PhD fellowship in antibody-drug conjugate

PhD fellowship in antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) engineering: internalization and lysosomal delivery

Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) / Finsen Laboratory, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

A 3-year PhD fellowship is available in the research group of Associate Professor Lars Henning Engelholm. Expected start: 15 January 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) depend on efficient internalization and lysosomal processing to release their cytotoxic payload. Inefficient trafficking limits potency and restricts current ADCs to targets with very high receptor density. The PhD project will engineer and test next‑generation ADCs with improved internalization and lysosomal routing. This includes bispecific constructs that combine our established ADC targets (uPAR, MMP14, uPARAP and the Mannose Receptor) with receptors that drive lysosomal delivery, such as IGF2R. Lead candidates will be evaluated in cancer cell models and in vivo, including models of sarcoma and glioblastoma.

The project is part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Distinguished Innovator project “Breaking Barriers: Engineering ADCs for Efficient BBB Transport and Lysosomal Targeting”, in collaboration with Professor Matthias Herth (Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, UCPH) and Professor Katrine Qvortrup (Department of Chemistry, DTU).

Main tasks

• Production, purification and validation of recombinant and bispecific antibodies
• Conjugation of antibodies to cytotoxic payloads and characterization of the resulting ADCs
• Cell‑based assays: antibody uptake and internalization, flow cytometry, drug screening and cytotoxicity/cell viability assays
• In vivo efficacy studies of ADC candidates in tumor models
• Writing scientific publications and presenting at international conferences

Job Description

• Carrying through 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.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• 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 (e.g., [relevant degrees]).

Qualifications

• An MSc degree (120 ECTS, or equivalent) in pharmaceutical biotechnology, biotechnology or a closely related field, with an excellent academic record
• An MSc thesis or equivalent research project on antibody‑drug conjugates or antibody‑based cancer therapeutics
• Documented hands‑on experience with production, validation and payload conjugation of recombinant antibodies
• Experience with cytotoxicity, cell viability and drug screening assays in mammalian cancer cell lines
• Experience with flow cytometry
• Experience with laboratory animal work
• Experience from an international research laboratory and excellent written and spoken English

Experience with functional genomics (e.g. CRISPR‑Cas9 screening) and with sarcoma models is an advantage.

Place of employment

The place of employment is BRIC, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.

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 start date is 15 January 2027 or after agreement.

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 formulated by the applicant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.

Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 31,800 DKK/Roughly 4,200 EUR (A