Postdoc in Chemical Biology to combat antimicrobial resistance - DTU Chemistry

A 24-month postdoctoral position is available in organic synthesis and drug development at the Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, starting from August 2026. The project will be supervised by Professor Katrine Qvortrup (DTU Chemistry) in collaboration with Asst. Prof. Eli N. Weinstein (DTU Chemistry), and Prof. Tim Tolker-Nielsen (UCPH Immunology & Microbiology), and is funded by a Novo Nordisk Foundation Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy grant. The project aims to develop new antibiotic compounds that evade both current and likely future resistance mechanisms.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Guided by initial AI predictions from the Weinstein group and microbiology results from the Tolker-Nielsen Lab, your main responsibilities will be to design, synthesize and optimize chemical compounds. Your work relies heavily on the ability to synthesize complex chemical structures and to investigate and understand chemical-physical and biological properties of chemical structures. You will work closely with computational researchers to gather data, evaluate AI predictions, and design experiments.

You will work in a team with 7 PhD-students and 4 postdoctoral researchers and collaborate with experts in machine learning, immunology and microbiology. You are expected to work independently and coordinate your research with the other team members. Undergraduate research projects will be integrated in the project, and you are expected to co-supervise those projects.

You should have a PhD degree in chemical biology with a strong theoretical and experimental background in organic chemistry. We also imagine that you have:

• A desire to work in an interdisciplinary environment.
• A documented track record in the chemical synthesis of complex organic structures.
• Experience with structure optimization is considered a strong advantage.
• Experience with Python scripting for data analysis is considered valuable.
• A strong commitment to research.
• Enthusiasm for working with research students.
• The ability to work independent and good communication skills.

Most importantly, you should be highly motivated and be confident in both written and spoken English. The applicant should strive towards scientific excellence, be ambitious and hard working. Only applicants, who seek to be among the brightest in their field and do science at the highest international level, will be considered.

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 terms of employment 
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 24 months. The position is available from August 1st, 2026 or soon thereafter.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Katrine Qvortrup, tel.: +45 31216621, kaqvo@kemi.dtu.dk 

You can read more about DTU Chemistry at www.kemi.dtu.dk and more about the research group at Sustainable and Therapeutic Chemical Biology

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure 

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 15 May 2026 (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:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Department of Chemistry (DTU Chemistry) conducts research, education and innovation in areas such as energy, life science, catalysis and materials. DTU Chemistry is particularly distinguished by scientific expertise in fundamental, theoretical and applied chemistry. The Department research is organized in three main sections. In the Organic Chemistry section, key areas of research include chemical biology, homogeneous catalysis, supramolecular chemistry and NMR spectroscopy. The section also hosts key infrastructure, including the DTU Screening Core and NMR Center/DTU, supported by instrumentation such as MALDI, LCMS, GCMS, and HPLC.

The section brings together nine research groups, integrating advanced synthetic, catalytic, and spectroscopic methods while fostering strong collaborations across DTU along with other universities and research institutions, as well as with the pharmaceutical industry.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.