PhD fellowship in Computational Pharmacology and Data Science

DTU — Technical University of Denmark; København; On-site; DKK 233,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology at the University of Copenhagen invites applications for a three-year PhD fellowship in computational pharmacology and pharmaceutical data science, commencing 15 October 2026.

The project combines MD simulations, GPCR analysis, and machine learning to predict ligand- and variant-specific pharmacological outcomes, using the dopamine D2 receptor as the primary model.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience with molecular modelling, molecular dynamics simulations and/or analysis of molecular simulation data.
• Excellent programming skills, preferably in Python including code versioning in GitHub.
• Experience with statistical analysis and/or machine-learning methods.
• Knowledge of protein structure, structural bioinformatics, or molecular interactions; experience with GPCRs or membrane proteins is an advantage.
• Strong written and spoken English and good communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Relocate to Copenhagen and lead the research project on a day-to-day basis.
• Present research in internal meetings and international conferences.
• Take an active part in manuscript writing and dissemination activities.
• Translate new knowledge in the subject area into research activity.
• There will be the opportunity to supervise more junior group members and contribute to teaching.

Skills

Molecular modelling

Molecular dynamics simulations

Data analysis

Python programming

Statistical analysis

Machine learning

English communication

Education

Master’s degree (180 ECTS BSc + 120 ECTS MSc) or equivalent

Tools

GitHub

Job description

We are offering a three-year PhD fellowship in computational pharmacology and pharmaceutical data science commencing 15 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Our group and research

The project is based at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology and connected to the Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education (CPDSE). The group has broad expertise encompassing structural bioinformatics, statistical genetics, cheminformatics, database development, and the application of machine learning approaches.

Project description

The PhD project will investigate how genetic variants alter GPCR dynamics and drug responses. The candidate will use atomistic MD simulations to identify biophysical descriptors of receptor function and integrate these with machine-learning approaches to predict ligand- and variant-specific pharmacological outcomes. The dopamine D2 receptor will serve as the primary model system.

Principal supervisor

Associate Professor Alexander Hauser, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology

Start

15 October 2026

Duration

3 years as a PhD student

Our department

The Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology is committed to research-based education and interdisciplinary research that supports the development and understanding of chemical and pharmacological properties of drugs and drug targets at the highest level for the benefit of society. We work as part of a dynamic academic community of research, education, and innovation within the Pharmaceutical Sciences, bridging Health Sciences and Life Sciences.

Information about the Department can be found here.

Job description

Your key tasks as a PhD student at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences are:

• Carrying out 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, preferably abroad
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching undergraduate students in pharmaceutical sciences
• 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, such as bioinformatics, computational biology or computational chemistry.

Qualifications

If you have completed your academic education in Denmark, 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.

Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious bioinformatician, data scientist, or machine learning specialist proficient with biologically driven questions, ideally experienced in MD simulations.

• Relevant experience with molecular modelling, molecular dynamics simulations and/or analysis of molecular simulation data
• Excellent programming skills, preferably in Python including code versioning in GitHub
• Experience with statistical analysis and/or machine-learning methods
• Knowledge of protein structure, structural bioinformatics, or molecular interactions; experience with GPCRs or membrane proteins is an advantage
• A curious mindset with a strong interest in computational pharmacology, GPCRs, and pharmaceutical data science
• Knowledge of cell biology, protein structures, and evolution
• Strong written and spoken English and good communication and collaboration skills

The person will be required to relocate to Copenhagen and key responsibilities will include: establishing research ideas together with the principal investigator, leading the research project on a day-to-day basis, presenting research in internal meetings and international conferences, taking an active part in manuscript writing, and translating new knowledge in the subject area into research activity. There will be the opportunity to supervise more junior group members and contribute to teaching and dissemination activities.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen as well as the newly founded Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education (CPDSE). We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include a competitive computational core facility and modern environment. Moreover, we are part of the cluster for Integrated Structural Biology (ISBUC), Center for Health Data Science (HeaDS), Science AI Centre (AICenter), and the pharmaceutical informatics research section (link).

Terms of employment

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years.

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 to the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences.

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.

The PhD student is expected to be affiliated to the graduate programme in pharmaceutical sciences, Drug Research Academy.

Salary, pension, and terms of employment

Salary, pension, and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 34,700 DKK/Roughly 4,650 EUR (August 2026) plus pension.

Application procedure

The deadline for applications is 26 September 2026, 23.59 (CEST).

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 authorised 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.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 41.

You can read about the recruitment process here.

Questions

For further information, applicants may contact the principal supervisor Alexander Hauser, e-mail: , phone: or PhD coordinator Marianne W. Jørgensen, e-mail: , phone: .

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website.

For more information on working and living in Denmark

For more information on working and living in Denmark visit International staff mobility and Work in Denmark.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.