The University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated and talented PhD fellow to commence February 1, 2026, or after agreement in the Sakamoto Group at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), University of Copenhagen.
The PhD fellowship is part of the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program.
About Us
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 250 employees create an international, highly collaborative research environment across disciplines.
Our Research
The overarching aim of the Sakamoto Group is to elucidate molecular mechanisms governing cellular energy sensing and the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis, with the ultimate aim of identifying and validating therapeutic candidates capable of correcting energetic imbalances in metabolic disorders. Our research focuses on how post-translational modifications, such as reversible phosphorylation, and allosteric regulation of signaling proteins and metabolic enzymes contribute to energy regulation. We also investigate how dysregulation in these processes drive the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases. To achieve these aims, we adopt a multidisciplinary research strategy, collaborate with leading national and international experts, and are dedicated to the training and professional development of early-career scientists.
Project Description
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a central regulator of cellular energy homeostasis, activated in response to energetic stress and coordinates metabolic pathways to maintain cellular energy balance. AMPK has long been considered a promising therapeutic target for cardiometabolic diseases due to its beneficial effects, including stimulation of insulin-independent glucose uptake, enhancement of fatty acid oxidation, and improved insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. However, despite intensive efforts, the development of pharmacological agents that activate AMPK without eliciting adverse effects associated with global AMPK activation remains a significant challenge.
The primary objective of this PhD project is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which AMPK regulates physiological processes in metabolic tissues through specific post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as reversible phosphorylation by kinases and phosphatases. The project aims to develop/employ novel strategies to manipulate or mimic these regulatory mechanisms applying the targeted PTM technologies (e.g., proteolysis-targeting chimeras) and/or small-molecule modulators in cellular and tissue/preclinical models. We adopt a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, integrating in-depth biochemical analyses of AMPK and its mutants in vitro—in partnership with structural biologists and proteomics experts—with extensive cell culture experiments utilizing gene-edited cell lines for signaling studies. In addition, in vivo investigations using genetically modified and drug-treated mouse models will be conducted to explore the role of AMPK in glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism.
Principal supervisor: Professor Kei Sakamoto, kei.sakamoto@sund.ku.dk
Start: February 1, 2026
Duration: 1 year as Research Assistant followed by 3 years as PhD fellow contingent on a positive evaluation of the 1st year.
Profile
The PhD fellowship is aimed at early-career researchers with a basic science background or clinicians who aspire to a career in academic medicine.
Required qualifications:
- Master’s degree in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, molecular biomedicine, cell signaling, physiology or related sciences.
- Hands-on experience in performing cell culture experiments (e.g. transfection/gene editing, drug treatment), biochemical/metabolic analysis (e.g. enzyme assays, metabolomics) and cell signaling (e.g. Western blotting, proteomics)
- Hands-on experience in conducting in vivo preclinical studies and metabolic phenotyping (holding a FELASA-certification or equivalent is an advantage)
- Ability to manage and analyze complex data sets
- An intellectually curious and critical thinking mindset with strong self-motivation to develop new knowledge and treatment for complex cardiometabolic diseases
- Ability to work as a team player as well as independently
- Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral
- Please note that the letter of motivation should include an outline of your research interests, motivation for pursuing a PhD along with your career objectives
Eligibility
The PhD fellowships within the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program are open for applicants that hold a Master’s degree. The Master’s degree has to be obtained before February 1, 2026. You are not eligible to apply for the program if you have been employed in a Research Assistant position for more than two years at the University of Copenhagen prior to the commencement of the fellowship.
Terms of Employment
The employment consists of 1 year as a Research Assistant followed by 3 years as PhD fellow contingent on a positive evaluation of the 1st year. Starting date is February 1, 2026, or after agreement.
The employment as PhD fellow is conditioned upon the applicant’s successful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant. The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.
Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Kei Sakamoto at kei.sakamoto@sund.ku.dk. Questions regarding the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program must be directed to Senior Advisor Sarah Christoffersen at sarah.christoffersen@sund.ku.dk. For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact HR at hr-cbmr@adm.ku.dk.
General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website.
The University of Copenhagen International Staff Mobility office offers support and assistance to all international researchers on all issues related to moving to and settling in Denmark.
Application Procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English via the ‘Apply now’ link below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
- CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant to the position
- Certified copy of original Master’s diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
- List of publications
- References (name and contact details of at least two references)
Application Deadline: September 21, 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 www.employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process.
The applicant will be assessed according to Ministerial Order No. 242 of March 13, 2012, on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their personal backgrounds.
Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.