Lab Manager at NQCP

Københavns Universitet; København; On-site; DKK 600,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

The Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen is seeking a Lab Manager to oversee day-to-day operations, infrastructure, and technical support for advanced materials laboratories. You will coordinate facility tools including AFM, SEM, FIB, OM, STM, XRD, and cryogenic systems in a dynamic research setting.

The role blends technical expertise with operational management and collaborative problem-solving within an interdisciplinary team of researchers and engineers.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
• Experience working in a university, national laboratory, or advanced research environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of materials characterization and micro/nanofabrication tools.
• Experience coordinating equipment maintenance, installations, and vendor service activities.
• Experience with laboratory information management, data storage systems and research data infrastructure.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise daily laboratory activities to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations.
• Oversee the maintenance and functionality of laboratory infrastructure, including fabrication systems, structural, electrical, and advanced materials characterization equipment.
• Plan, execute, and monitor the installation, calibration, and upgrades of laboratory equipment.
• Manage preventive tool maintenance to minimize downtime, extend equipment lifespan, and guarantee operational reliability.
• Act as the point of contact for equipment vendors, service engineers, and external contractors, ensuring effective communication and timely resolution of technical issues.
• Oversee the procurement, inventory, and logistics of laboratory consumables, spare parts, and equipment.
• Partner with data and IT teams to develop and maintain laboratory data infrastructure, ensuring secure and accessible data management systems.

Skills

Project coordination

Facilities management

Vendor liaison

Education

Master’s degree in engineering

Materials Science

Physics or Chemistry related field

Tools

AFM

SEM

FIB

OM

STM

XRD

Electrical probing systems

ADR cryogenic systems

Job description

The Niels Bohr Institute at Faculty of Science, the University of Copenhagen is looking for a Lab Manager with effect from 1st October 2026 or after agreement.

About us

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Programme (NQCP) is establishing a talented and diverse international team to create a cutting-edge quantum programme in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark. At the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, where the formulation of Quantum Mechanics was born 100 years ago, we aim to establish an international quantum computing programme, generously funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, that will drive research and innovations at multiple levels - from developing scalable quantum processor technologies to solutions for the quantum-classical control and readout interface, and all the way to quantum algorithms and applications. The long-term mission of the programme is to develop fault-tolerant quantum computing hardware and quantum algorithms that solve life-science-relevant chemical and biological problems.

Job Summary

The NQCP Materials team is seeking an experienced and highly organized Lab Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations, infrastructure, and technical support of our advanced materials laboratories. The role will involve coordination and operational oversight of key facility tools, including AFM, SEM, FIB, optical microscopy (OM), STM, XRD, electrical probing systems, and ADR cryogenic systems.

This position is well suited for someone who enjoys combining technical expertise, operational management, and collaborative problem-solving in a dynamic research environment. The successful candidate will work in a highly interdisciplinary environment with researchers and engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Laboratory Operations Oversight - Lead and supervise daily laboratory activities to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations, adhering to relevant protocols and standards.
• Infrastructure Management - Oversee the maintenance and functionality of laboratory infrastructure, including fabrication systems, structural, electrical, and advanced materials characterization equipment.
• Equipment Lifecycle Coordination - Plan, execute, and monitor the installation, commissioning, calibration, and upgrades of laboratory equipment.
• Tool Maintenance - Manage preventive tool maintenance to minimize downtime, extend equipment lifespan, and guarantee operational reliability.
• Vendor and Contractor Liaison - Act as the point of contact for equipment vendors, service engineers, and external contractors, ensuring effective communication and timely resolution of technical issues.
• Supply Chain and Inventory Management - Oversee the procurement, inventory, and logistics of laboratory consumables, spare parts, and equipment.
• Data and IT Collaboration - Partner with data and IT teams to develop and maintain laboratory data infrastructure, ensuring secure and accessible data management systems.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
• Experience working in a university, national laboratory, or advanced research environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of materials characterization and micro/nanofabrication tools.
• Experience coordinating equipment maintenance, installations, and vendor service activities.
• Experience with laboratory information management, data storage systems and research data infrastructure.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

We offer

Life in Denmark is supported with strong social services (free universal healthcare, free/subsidised language courses, paid parental leave, subsidised day care institutions and excellent public schools). Our work culture is very egalitarian and prioritises work life balance. Dual career families are the norm, and workplaces offer flexibility to support everyone in having both an exciting career and good family time. Danish cities are known for having excellent infrastructure, for example through widespread bike path networks. We can also offer a thriving food‑scene, excellent museums, and beautiful natural scenery.

Terms of salary and employment

The employment and salary are made in accordance with the Circular on the Collective Agreement concerning academics in the state sector concluded between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).

The employment will be as an academic employee, and the salary is based on seniority. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. The working time are 37 hours per week on average. The working hours are flexible.

The position is limited to 31 December 2029, and the appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance.

The University of Copenhagen seeks to reflect society and encourages applications irrespective of personal background.

Further questions

For further information please contact Asbjørn Drachmann, [e-mail] or Smitha Nair [e-mail]

The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen – or SCIENCE – is Denmark's largest science research and education institution with 4,000 employees and 9,700 Bachelor and master students in 12 departments. The faculty has an annual budget of DKK 3 billion.

Learn more about The Faculty of Science at www.science.ku.dk

You can read about the recruitment process here.

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.

Kontakt

Asbjørn Cennet Cliff Drachmann
E-mail: [e-mail]

Kontakt

Smitha Nair Themadath
E-mail: [e-mail]

Info

Ansøgningsfrist: 23-08-2026

Ansættelsesdato

01-10-2026

Arbejdstid

Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted

Niels Bohr Institute