Postdoc in embryonic patterning in reNEW at Department of Biomedical Sciences
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a two year position who can commence on the 12th of June, 2025.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Health & Medical Science at the University of Copenhagen is looking for a post-Doctoral fellow to join the Brickman group starting June 12th, 2025, or upon agreement. These position will explore enhancer regulation in response to FGF/ERK signaling as a means to understand how transcription factors interface with signaling to regulate cell fate choice in early development in human naïve endoderm stem cells, naïve embryonic stem cells and embryos.
Information on our group can be found at: https://renew.ku.dk/research/reseach-groups/brickman-group/
Our research
The Brickman group is interested in the transcriptional basis for cell fate choice, exploring both fundamental mechanisms of transcriptional regulation by signaling and how gene regulatory networks define cell potency and fate in development and differentiation. We focus principally on pluripotent stem cells and their differentiation to various types of endoderm as a model system, both embryonic and extra-embryonic. Our recent work points to new paradigms for how transcription factors regulate enhancer potential and interpret signaling, including the finding that response to MAP kinase (ERK) signaling, plasticity and regeneration in early development is dependent on transcription factor occupancy. This project will explore how enhancers are activated in response to ERK signaling in early human embryonic cell types. Focusing on understanding the molecular basis for enhancer activity and how to exploit to deliver better outcome in fertility treatment.
Your job
We are looking a post doc to focus on ERK regulation of enhancer function as part of our projects tragetted at improving IVF treatment. As a post doc in the Brickman lab, you will be working in a field of stem cell and molecular biology. You will be part of an international interdisciplinary team of scientists focusing on understanding enhancer regulation, gene regulatory networks and exploiting these networks to develop new technologies for cell type specification in vitro. We work with in vivo and in vitro systems in both mouse and human. For this project, you will primarily work with human stem cell culture models, three dimensional stem cell based embryo models for human development, human hypoblast stem cells and naïve human ESC culture. You will also be expected to carry out your own bioinformatics analysis, focusing on understanding the means by which emergent gene regulatory networks interface with signaling to regulate competence for differentiation.
References:
Hamilton, W. B., Mosesson, Y., Monteiro, R. S., Emdal, K. B., Knudsen, T. E., Francavilla, C., Barkai, N., Olsen, J. V. and Brickman, J. M. (2019). Dynamic lineage priming is driven via direct enhancer regulation by ERK. Nature 575, 355–360.
Knudsen, T. E. and Brickman, J. M. (2020). Can a Cell Put Its Arms around a Memory? Cell Stem Cell 26, 609–610.
Knudsen, T. E., Hamilton, W. B., Proks, M., Lykkegaard, M., Linneberg-Agerholm, M., Nielsen, A. V., Perera, M., Malzard, L. L., Trusina, A. and Brickman, J. M. (2023). A bipartite function of ESRRB can integrate signaling over time to balance self-renewal and differentiation. Cell Syst.
Proks M, Salehin N, Brickman JM. (2025) Deep learning-based models for preimplantation mouse and human embryos based on single-cell RNA sequencing., Nature methods, 22, 1, 207-216
Linneberg-Agerholm M, Sell AC, Redó-Riveiro A, Perera M, Proks M, Knudsen TE, Barral A, Manzanares M, Brickman JM (2024). The primitive endoderm supports lineage plasticity to enable regulative development, Cell, 187, 15, 4010-4029.e16, 2024 Jul 25.
Responsibilities
- To implement state of the art genomic and proteomic technologies to understand the basis of enhancer activity in early development and differentiation.
- To develop new approaches to identify enhancer specific co-factors involved in signaling response.
- To define regulatory networks and signaling response in vivo.
- To exploit deep learning tools for analysis of single cell RNAseq.
- Will be expected to be competitive for and write independent research fellowships.
Qualifications
- An equivalent of a PhD in Developmental, Stem Cell or Molecular Biology and/or Bioinformatics.
- Experience with next generation sequencing technologies, ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, single cell RNA-seq etc.
- Experience with embryonic stem cell culture.
- Experience with next generation sequence technologies.
- The capacity to analyze large transcriptomic and genomic datasets
- Molecular biology, western blots, RT-PCR etc.
- English communication skills, both oral and written are a must.
We offer
- A stimulating research environment and collaborative work with physicists from Niels Bohr Institute and hospital.
- Usage of state-of-the-art technologies for stem cell research.
- Possibilities for continued education and training.
Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories.
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 2 years. The starting date is 12 June 2025 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 38,700 DKK/approx. 5,180 EUR (April 2025 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 18.07 % 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 2020.
Questions
For further information please contact Professor Joshua Brickman, Joshua.brickman@sund.ku.dk.; www.sund.ku.dk
Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).
Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
- CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
- 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.
- List of publications.
Deadline for applications: 21 April 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. 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.
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.