PhD fellowship in Biomolecular Native Mass Spectrometry

We are offering a PhD fellowship in biomolecular (single molecule) native mass spectrometry commencing 1 January 2027 or shortly thereafter.

Our group and research
Proteins and other large biomolecules are a rapidly growing class of next-generation drugs. Specialized analytical tools are needed to characterize these large and increasingly complex biomolecules. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analytical technique to study protein structure. The Protein Analysis Group in the Department of Pharmacy has internationally-recognized expertise in the analysis of protein higher order structure using MS. The PhD candidate will join a new research program led by Assistant Professor Victor Yin, an expert in native mass spectrometry.

Project description
The overall aim of the PhD project is to develop and apply new techniques to study biomolecular assemblies (especially proteins) based primarily on single molecule native mass spectrometry (for example, charge detection mass spectrometry). For this, the candidate will have full access to new, cutting-edge MS instrumentation housed in the group. The developed methods will be used to investigate several biomolecular systems of therapeutic interest, such as antibodies and protein-based vaccines. The PhD candidate will work under the supervision of Assistant Professor Victor Yin within the Protein Analysis Group. The PhD fellowship is part of a larger project funded through a grant from the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant, acronym: DeMIST).

Principal supervisor isTenure-track Assistant Professor Victor Yin, Department of Pharmacy, Se e-mailadresse på studerendeonline.dk , mobile: Se telefonnummer på studerendeonline.dk.

Start: 1 January 2027 (or after agreement)

Duration: 3 years as a PhD student

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

PhD Programme Description:
The PhD programme is a three-year full-time research education within the framework of the 5+3 scheme, intended for candidates holding a relevant academic degree within the project’s subject area (e.g., chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, or pharmaceutical science).

Qualifications:
If you have completed your academic education in Denmark, the admission to the PhD programme requires a relevant Master’s degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS BSc + 120 ECTS MSc).

If you have an academic education from abroad, you must have either a degree equivalent to a Danish master's degree (180 ETCS + 120 ECTS MSc), or at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) and be academically qualified at master's level.

As part of the assessment of whether you meet the educational requirements, you must also achieve a positive academic evaluation and be assessed as the best qualified for the position.

Other important criteria are:

• A strong interest in analytical/physical chemistry of proteins/other biomolecules, and analytical instrumentation/techniques
• Motivation to work on fundamental questions with clear societal relevance
• An analytical mindset ready to tackle challenges
• Prior experience in (native) mass spectrometry, basic programming, and/or Fourier analysis will be considered a bonus
• The grade point average achieved
• Language skills
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Other professional activities

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment for mass spectrometry and protein analytical chemistry.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

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 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 Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State depending on seniority.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

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

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply for position’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page), including a description of how your background aligns with the qualification criteria

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

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 fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the 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

4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline: 27 September 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.

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:

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 the end of October and start of November 2026.

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

Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.

Info

Ansøgningsfrist: Se telefonnummer på studerendeonline.dk

Ansættelsesdato: 01-01-2027

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: Department of Pharmacy