The Biotechnology section at the Department of Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark invites applications for one Postdoc position in immunomodulatory biomaterials starting 1/9/2026 (or as soon as possible afterwards, according to mutual agreement). The position is embedded within an ERC Starting Grant project DeCodeGels focused on De-Coding Adhesion, Degradation and Immunomodulation Properties of Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogels for Programmed Tendon Regeneration (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101219936) and is for one year with the possibility of extension. At University of Southern Denmark, a postdoc position can last a maximum of 4 years.
Project description
This project aims to develop new injectable self-assembling peptides (SAPs) biomaterials that simultaneously: i) possess improved adhesion to local tissues in vivo, ii) exhibit controlled degradation matching the desired regeneration outcome, and iii) allow tissue regeneration by enabling controlled immune cells invasion and progression of inflammation from neighbouring tissues. Following injury, inflammation is the trigger of tissue repair, however, chronic inflammation is detrimental. The persistent inflammatory nature of tendinopathy contributes to localized tissue damage, often developing to a low-grade chronic inflammation with recurring tears. The main goal of this position is development of an innovative therapeutic strategy utilizing temporally modulating SAPs biomaterials to guide healthy regeneration of tendon tissues via modulation of macrophage response.
The successful candidate will work at the interface of:
And will be expected to engage in research in fields falling within, or in strong synergy with, one or more of the following research areas at BIOTECH related to Medical Biotechnology:
Responsibilities
Essential qualifications
Desirable qualifications (strong advantage)
What we offer
Further information is available from Associate Professor Jacek Wychowaniec, temporary email address: < e-mail verwijderd om veiligheidsredenen > or head of section, Associate Professor Eva Arnspang Christensen, e-mail: < e-mail verwijderd om veiligheidsredenen >.
If you experience technical problems, please contact our email support.
Application
Applicants are advised to read the SDU information on how to apply.
Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and the application must include:
All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration number) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked, allow binding and may not be password protected.
SUBMISSION GUIDE: Motivated application must be uploaded under 'Cover letter' (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae must be uploaded under 'Resume' (max 5 MB). All other documents must be uploaded under 'Miscellaneous documents' (max 10 files with a maximum 50 MB per file).
The application deadline is July 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM/23:59 (CET/CEST)
Assessment and selection process
Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.
Read about the Assessment and selection process.
Conditions of employment
Appointment as a postdoc is temporary for an initial one-year period, and the preferred start date is from September 1, 2026. Extension may be possible.
Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level at the time of employment. Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state including the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for postdoc as described therein.
Further information on salary and taxation. Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a "self-organizer".
The University of Southern Denmark wishes its staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, is subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position(s).
Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.
Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.
The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education or learning, we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains, develops and recruits talent. At the same time, we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities - and we can only do that with the right people. The University's researchers, lecturers, students, managers and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.
Read about SDU
Project description
This project aims to develop new injectable self-assembling peptides (SAPs) biomaterials that simultaneously: i) possess improved adhesion to local tissues in vivo, ii) exhibit controlled degradation matching the desired regeneration outcome, and iii) allow tissue regeneration by enabling controlled immune cells invasion and progression of inflammation from neighbouring tissues. Following injury, inflammation is the trigger of tissue repair, however, chronic inflammation is detrimental. The persistent inflammatory nature of tendinopathy contributes to localized tissue damage, often developing to a low-grade chronic inflammation with recurring tears. The main goal of this position is development of an innovative therapeutic strategy utilizing temporally modulating SAPs biomaterials to guide healthy regeneration of tendon tissues via modulation of macrophage response.
The successful candidate will work at the interface of:
- Innate immunity with a strong focus on understanding biology of macrophage cells
- Physical chemistry and biomedical engineering of self-assembling peptide biomaterials
- Functional validation in in vitro stromal cells (tenocytes, fibroblasts), in lab-on-chip devices, and in ex vivo tissue models
And will be expected to engage in research in fields falling within, or in strong synergy with, one or more of the following research areas at BIOTECH related to Medical Biotechnology:
- Medical biotechnology, including immune cells engineering
- Tissue scaffold engineering and characterization
- Super resolution microscopy and imaging, spectroscopy and imaging techniques such as Raman, FTIR, NIR, UV/Vis and image correlation spectroscopy is utilized in current research
- Multi-omics analyses (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics)
- Analytical chemistry
- Other closely related fields
Responsibilities
- Design, evaluate and characterize new injectable self-assembling peptide biomaterials
- Investigate biological pathways of macrophage polarization via functional assays (PCR, ELISAs, flow cytometry), as well as guiding omics analyses (transcriptomics, proteomics and/or metabolomics)
- Evaluate enzymatic degradation pathways of peptides and the biological role of their fragments in immune signalling (including mass spectrometry and functional assays)
- Utilize advanced imaging techniques to analyse peptide-macrophage interactions (light and/or electron based)
- Contributing to B.Sc./M.Sc./Ph.D. student supervision, teaching and collaborative projects.
Essential qualifications
- M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in immunology, molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, nanotechnology, biomedicine, physical chemistry, or related fields
- Familiarity with characterization of mammalian cells (e.g. confocal microscopy, staining, ELISAs, flow cytometry, PCR, among others)
- Evidenced experience with immune cells culture and their characterization (with at least 1 key achievement (e.g. publication, thesis, or a patent, demonstrating this experience)
- Experience with physical chemistry lab
- Strong English communication skills (written and spoken)
- Highly motivated, structured, and able to work both independently and in teams
- Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience within immunology or biology fields and who hold interest in using therapeutic biomaterials or peptides
Desirable qualifications (strong advantage)
- Hands-on experience with designing or characterization of self-assembling peptides or proteins
- Experience with omics analysis (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, or otherwise)
- Familiarity with biomaterials characterization (e.g. formulation of hydrogels, rheology, titrations, HPLC, mass spectroscopy, scattering techniques, transmission electron microscopy, mechanical testing, molecular adhesion testing, or similar)
- Experience in bioinformatics and biological data/pathways analysis
- An experience or willingness to participate in in vivo rodent studies would be advantageous for the extended 4-year position duration. For this, experience with handling rodent studies, histology, or other related techniques, will be beneficial and hugely advantageous
What we offer
- A one-year position as postdoc with possibility of extension (note that the maximum time permitted as postdoc at a single Danish University is 4 years)
- PI support in additional activities, including initiation to obtain funding for competitive research activities internally or externally (e.g. MSCA-IF, EMBO, or other fellowships), as well as in further career guidance
- Participation in teaching and dissemination activities (e.g. conferences) across the length of the contract
- Multiple possibilities for research stays will be offered at collaborators, both within Europe and globally, including Portugal, France, Switzerland, Croatia, United Arab Emirates, among others
- An engaged, collaborative, and internationally recognized research section. We are dedicated to fostering a good work environment where researchers' work is supported, so they are inspired and thrive
- Co-decision making and co-determination: the department fosters a large degree of flexibility in decision making processes and values input from our faculty and postdocs
- We offer an engaged and supportive research environment at a high international level.
- IGT is an inclusive work environment, where we focus on well-being and good relations among our faculty and students
- State of the art equipment and laboratories
- 6 weeks of vacation
- A good work life balance
Further information is available from Associate Professor Jacek Wychowaniec, temporary email address: < e-mail verwijderd om veiligheidsredenen > or head of section, Associate Professor Eva Arnspang Christensen, e-mail: < e-mail verwijderd om veiligheidsredenen >.
If you experience technical problems, please contact our email support.
Application
Applicants are advised to read the SDU information on how to apply.
Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and the application must include:
- Motivated application.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Master's and Bachelor's degree certificates or equivalent, including transcripts of grades (original and an official English translation).
- References may be included, you're welcome to use the form for reference letter at the Faculty website.
- Summary and documentation of experience in teaching, if relevant to the position.
- A statement/documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.
All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration number) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked, allow binding and may not be password protected.
SUBMISSION GUIDE: Motivated application must be uploaded under 'Cover letter' (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae must be uploaded under 'Resume' (max 5 MB). All other documents must be uploaded under 'Miscellaneous documents' (max 10 files with a maximum 50 MB per file).
The application deadline is July 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM/23:59 (CET/CEST)
Assessment and selection process
Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.
Read about the Assessment and selection process.
Conditions of employment
Appointment as a postdoc is temporary for an initial one-year period, and the preferred start date is from September 1, 2026. Extension may be possible.
Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level at the time of employment. Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state including the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for postdoc as described therein.
Further information on salary and taxation. Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a "self-organizer".
The University of Southern Denmark wishes its staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, is subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position(s).
Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.
Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.
The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education or learning, we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains, develops and recruits talent. At the same time, we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities - and we can only do that with the right people. The University's researchers, lecturers, students, managers and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.
Read about SDU