PhD scholarship in Applied Stem Cell Cultivation – DTU Bioengineering

This is a perfect position to make your mark in the stem cell field. The project topic is scalable stem cell manufacturing, specifically for the production of stem cell derived NK cells. This is currently a major bottleneck preventing affordable access to novel stem cell based therapies.

It is a 3-year PhD position in the DigitSTEM initiative: A four-year research collaboration between The Technical University of Denmark (DTU), The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (renew) at University of Copenhagen, and Bioneer A/S that aims at developing new in vitro disease models and cell therapies using human induced pluripotent stem cells.

The successful applicant will be working within the Section of Protein Science and Biotherapeutics at the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine in the research group ‘Biotherapeutic Glycoengineering and Immunology’.

Responsibilities and qualifications
You will work with a team of senior scientists, postdocs, and other PhD students in close collaboration with academic and industrial collaborators within the DigitSTEM initiative to establish a scalable iPSC-derived NK-cell production platform for next generation biotherapeutics.

Prior experience with bioreactors, cultivation of stem cells or just mammalian cells in general will be seen as a great advantage.

Knowledge and skills in single cell omics, microfluidics, raman microscopy, data analysis and DOE will also be considered valuable.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The assessment will be made by Dr. Lasse Ebdrup Pedersen.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Dr. Lasse Ebdrup Pedersen at [email protected] .

You can read more about DTU Bioengineering at www.bioengineering.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 25 April 2024 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion, or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering) is an international leader in the areas of biotechnology and biomedicine. Our engineering approach to all aspects of biotechnology and biomedicine positions us as a valuable player with unique competences in a growing bio-based economy and with health systems transforming towards personalized medicine. We have a clear focus on the needs in the life science industry and point towards innovation, new businesses, and scientific services for the benefit of society. The department has extensive collaborations with national and international research units and industry. DTU Bioengineering has approx. 400 employees, of which 2/3 are scientific staff. The department is located at DTU Lyngby Campus.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.