We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic Postdoctoral fellow with a PhD or equivalent degree to join the Merino Group at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), University of Copenhagen. The position is for three years, starting 1 March 2026, or after agreement.
The successful candidate will work on research projects at the interface of bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and systems biology, with a focus on single-cell genomics and other omics layers to understand early deviations in cardiometabolic diseases. Candidates should have a strong background in bioinformatics, machine learning, single-cell omics, statistics, or genomic medicine, and a keen interest in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Background The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) is an academic research Center that pioneers groundbreaking research towards better cardiometabolic health. Through collaborative interdisciplinary research from single-cell genomics to whole-body systems, CBMR aims to transform the basic understanding of cardiometabolic health and accelerate its translation into prevention and treatment strategies. The Center’s uniquely multi- and interdisciplinary approach combines research in genetics, physiology and pharmacology, to better understand the complex interplay of the many factors that drive cardiometabolic disease. You can learn more in the
Executive Summary of CBMR's Strategy 2024–2028.
CBMR was established in 2010 at the
Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences and has been located in the Maersk Tower at Panum since 2017. The around 260 employees create an international, highly collaborative research environment across disciplines.
The
Merino Group focuses on harnessing the phenotypic and molecular heterogeneity underlying type 2 diabetes to develop strategies that better classify, prevent, and treat the disease. The group integrates wearable data, digital health tools, molecular profiling, and artificial intelligence within a precision health framework.
Job description The successful candidate will lead and support computational and integrative biology projects aimed at understanding the early molecular and regulatory changes that precede cardiometabolic disease onset. The position focuses on molecular profile characterization, with a strong focus on gene regulatory programs and other omics readouts at cellular resolution, to elucidate function and phenotypic variability, to achieve whole-cell understanding of how gene regulation, cellular networks, and physiological processes converge to drive metabolic dysfunction.
In this role, you will help build a systems-level understanding of human biology by developing computational approaches to model the dynamic regulatory programs of cells and tissues. By combining single-cell multi-omics, wearable-derived measures, machine learning, and network biology, you will map how genes, proteins, and other molecular readouts interact to shape cellular states, signaling pathways, and disease trajectories.
This is an exceptional opportunity to design and implement innovative analytical tools and frameworks that advance our understanding of gene regulation at single-cell resolution and illuminate the molecular mechanisms driving early metabolic dysregulation. Your work will directly contribute to the group’s mission of translating molecular and physiological insights into actionable knowledge for precision prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, with a particular focus on dysglycemia.
Skills and qualifications We are looking a for highly motivated and enthusiastic Postdoc who, in addition to the desired expertise stated above, have the following skills and qualifications:
- A PhD degree in bioinformatics, machine learning, computational biology, statistical genetics, genomics, or a related discipline.
- A strong computational background with expertise in analyzing large-scale datasets (e.g., single-cell RNA-seq, genomic, or multi-omics data).
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R.
- Experience with machine learning, systems biology, or network modeling approaches.
- Previous expertise in human cardiometabolic or complex diseases, with domain expertise in but not limited to glycoproteins.
- Familiarity with variant-to-function approaches or other omics-to-phenotype analyses is an asset.
- Demonstrated scientific productivity, including publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and international team.
- Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral
- Experience in mentoring or supervising junior researchers is desirable.
Place of employment The place of employment is at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Maersk Tower, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer a creative and stimulating work environment in a dynamic, international research setting.
Terms of employment The employments as postdoc is full-time and fixed-term positions for 3 years. Starting date is 1 March 2026 or after agreement.
Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated.
Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a Ph.D. degree and have not lived in Denmark in the last 10 years.
The position is covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities” from 2025.
Questions For further information, please get in touch with Associate Professor Jordi Merino at
jordi.merino@sund.ku.dk. For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact SUND HR CBMR at hr-cbmr@adm.ku.dk.
International applicants may find these links useful
www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility) and
https://www.workindenmark.dk/ .
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, the names and email addresses from contact person for reference, and other skills relevant to the position
- A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the Ph.D. is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
- List of publications
Application deadline: 31 December 2025, 23.59 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
http://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 wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
