Job Description

The Cell Signaling and Cell Cycle group, headed by Prof. Jakob Nilsson, is looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic PhD student to establish novel CRISPR-based technology for drug target discovery at the Danish Cancer Institute.

About us

The Danish Cancer Society has its own research institute, consisting of 23 research groups and several core facilities, with around 300 researchers dedicated to basic, translational and epidemiological cancer research, at an internationally highly competitive level. The Cell Signaling and Cell Cycle group headed by Professor Jakob Nilsson focuses on understanding the signaling mechanisms that control key cellular transitions and how this is deregulated in cancers. A strong focus of the lab is signaling through phosphorylation and how this is controlled by kinases and phosphatases. The lab uses cutting edge CRISPR based screening technologies and integrates these with in-depth mechanistic studies employing biochemical, structural and cell-based assays. The ambition is to uncover novel vulnerabilities in cancers that can be exploited in future therapeutic approaches.

About the position

This PhD project aims at establishing and utilizing a novel cell-based screening approach to uncover drug targets for specific cancer types. The screening approach is based on CRISPR base editor technology that enables large mutational screening in a pooled fashion in various cancer cells.
The PhD student will conduct large scale CRISPR base editor screens, computational analysis of results, validation studies and mechanistic studies in cells, focusing on hits that are highly selective for specific cancers.
The PhD student will work closely with Postdoc Filip Mihalič in the lab ensuring supportive day to day guidance.

About you

We are looking for a highly driven, motivated and enthusiastic candidate with the following qualifications:

• A master’s degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology or similar.
• Experience at the bench with basic laboratory methods in molecular/cell biology and biochemistry
• Experience with signalling pathways, tissue culture work, CRISPR, and work with lentiviruses is an advantage.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• High level of motivation, commitment and creativity.

The ability to work in a collaborative, international environment, both independently and as part of a team.

We offer

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and high-profile international research environment. The newly renovated laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments.
Core facilities at the institute are available to all employees, including level P2 laboratory for work with viruses, bioimaging, lipidomics/metabolomics, flow cytometry/cell sorting, bioinformatics, CRISPR/gene editing and chemical-biology high-throughput screening facilities, nucleic acid sequencing, histology laboratory and animal house facility.
You will join a dynamic working atmosphere with bi-weekly seminars, hands-on workshops, talks by international speakers, a young researchers association, as well as strong administrative and technical support.

We offer several benefits for the personnel, such as a health-conscious canteen, a daily selection of free fruit, and a sports and art association. Working hours are of course smoke-free.
The everyday working language at the institute is English. As a PhD student, you will be enrolled at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. We offer a fully funded 3-year PhD contract.
The position is fulltime (37 hours a week with lunch break included), and salary will be provided according to the current agreement between the Danish Cancer Society and the relevant trade union.

Additional information

More information can be obtained directly from the group leader Jakob Nilsson (jaknil@cancer.dk) or Postdoc Filip Mihalič (filipm@cancer.dk)

Application and closing date for applications

The deadline for application is 1st of December.
The selected candidates will be invited for an interview during December 2025.
The position is available from early 2026, as agreed during the interview phase.

The application should be written in English and must be submitted electronically via the link ‘Apply for position’.

Your application should contain:
A motivated letter of application (max. 1 page)
A curriculum vitae
A copy of the MSc diploma
One references/letters of recommendation from previous working places/supervisors

One of three Danes contract cancer at some point in their lives. Two of three have a family member suffering from cancer. Faced with these figures, the Danish Cancer Society aims to unite the Danish population in a strong, active community against cancer, and you can help make an important difference!

As an association, the Danish Cancer Society recognize the value of not all of us being the same – diversity makes us smarter and better. Therefore, we encourage everyone who can see themselves in this position to apply for it. We are interested in you and your personal and professional skills, and we look forward to hearing from you. We promise you good colleagues who will welcome you and help you navigate through your new everyday life in our wideranging organization and association. We are committed to ensuring that you have an exciting and good working life with us at the Danish Cancer Society with an important purpose as well as professionalism, community and flexibility in many forms. And, of course, the working hours are smoke-free!

If you want to know more about working with us at the Danish Cancer Society, we encourage you to go to www.cancer.dk/om-os/job-og-karriere (right click to translate into English).