Postdoc in mammalian cell line engineering for biotherapeutic protein production - DTU Bioengineering

Join our team as a postdoctoral researcher and help build next generation mammalian cell lines for biotherapeutic production. While the biopharma industry relies heavily on mammalian cells to produce complex medicines, they remain metabolically inefficient, necessitating costly, highly complex nutrient feeds. Our project aims to break this dependency by mapping and restoring lost metabolic capabilities directly within these production cell lines. Join us in this groundbreaking work to fundamentally simplify biomanufacturing, slash production costs, and enhance the global accessibility of life-saving biotherapeutics.

Responsibilities and qualifications

The postdoctoral researcher will lead the experimental efforts to rewire mammalian cell metabolism. Your core responsibilities will include:

• Metabolic Engineering & Synthetic Biology: Design and execute genetic engineering strategies to restore lost metabolic capacity in CHO cell lines.
• Cell Culture & Phenotypic Characterization: Maintain mammalian cell cultures and design bioreactor or microplate scale-down experiments to assess cell growth, viability, titer, and product quality.
• Scientific Communication: Lead the preparation of manuscripts for high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and present your findings at international conferences.
• Mentorship: Provide guidance and technical mentorship to PhD, MSc, and BSc students and trainees in the group.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven experience in advanced genetic engineering techniques in CHO cells (e.g., targeted integration, CRISPR/Cas9, multi-gene pathway assembly) aimed at modifying complex phenotypes (i.e., lost metabolic capacities).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to interdisciplinary audiences.
• Direct experience with mentoring trainees at the BSc, MSc, and PhD level in mammalian cell culture and genetic engineering techniques.

Research indicates that men are willing to apply for jobs when they meet just 60% of the criteria, while women and people from other marginalized groups will only apply if they feel they are a perfect fit. If you think the research we do is interesting and believe you have what it takes to be successful in this role please apply, even if you don’t check all the boxes. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent). 

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 1 year and 9 months with a starting date of 1 January 2027.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Hooman Hefzi, Associate Professor, email.: [email protected].

You can read more about DTU Bioengineering at www.bioengineering.dtu.dk.

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 26 August 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 Advanced Mammalian Cell Engineering Group in the Section for Medical Biotechnology at DTU Bioengineering aims to engineer next-generation cell lines for use in biotherapeutic production and cultivated meat. We use a mix of computational and experimental approaches in our work. 

The Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering) is an international leader in the areas of biotechnology and biomedicine. Our engineering approach to all aspects of biotechnology and biomedicine positions us as a valuable player with unique competences in a growing bio-based economy and with health systems transforming towards personalized medicine. We have a clear focus on the needs in the life science- and biotech industries and point towards innovation, new businesses, and scientific services for the benefit of society. The department has extensive collaborations with national and international research units and industry. DTU Bioengineering has approx. 400 employees, of which 2/3 are scientific staff. The department is located at DTU Lyngby Campus.

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.