PhD fellowship in cancer immunology
We are offering a PhD fellowship in cancer immunology and targeted cancer therapy commencing 31 August 2026.
Our group and research
Research at the Centre for translational Medicine and Parasitology (CMP) is focused on malaria and recently on using the learnings from malaria during pregnancy to develop novel cancer therapies. All activities are organized in thematically defined teams, each led by a senior scientist.The team leaders, the Head of CMP, and a technician representative form the daily leadership of CMP. CMP is part of a well-established international scientific network, composed of scientists in Europe, Africa, America, and Australia. More than 70 scientists and technicians are affiliated at CMP.
Our research team spans development of vaccines against malaria and other infectious diseases as well as research and development of novel cancer therapies and diagnostic tools and basic research into how tumors avoid immune attack. Our research facilities are located at the Panum Institute in the Mærsk Tower.
Project description
The PhD project is focused on the basic role of tumor microenvironment in cancer and in particular on the role of onco-fetal chondroitin sulfates in tumor immune evasion. The project entails studies on human tissue and human cell lines, as well as advanced animal models including genetic knockout studies and GEMM models of cancer.
Principal supervisor is Professor Ali Salanti, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, e-mail: salanti@sund.ku.dk
Start 31 August 2026 Duration 3 years as a PhD student Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:
- 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
PhD Programme Description
The PhD programme is a three-year full-time research education within the framework of the 5+3 scheme, intended for candidates holding a relevant academic degree within the project’s subject area (e.g., [relevant degrees]).
Qualifications
If you have completed your academic education in Denmark, the admission to the PhD programme requires a relevant Master’s degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS BSc + 120 ECTS MSc).
If you have an academic education from abroad, you must have either a degree equivalent to a Danish master's degree (180 ETCS + 120 ECTS MSc), or at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) and be academically qualified at master's level.
As part of the assessment of whether you meet the educational requirements, you must also achieve a positive academic evaluation and be assessed as the best qualified for the position.
Other important criteria are:
- The grade point average achieved
- Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
- Previous publications
- Relevant work experience
- Other professional activities
- A curious mind-set with a strong interest in oncology
- Language skills
Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.Our research facilities include modern laboratories and access to state-of-the-art core facilities.
Terms of employmentThe average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.
The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. The start date is 31 August 2026
The employment 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 (2025) 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. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 31,242 DKK/Roughly 4,180 EUR (November 2025 level) plus pension.
QuestionsFor specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/
Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
- CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
- Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other 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. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science
- Publication list (if possible)
Application deadline is 7 May 2026, 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.
The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.
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 find information about the recruitment process here.
The applicants 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.
Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex