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PhD fellowship in Airway immunology at Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity, NIVI Research Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Copenhagen

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Airway immunity commencing 1st January 2026 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Background
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI), launched in December 2023, has a unique mission to harness airway immunity through innovative vaccine research and development to prevent airborne epidemics. NIVI has two parts:

• NIVI Research Center (NIVI-R): A state-of-the-art research center anchored to the University of Copenhagen, Department of Immunology and Microbiology / ).
• NIVI Development (NIVI-D): A company that focuses on translational sciences and advancing vaccine development.

NIVI-R conducts scientific research, while NIVI-D works to quickly turn that research into new vaccine candidates. NIVI-D accelerates clinical trials (phases 1 and 2) and ensures a smooth transition to partners for later stages of development.

By connecting science, innovation, clinical trials, regulatory processes, and product development, NIVI aims to streamline the journey from research to real-world vaccines.

Our group and research
Being part of the Airway Immunology Group at NIVI-R, the Ph.D. student will be supervised by CO-PI Professor Jan Pravsgaard Christensen, who's focus is to understand how airway immunity is established, maintained over time, and how it can protect against influenza infections. We are a passionate and dedicated team of 8-10 scientists, technicians and students committed to advancing the field of vaccines against respiratory infections. Our primary focus is on combating challenging viruses like influenza, leveraging cutting-edge science to make significant breakthroughs.

We work with small animal models to investigate the immune response in the upper airways after vaccination/infection. We base a lot of our research on flow cytometry to evaluate the quantity and quality of vaccine-induced immune responses, and cell-based methods for virus quantification in different organs. Furthermore, we are moving towards characterization of T and B cells using single cell sequencing.

Professional Development: We are committed to the growth of our team members, offering opportunities for professional development, conference attendance, and publication.

In collaboration with other NIVI-R researchers, we will test different platforms, antigens, and adjuvants, relevant for the project.

Project Description
The PhD project will focus on tracking the immune response and epithelial changes in the airways in mice after vaccination/infection. We want to understand how T and B cells are maintained in the upper and lower respiratory track, is there a difference between cells in these two sites, and what is their impact on protection against influenza infection and virus dissemination between individuals.

The Project Will Include
Vaccine Testing
: Conduct thorough testing of various influenza vaccines, focusing on their effects on T and B cell responses.

Immune Response Analysis
: Investigate the immune response triggered by these vaccines and following influenza infections.

Advanced Techniques
: Utilize sophisticated analytical methods like flow cytometry, in vivo imaging, virus quantification, and single-cell sequencing to assess the robustness of vaccines against different influenza strains.

Principal supervisor
is Professor Jan Pravsgaard Christensen, NIVI-R, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, , Phone:

Start:
1st January 2026 or as soon as possible

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

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master's degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Immunology and Inflammation, Biology/Biochemistry or other relevant science. Please note that your master's degree must be equivalent to a Danish master's degree (two years).

Other Important Criteria Are

• Previous experience and permission to work with small animal models
• Previous experience with airway immunology and imaging techniques
• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in airway immunity and infectious diseases in the airway
• Language skills
• Good interpersonel skills with a collaborative mindset

Place of employment
The place of employment is at NIVI-R, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, 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 access to state-of the-art core facilities for flow cytometry, single cell analysis platforms, including sequencing and spatial tissue profiling.

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 1st January 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 programme 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.

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

• 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. 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
• Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline:
1st October 2025, 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.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
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Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe's top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Contact

Søren Buus
E-mail:

Contact

Jan Pravsgaard Christensen
E-mail:

Info

Application deadline:

Employment start:

Working hours:
Full time

Department/Location:
Institut for Immunologi og Mikrobiologi

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