PhD fellowship in characterization and validation of fluorescent compounds for use in phototherapies
Our group and research
Cluster for Molecular Imaging is an interdisciplinary research group affiliated with both Rigshospitalet (RH) and the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark. CMI aims to develop and translate the use of new imaging and therapy methods based on nuclear and optical medicine. All our research is driven by solving unmet medical needs in patients and includes all steps from molecular identification to clinical evaluation.
Project description
The project is a cross-departmental project in collaboration with other UCPH and RH departments, such as the Department of Chemistry, and the Department of Neurosurgery, as well as a start-up biotech company, FluoGuide A/S. Cluster for Molecular Imaging is responsible for the in vitro and in vivo part of the project.
Fluorescent and optical imaging was incorporated into clinical use a bit over a decade ago. Even though it has shown an improvement in resection of brain cancer malignancies, the currently clinically used fluorescent probes, like 5-ALA/PpIX, have several limitations. To address these limitations, a class of near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores is under development which offer improved fluorescent properties. Beyond their role in imaging, these molecules have also been investigated in photothermal and photodynamic therapies (PTT/PDT), which offer a dual mode of action that could revolutionize brain cancer treatment strategies.
Your role will be to perform experiments focused on proving the concept of the binding of the NIR fluorophores to the surface-expressed target in cancer. One of your major tasks will be to establish an SPR protocol and optimize the in vitro assays where you will assess the specificity of target binding of the fluorescent molecules. Additionally, other biological assays will include cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of the fluorophores. At the relevant stage of the project, you will be responsible for running in vivo preclinical studies including biodistribution, pharmacokinetics and efficacy studies as a step towards clinical translation.
Principal supervisor is Professor Andreas Kjær, akjaer@sund.ku.dk
Co-supervisor is Assistant Professor Karina Stræde, karina.straede@sund.ku.dk
Start: 1 April 2026 or after agreement
Duration: 3 years as a PhD student
Job description:
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at SUND are:
- Carrying through an independent research project under supervision
- Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
- Participating in an active research environment
- Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
- Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. healthcare engineering, biology, biomedicine or other relevant sciences. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).
Required qualifications to pursue the project:
- A Master of Science degree with focus on biological sciences
- Licence to do animal experiments (FELASA ABD)
- Previous experience in working with animal cancer models
- Experience in working with mammalian cancer cell cultures, including knowledge of tumoroid culture
- Experience in performing in vitro cell-based assays (specific binding, cytotoxicity, phototoxicity assays)
- Experience in Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) assays, including binding kinetics and competition assay
- Experience in flow cytometry
- Knowledge of optical imaging
- Readiness for flexible work hours
- The grade point average achieved
- Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
- Relevant work experience within the field of optical imaging
- Excellent language skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset
Place of employment
The place of employment is at Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The daily work will be conducted at the Panum Institute.
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 start date is 1 April 2026 or after agreement.
The employment 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 pro-gramme (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 Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 30,800 DKK/Roughly 4,125 EUR (April 2025 level), in addition the employer will pay 18,07% in pension.
Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
- CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
- 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 fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree.
- Publication list (if possible)
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.
The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.
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 find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/
The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Interviews are expected to be held in week 7.
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex
