Assistant Professor of Molecular Virology and Antiviral Research at Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP)

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic assistant professor who are an exceptional early-career scientist dedicated to unravelling molecular mechanism of viral entry, replication, and assembly, and antivirals against these targets for a full-time, two-years position to commence on 01 December 2026.

The successful candidate will establish an internationally recognized, extramurally funded research group utilizing state-of-the-art molecular biology and cell culture techniques. You will join a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary program and contribute significantly to teaching and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.

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

 

Our research

Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP) is a joint research effort between Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre. This Center has important international research collaborations and focuses on basic translational molecular biology, immunology, antivirals, and lifecycle of hepatitis viruses (including hepatitis B and C viruses), Flaviviruses (including yellow fever and tick-borne encephalitis viruses), and Respiratory viruses (including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses). The key investigative tracks include:

• Adaptation: Studying how viruses mutate on a molecular level to optimise replication in host cells.
• Drug Escape Mechanisms: Investigating why certain virus variants build resistance to Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) and Host-Targeting Antivirals (HTAs).
• Immune Evasion and Vaccine Development: Bridge basic virology discoveries with preclinical translational development to study immunology and vaccine development.

Your job

Your task would be to establish a high-impact research group focused on:

 

• Independent Research: Establish and maintain an innovative research focusing on virus-host interactions, viral pathogenesis, molecular virology, antiviral therapies and emerging viral diseases.
• Funding Acquisition: Actively secure competitive extramural funding from national and international grant bodies to support laboratory personnel and projects.
• Teaching & Mentorship: Contribute with high-quality lectures in virology and molecular biology at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Supervise master’s students, PhD candidates and postdocs.

 

The assistant professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• research, including publication/academic dissemination duties
• research-based teaching
• sharing knowledge with society
• participation in formal pedagogical training program for assistant professors

 

Profile
Six overall criteria apply for assistant professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Find information about each criterion here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit.

Furthermore, we are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following skills and experience:

• You have a PhD in in Virology, Molecular Cell biology, Biochemistry, or a closely related biomedical field.
• You are highly experienced in molecular biology including cell culture studies of viral infections, experience performing and evaluating drug resistance and susceptibility assays, high-throughput screening, and have ambitions to drive an innovative approach using state-of-the-art methodologies to uncover novel mechanisms of viral infection.
• Experience with Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), RNA-seq, and bioinformatics.
• A minimum of 3 years of productive postdoctoral training with a record of first-author publications in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals.
• You have an active interest in molecular mechanism of the viral life cycle and antiviral treatments with a strong dedication to driving high-impact academic research.
• You have teaching experience within virology.
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams.
• Proficient English skills written and spoken.

 

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the CO-HEP, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, (Panum Institute), University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.

 

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 two years. The start date is 01 December 2026 or after agreement.

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 35,000 DKK/approx. 4,700 EUR (October 2021 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 2025

 

Questions
For further information please contact Professor Jens Bukh, jbukh@sund.ku.dk

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

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

1. Motivated letter of application (Max. one page)
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. 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.
4. List of publications
5. Teaching portfolio

Deadline for applications: 24 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. 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 https://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.