Research Group Leader of Vaccine Technologies & Platforms (Associate Professor)

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI Research), University of Copenhagen.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI Research) is actively seeking a Research Group Leader for Vaccine Platforms. 

The positions are a unique opportunity to join the newly established initiative that is a potential game changer in the field of vaccines. Joining now offers the opportunity to help shape NIVI Research. As a Group Leader, you will be provided with all the resources and funding to build and grow your research team, as well as all the necessary finances for research projects during the grant period. Extra funding may also be available as activities progress.

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 (NIVI-R): A state-of-the-art research center anchored to the University of Copenhagen, Department of Immunology and Microbiology (www.isim.ku.dk).
• 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.

Job Description

As Group Leader of Vaccine Technologies & Platforms, serving as a Principal Investigator for NIVI-R, the incumbent will be responsible to lead and supervise a multidisciplinary research group focussed on vaccine technologies and their application to improve prophylaxis against airway pathogens. The research agenda will investigate and advance vaccine technologies, in collaboration with the Group Leaders of Disease Areas within NIVI-R, as next generation candidate vaccines. Research activities may include adapting vaccine technologies and platform for airway delivery and presentation of the immunogen(s) to the immune system. Systemic delivery could also be addressed including novel ‘push-pull’ IM and Airway delivery prime-boost approaches.  Novel means of delivering platforms systemically that are better designed to direct immunity to the airway may also be included. Head-to-Head comparisons of vaccine technologies within a project will be a crucial objective to select vaccine platform(s) for advancement. In this NIVI-R leadership position an outward facing role will also be required to partner and acquire access to an array of different vaccine technologies; including but not limited to, computationally designed proteins, Next Generation Structured Arrays (NGSAs), glycoconjugates, mRNA and others.  Close collaboration will also be required with NIVI-R’s Formulation Science group. Creating and maintaining research facilities and research teaching will be important aspects of the position. The employment will be as either associate professor to commence as soon as possible.

We are looking for candidates, who are either just starting their group leader journey or have already a few years of experience leading a group.  NIVI Research will provide the opportunity and environment for you to advance your career.

Responsibilities

1. Scientific/Research Leadership & Management: As Group Leader, the incumbent will be responsible for hiring the group, and will subsequently lead and manage the multidisciplinary group, providing guidance and supervision.
2. Research Facilities: Design, implement and maintain state-of-the-art facilities for the purposes of discovery and research.
3. Cross Collaboration:  Provide collaborative leadership and participate in cross-cutting teams to ensure research will be closely integrated with other closely related NIVI research groups. Ensure collaboration with the rest of the Department, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the University of Copenhagen.
4. External Partnerships & Collaborations: Working closely with NIVI Research’s Director of External R&D and partner and collaborate with external groups to gain access to model systems and related technologies. 
5. Design: Design, discover and optimise new methods, technologies and innovations to further the scientific agenda of NIVI Research. 
6. Strive for Translational Sciences Excellence: Lead close collaborations with NIVI Development to ensure that research activities have a strong basis in translational sciences.
7. Research-based teaching, in the form of supervision and course-based teaching in relevant fields.
8. Representation: Act as a representative externally for NIVI Research and NIVI at scientific events and congresses internationally, as well as support NIVI Research’s Leadership Team. The incumbent will also play a crucial role supporting the governance of NIVI Research.
9. Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate.
10. Publication: Responsible for the publication strategy for the group, striving for the highest impact publications and presentations at key congresses.
11. Affiliation: This position will be employed at the University of Copenhagen as an Associate Professor at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), who hosts the Center.
12. Network: Build and maintain a Key Opinion Leader network.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Six overall criteria apply for associate 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, to qualify as an associate professor the candidate must be able to document:

• Research qualifications corresponding to that achieved after completing an employment as postdoc/assistant professor – or similar.
• Ph.D. in a relevant field of biology and a background in molecular biology, biochemistry, vaccine and/or infectious disease is an advantage.
• Experience in vaccine related discovery and research with a strong acumen for vaccine platforms, and interest in leading a research group of scientists and technicians with state-of-the-art facilities.
• Leadership skills able to champion NIVI values and motivate diverse teams – or interest in developing these skills.
• Teaching qualifications, and preferably pedagogical competencies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and experience in complex organizations.
• Appetite for change and change management.
• Proven agile ways of working.
• Interest in working on complex projects across multiple geographical locations.

Terms of employment

A fixed-term position, or an open-ended contract will be negotiated with the candidate.  

Employment will be as Associate Professor at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. For the right candidate, it may be possible to advance to a full professorship later. 

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week. Starting date is 1 August 2025 or as soon as possible hereafter. We recognize that a transition period is sometimes required before assuming the role given a selected candidates current commitments.

Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations.

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

Questions

For further information, please contact the CEO and Executive Director of NIVI, Dr. Nicholas Jackson, email: nicholas.jackson@sund.ku.dk

For administrative inquiries, please contact Head of HR NIVI Research, Ditte Maria Bohn, dmbohn@sund.ku.dk 

For more information about the Center and the Department, please see www.nivi.ku.dk and www.isim.ku.dk.

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

Application
The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:

• Application, including motivation for applying for this position (Maximum 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae, including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (3‐5 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 10 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio)

Application procedure
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee.  All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee in order to make an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant themself. You can read about the recruitment process at https://jobportal.ku.dk/.

Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.

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 encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position.

Please submit the application with the required attachments. Only online applications will be accepted. The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, 7 April 2025.

Interviews for this position are likely to be held in week 27.