Ph.d.-stilling i translationel kræftforskning – Kombination af antistof-lægemiddel-konjugater og stråleterapi

Place of employment: The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, and the Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen
Supervisor: Associate Professor Lars Henning Engelholm, PhD
Starting date: 1 February 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter
Duration: 3 years (full-time PhD fellowship)
Application deadline: 13 November 2025

Project description

This PhD project is part of a translational research program exploring how radiotherapy (RT) reshapes the tumor microenvironment and how these changes can be therapeutically exploited using antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs).

The overall goal is to improve tumor control and reduce radiation-induced side effects through combination treatment, where ADCs are used to selectively eliminate tumor and stromal cells that survive or are activated following irradiation.

The project involves:

• Conducting preclinical radiation studies in mouse tumor models in collaboration with national partners.
• Performing ADC treatment experiments and histological and imaging-based tissue analyses.
• Performing proteomic and bioinformatic analyses to identify radiation-induced changes in tumor and stromal compartments.
• Contributing to scientific publications and presenting findings at international conferences.

The work will take place in a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment involving BRIC, Rigshospitalet, Aarhus University Hospital, and DTU.

Qualifications

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in cancer biology and translational research who meets the following criteria:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in biomedicine, molecular biology, biotechnology, or a related field.
• Experience with antibody-based therapeutics, ADC technology, or related drug development platforms.
• Proven experience with development and validation of ELISA assays and quantitative analysis of biological samples.
• Practical experience with protein purification, proteomic analysis, and bioinformatics tools for data interpretation.
• Familiarity with image analysis (e.g., Fiji/ImageJ) and histological evaluation of tissue samples.
• Experience handling and analyzing clinical or preclinical biological samples.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.
• Valid FELASA B certificate (or equivalent) for independent work with laboratory animals (mandatory).
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.

Experience in fibrosis models, extracellular matrix remodeling, or radiation biology will be considered an advantage.

Terms of employment

The PhD position is a full-time position for three years. Employment and salary are made in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

Application must include

• Motivated letter of application (max. 1 page).
• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• Certified copies of degree certificates and transcripts (Master’s and Bachelor’s).
• Documentation of FELASA B certification.
• Contact details of two academic references.

Application and contact

Applications must be submitted through the University of Copenhagen job portal no later than 13 November 2025.

For further information, please contact:
Associate Professor Lars Henning Engelholm
The Finsen Laboratory / BRIC, University of Copenhagen
E-mail: lhe@finsenlab.dk Phone: +45 31 43 20 77