PhD fellowship in the mechanisms of muscle-derived FGF21 signaling and age-related metabolic resistance in aging

Department of Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

University of Copenhagen

We are offering a PhD fellowship in the mechanisms of muscle-derived FGF21 signaling and age-related metabolic resistance, commencing 1 November 2026, or as soon as possible.

Our group and research

The Finger Group, part of the Division of Translational Metabolism at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, investigates how mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiolipin metabolism, and endocrine stress signals drive skeletal muscle decline during aging. We combine mouse models of aging and myopathy, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and endocrine signaling approaches (FGF21, leptin, insulin) with cutting-edge molecular and imaging techniques. As a newly established group, we offer a dynamic, hands-on environment where PhD students work closely with the PI and collaborate across an international network, including groups studying exercise physiology, redox biology, and metabolic endocrinology.

Project description

Skeletal muscle produces FGF21 as a stress hormone under mitochondrial and metabolic strain, signaling in an endocrine manner to distal organs such as liver, adipose tissue, and brain to coordinate a systemic metabolic stress response. However, with aging, target organs appear to become progressively resistant to muscle-derived FGF21, blunting its protective systemic effects and contributing to metabolic dysfunction associated with sarcopenia and metabolic myopathy. This project will dissect the molecular basis of this age-related FGF21 resistance in peripheral target organs, using in vivo mouse models (including AAV-mediated gene delivery and inducible systems), assessment of muscle-derived FGF21 release under metabolic and mitochondrial stress, and cellular/molecular readouts of FGF21 receptor signaling in target tissues. The successful candidate will characterize how target-organ FGF21 sensitivity declines with age, identify the receptor/downstream signaling nodes responsible for this resistance, and test strategies to restore FGF21 responsiveness in aged or diseased organs, with the aim of informing new therapeutic angles for age-related metabolic dysfunction.

Principal supervisor is Fabian Finger, Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Se e-mailadresse på jobportal.ku.dk . 

Start: 1 Novemberber 2026 (negotiable)

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, addressing FGF21 resistance in aging and disease

•                          Completing PhD courses or equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points

•                          Participating in an active research environment, including a stay at another research team preferably abroad

•                          Writing scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals

•                          Obtaining experience with teaching or other dissemination related to your PhD project

•                          Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants

Applicants must hold qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. molecular biomedicine, nutritional science, physiology, biochemistry, or a related field. The master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

Other important criteria are:

•                          The grade point average achieved

•                          Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project, particularly hands-on experience with mouse models (including FELASA certification, in vivo/ex vivo muscle physiology assays, and molecular biology techniques (qPCR, Western blot, cell culture)

•                          Previous publications or presentations on skeletal muscle metabolism, mitochondrial     biology, or endocrine/FGF21 signaling

•                          Relevant work experience in a translational metabolism or muscle physiology laboratory

•                          Other professional activities, e.g. participation in aging or metabolism research networks

•                          A curious mindset with a strong interest in mitochondrial biology, endocrine signaling, and aging-related muscle dysfunction

•                          Fluency in written and spoken English

Additional merits or desired skills

The ideal candidate has one or more of the following competencies: in vivo mouse handling and surgical techniques (IP injections, intramuscular injection, resistance training in mice), ex vivo muscle contraction assays, AAV-mediated gene delivery in skeletal muscle, CRISPR/Cas9 approaches, cell culture (e.g. C2C12 myotubes) and satellite cell isolation, and molecular/protein analysis techniques (qPCR, ELISA, Western blot, HPLC-based protein separation). Prior exposure to FGF21 biology, receptor signaling, or aging/sarcopenia research is a strong asset.

Place of employment

The place of employment is the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic, international research environment with modern laboratories for mouse physiology, molecular biology, and imaging.

Terms of employment

Average weekly working hours: 37. Fixed-term position for 3 years, conditioned on successful enrolment as a PhD student at the SUND Graduate School.

The employment as PhD Fellow follows the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations/AC collective agreement. Furthermore, the employment is covered by the rules concerning PhD Fellows as described in the Job structure for academic staff at universities of 2025.

Monthly salary starts at approximately 31,800 DKK (~4,250 EUR, August 2026 level) plus 18.07% employer-paid pension. There will be an opportunity to negotiate a supplement based on qualifications.

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 now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

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: 9 September 2026, 23:59 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 week 40.

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