Postdoc in T Cell Recognition and Development of Novel T Cell based Therapies - DTU Health Tech

Post.doc positions are available in the Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology (xTI), Department of Health Technology (DTU Health Tech), at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). 

In the Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, we focus on understanding immune regulation and recognition, to develop safe and efficacious T cell therapies. We apply nanomaterials to actively engage or manipulate the immune system´s T cells, and we are developing novel T cell ‘receptors’ via de-novo designed proteins. 

The present project will be conducted in the research group ‘T cells & Cancer’, under supervision of Professor Sine Reker Hadrup. We are world leaders in detection and modification of antigen specific T cells and will in the current project apply novel technologies to determine T cell recognition in health and disease and to develop novel cell therapy approaches. 

Responsibilities
Key question to address:

• T cell recognition towards peptide-MHC complexes
• Determine T cell phenotype and transcriptomic characteristics
• Integrate T cell data with other adaptive immune parameters.
• Making high quality peptide-MHC reagents to explore T cell recognition
• How can we best improve T cell recognition of cancer, while ensuring specificity
• How can be deliver gene fragments in a safe and efficacious manner

Experimental methods & tasks:

• Making large libraries of peptide-MHC complexes
• Using barcoded peptide-MHC complexes to explore the T cell repertoire
• Apply multicolor flow cytometry analyses
• T cell culturing and functional evaluations
• Single-cell technologies
• Selection of T cell target receptors
• Evaluation of T cell profiles
• Data analyses using R
• T cell co-culture system to assess target cell recognition
• CRISPR/CAS based engineering of T cells
• Functional reactivity of gene-engineered T cells

Qualifications
Candidates most have a PhD in the area of Immunology and Cell Biology. 

In addition, candidates should be trained in:

• T cell detection technologies, using pMHC multimers
• Functional evaluation of T cells
• General knowledge related to cancer immunology and antigens 
• Experience with T cell epitope mapping and ligand predictions
• Immunology: T cell recognition, antigen presentation & T cell function
• MHC multimer generation – and T cell staining & analysis
• Analyses of antigen-specific T cells
• Multicolor flow cytometry
• Gene-engineering in T cells
• Apply analytical and statistical tools to identify patterns in large datasets

The candidates should demonstrate evidence of self-driven and independent research capability, excellent collaboration and communication skills, an interest in working in an interdisciplinary research environment, and a strong motivation to succeed within a competitive research field.

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 2 years. Employment starts as soon as possible. 

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Professor Sine Reker Hadrup.

You can read more about the Department of Health Technology at www.healthtech.dtu.dk/english.

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 11 February 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.

DTU Health Tech
DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation base on technical and natural science for the healthcare sector. The Healthcare sector is a globally expanding market with demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech creates the foundation for companies to develop new and innovative services and products which benefit people and create value for society. DTU Health Techs expertise spans from imaging and biosensor techniques, across digital health and biological modelling, to biopharma technologies. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD students and a technical/administrative support staff of about 160 persons, of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.

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.