Novo Nordisk Center for Stem Cell Medicine – reNEW
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen
Within the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA), University of Copenhagen is offering one PhD fellowship for a Doctoral Candidate (DC), starting September 1, 2025, or as soon as possible hereafter.
The position is for 36 months and is funded by Horizon Europe. NUCLEAR is a MSCA Doctoral Network. The mission of NUCLEAR is to educate future experts that can drive the emerging field of Metabolic Regulation of Genome Function and Cell Identity relevant for stem cell biology and cancer.
More information may be found on the Nuclear home page https://nuclear-dn.eu.

The project aims to achieve breakthroughs by:

• Developing tools for the detection of metabolism in the nucleus and to enable its interpretation.
• Understanding how metabolism regulates functions of the chromatin template, including specific gene regulation.
• Testing metabolism-chromatin interactions as targetable vulnerabilities in cancer cells.

Nuclear will deliver a training program to 16 Doctoral Candidates that equips them with all capabilities to become leaders of tomorrow’s R&I in Europe.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The successful applicant will join a multidisciplinary EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie International PhD training network. This doctoral position is based at the Novo Nordisk Center for Stem Cell Medicine – reNEW, Department of Biomedical Sciences at University of Copenhagen (UCPH).
The Doctoral Candidate will be supervised by Associate Professor Jan Jakub Zylicz. The group works with early mammalian development and the focus areas are how complex metabolic regulatory pathways affect chromatin and gene expression. Specifically, we need to understand the function of metabolic enzymes within the nucleus. This PhD project will focus on the function of metabolic enzymes linked to acetyl-CoA production and thus fuelling histone acetylation.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences are to:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

As an applicant you must have:

• Qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project (biology, biotechnology, biochemistry or similar). Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree.
• Fluency in English and excellent communication skills

Applicants will also be required to meet the European Commission’s MSCA Doctoral Network eligibility criteria, notably:

• Mobility Rule - Applicants can be of any nationality and must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the start of their employment at UCPH. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.
• Doctoral Candidate requirement – the applicant must not be in possession of a doctoral degree at the first day of the employment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet been awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.

Please note that you will only be considered for the position if you fulfil both above eligibility criteria.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Documented hands-on experience with pluripotent stem cells is beneficial.
• Working knowledge of stem cell biology, epigenetics and/or metabolism is advantageous.
• Highly motivated and ambitious candidates are encouraged to apply. The position requires solid previous laboratory work experience.
• A solution-oriented, organizational and positive mindset is required. The ability to work in a highly collaborative international environment both independently and as part of the team is essential.

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your projec