Postdoctoral position in biomolecular simulations of membranes and membrane proteins at SDU in Odense

The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy invites applications for a postdoctoral position in biomolecular simulations of membranes and membrane proteins at PhyLife: Physical Life Science Center (phylife.sdu.dk) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Odense in the group of Associate Professor Himanshu Khandelia (hkgroup.sdu.dk). 

About the Research Group and Project
The successful candidate will work in a highly collaborative environment together with theorists and experimental scientists.

The goal of the project is to obtain insights into the mechanisms of transport through transmembrane proteins, particularly those involved in metabolite transport, and to understand how mutations affecting these proteins are related to disease.

To achieve this, the project will employ:

• Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations
• Enhanced sampling methods

The project will be conducted in close collaboration with leading experimental research groups. 

The postdoctoral researcher will have significant opportunities to shape the direction and scope of the project.

Qualifications
Applicants should have:

• A strong background in statistical mechanics
• Good written and spoken English communication skills
• Experience with all-atom and/or coarse-grained molecular simulations
• Programming skills and experience working in a Linux environment

Candidates with backgrounds in:

• Physics
• Physical Chemistry
• Engineering

are particularly encouraged to apply.

Please note that candidates whose experience is limited to empirical approaches such as docking or structural bioinformatics are not encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will have access to state-of-the-art supercomputing resources in Denmark and across Europe.
As part of the position, the candidate may be asked to contribute to teaching and related educational activities corresponding to up to 50 hours per year.

Employment details
Expected starting date: 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter
Duration: 2 years, with the possibility of a 1-year extension

For further information about the position, please contact: Associate Professor Himanshu Khandelia, [email protected], Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark

Natural Science Research – Interdisciplinary Strength
The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy is one of four departments at the Faculty of Science, SDU and is located in Odense. At the Department, we contribute to solving some of society’s greatest challenges within energy, environment, health, and sustainability. We succeed because we build bridges between disciplines and transcend traditional boundaries. Our interdisciplinary mindset is not only a fundamental condition, but also our strength. And it is a strength that ensures our research and education are recognized both nationally and internationally.

Our vision is to create and apply knowledge across the natural sciences. We are unique in housing research within physics, chemistry, and pharmacy under one department, which provides excellent opportunities to explore the intersections between these disciplines. Read more about our vision here.

Application, salary etc.
The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Please check links for more information on salary (only available in Danish) and  taxation.

Salary is determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including the content of the position, responsibilities, and qualification requirements.

As an applicant, you are entitled to information about the starting salary and salary range for the position. This information will be provided during the recruitment process.

SDU does not collect information on applicants’ previous salary.

The application must include the following:

• A curriculum vitae including information on previous employment with start and end dates 
• A full list of publications stating the scientific publications on which the applicant wishes to rely
• Copy of PhD diploma, if Phd diploma has not yet been received, please include statement from your supervisor 

Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process. Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

To qualify you must have passed a PhD or equivalent. Applications will be assessed by an expert assessor/committee. Applicants will be informed of their assessment by the university.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now". Attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.
If you experience technical problems, please contact [email protected]

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark.

About SDU
The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education or learning, we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains, develops and recruits talent. At the same time, we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities – and we can only do that with the right people. The University’s researchers, lecturers, students, managers and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.