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Website University of Copenhagen
Closing date: 26th April
University of Copenhagen seeks a PhD and Postdoc to study Parkinson’s using stem cell models, exploring environmental toxicants and disease mechanisms.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at University of Copenhagen is looking for a PhD student and a postdoctoral fellow to join the research group led by PI Agnete Kirkeby. The positions are scheduled to commence on the 1st of July 2026 or in the following months, as per agreement with the chosen candidates. The positions are for 3 years, with potential possibility for extension.
Job description
You will be part of a large interdisciplinary consortium project studying the effect of pesticides and environmental toxicants on the development of Parkinson’s Disease. As part of the consortium, you will apply stem cell models to investigate how pesticides and toxicants exert toxicity on human neurons, and you will interact closely with toxicologists, epidemiologists, clinicians and chemical analysts to identify links between environmental toxicants/pesticides and Parkinson’s Disease. You will as part of the consortium further gain unique access to meetings and close interactions with hundreds of prominent Parkinson’s researchers world-wide. This position offers a rare opportunity to work at the interface of stem cell biology, toxicology, neurodegeneration, and advanced data science, using state-of-the-art human stem cell models to uncover previously unrecognized environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s Disease. You will, in close collaboration with a PhD student, investigate the effects of the toxicants in a physiologically relevant stem cell model of co-cultured neuronal and glial cells relevant to Parkinson’s Disease. You will find yourself working in a highly collaborative environment, closely engaged with other team members who are also working on in vitro stem cell models.
Research group
The Kirkeby research team is located at the The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences of University of Copenhagen. Our group works with stem cell-based models to produce high-quality neuronal, glial, 3D and assembloid models. We use these to develop stem cell transplantation therapies for neurodegenerative disorders as well as to perform disease modelling of CNS diseases in vitro. Our work has a strong translational focus, and we build our research on decade-long experience in clinical translational from bringing the first European pluripotent stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s Disease into clinical trial. In our disease modelling projects, we work on Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and models of hypothalamic appetite regulation.
We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and highly international research environment. Our team at University of Copenhagen currently consists of around 20 team members representing 13 different nationalities. Our students and postdocs always work collaboratively together in teams towards common goals to ensure that no one is left to work alone on a project. Our labs are located in the Center for stem cell medicine (reNEW), placed in modernised research facilities and include state-of-the-art laboratories, pleasant office facilities and access to high-quality core facilities in transcriptomics, imaging, flow cytometry and proteomics. You can read more about the team here.
To apply for this job please visit employment.ku.dk.
