description of the grading scale used.
4. Names and contact details for 2-3 referees

The applicants can submit these materials in the given fields in the online submission system. We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the above-mentioned requirements.

The deadline for applications: 10 April 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 https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

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

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.