Postdoc in Immunology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM)

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 2-year position commencing 1 January 2027

The applicant will be working towards understanding the role of T cells in allergic diseases.

Information on the department can be found at: https://sic.ku.dk/

Our research The Allergic Inflammation Group analyses the development of allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis, asthma, rhinitis and food allergy and tries to elucidate the genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms of sensitisation. The group values teamwork and an interdisciplinary approach to discovery and has extensive local and international networks. We are a diverse team of researchers with interests in several areas but bound by an excitement to understand the basic principles of immune function.

Your job The Coquet group is dedicated to understanding the basic functions of T helper cells in immunological disorders including allergies. In the past, we have relied greatly on mouse models of disease to decipher critical features of pathogenic immune responses. An interest for our group has been to understand how T helper cells differentiate in response to allergens, and how their gene expression and metabolic requirements change over time and tissue location.

A key question for this postdoctoral position is to explore the clonality of the CD4 T cell response to allergens using mouse models and human samples. We wish to map clonality of CD4 T cells to identify any putative patterns in repertoire usage, define new allergenic peptide epitopes and develop tools for peptide-specific T cell detection. To address these questions, we will lean on our expertise in flow cytometry, single cell RNA-Sequencing, mouse models of allergic disease and require new peptide screening platforms to be developed in the lab.

This project will require interdisciplinary approaches, which will be facilitated by the group’s strong international network of collaborators and an emphasis on teamwork.

Your job We strive for someone that can implement big picture projects and work together with people of different backgrounds and with different skill sets. The applicant would be expected to perform sophisticated wet lab experiments, have considerable expertise in mouse models of allergy, conceptualise novel questions in the field of allergies and develop new experimental approaches to probe T cell functions. Specific tasks would include but are not limited to:

Animal experimentation and mouse models of allergy; RNA-Sequencing (bulk and single cell) and computational analysis downstream– with the help of the core facility at the centre; processing of mouse lung/skin tissues and analysis by multiparameter flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry; data analysis and presentations at group, local and international meetings.

Establishment of peptide and TCR screening platforms for epitope discovery and associated validations. Development of new tetrameric reagents using available soluble MHCs. To facilitate the human aspects of the project, the lab has great clinical contacts in the region.

Profile We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

You have a PhD in a field of medical sciences including immunology, molecular biology or genetics. You are highly experienced in mouse models of allergy, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, mouse/human tissue sample preparation and analysis. You have an active interest in allergies, T helper cells, cytokines, innate and adaptive immune crosstalk. Adept in cloning and next generation sequencing. Proficient communication skills and an ability to work in teams. Excellent English skills. Desirable experience and skills:

Experience in research communication, demonstrable by a track record of publications, oral/poster presentations, fellowships or grants awarded. Experience/knowledge of single cell and bulk RNA-Seq data analysis. Experience/knowledge in cloning, retro/lentivirus production and transduction of T cells.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Centre, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and access to state-of-the-art flow cytometry facilities, a core imaging facility, single cell and spatial RNA-Sequencing facilities and a large animal facility, which operates at several barrier levels.

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 2 years. The starting date is 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 39,993 DKK/approx. 5,350 EUR (August 2026 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions For further information please contact Jonathan Coquet, jonathan.coquet@sund.ku.dk ; www.sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

Motivated letter of application (max. one page). CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do. List of publications.

Deadline for applications: 22 October 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 http://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.