Job Description

A position as a full-time research assistant is vacant in the lab of Dr. Srustidhar Das, at the Department of Clinical Research and at the Research Unit of Inflammation Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark

The position is limited to one year with the possibility of extensionand/or continuing further as a PhD student, subject to funding and fulfilment of SDU's PhD admission requirements.

The position primarily consists of research within tissue regeneration, epithelial biology and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with limited research-based teaching or supervision activities where relevant. The research assistant will join a translational research programme that aims to understand how inflammation reshapes the intestinal epithelium and its surrounding tissue niche, and how these changes can be therapeutically targeted to restore safe and durable mucosal healing.

The position will suit a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in mucosal biology, epithelial regeneration, organoid models, immune-stromal-epithelial interactions, single-cell and spatial technologies, and clinically oriented biomedical research. The successful candidate will work at the interface of experimental biology, translational medicine and omics-based research.

Research environment

The research assistant will be embedded in a dynamic and highly collaborative research environment spanning the Institute for Molecular Medicine and the Department of Clinical Research at SDU. The project benefits from close interactions among basic scientists, clinicians, bioinformaticians and translational researchers, with strong links to Odense University Hospital and access to patient-derived material, advanced disease models and state-of-the-art molecular technologies.

The environment provides excellent opportunities to develop practical and analytical skills in experimental and translational biomedicine, contribute to clinically relevant discoveries in IBD and tissue regeneration, and prepare for a potential subsequent PhD project.

Research project

The project investigates how prior inflammation leaves a lasting memory in the intestinal epithelium and its surrounding tissue niche, and how this memory affects mucosal healing in IBD. The research assistant will help establish and apply experimental models based on patient-derived intestinal biopsies, organoids, fibroblasts and immune-cell co-cultures to study epithelial regeneration in health and disease.

The work will also support the generation and functional validation of findings from single-cell and spatial approaches, including single-cell RNA sequencing, single-cell chromatin accessibility analysis, spatial transcriptomics and spatial epigenomics. Depending on experience and project needs, the research assistant may contribute to CRISPR-based genetic engineering of patient-derived organoids.

Key responsibilities

• Establish, maintain and experimentally manipulate patient-derived intestinal organoids and relevant co-culture systems involving fibroblasts and immune cells.
• Design and perform functional assays to assess epithelial regeneration, inflammatory responses, barrier function and cell-state plasticity.
• Apply molecular and cellular methods such as qPCR, immunostaining, microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA-based assays and related techniques.
• Support sample preparation and experimental workflows for single-cell and spatial transcriptomic or epigenomic studies.
• Contribute to CRISPR-based genetic engineering and functional validation of candidate pathways, depending on prior experience.
• Work with patient-derived material in close collaboration with clinicians, bioinformaticians and translational researchers.
• Maintain accurate experimental records, analyse and document results, and contribute to protocol development and optimisation.
• Present results at group meetings and contribute to scientific reports, manuscripts, conferences, teaching and collaborative activities where relevant.

Expectations of qualifications

The applicant is expected to hold a relevant master's degree or equivalent qualification in molecular biology, biomedicine, immunology, cell biology, biotechnology, medicine, bioinformatics or a closely related discipline.

Essential qualifications

• A strong interest in mucosal biology, tissue regeneration, epithelial biology, inflammatory disease and translational biomedical research.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, primary cells, organoids, immunology, epithelial biology, inflammation research or related experimental systems.
• Strong written and spoken English communication skills.
• A structured, curious and technically careful working style, with the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good organisational skills and a commitment to reproducible research, careful documentation and responsible handling of research data and biological material.

Desirable qualifications

• Experience with intestinal organoids, patient-derived material, immune-cell culture, fibroblast culture or epithelial-stromal-immune co-culture models.
• Familiarity with qPCR, immunostaining, confocal or advanced microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA or MSD assays, and CRISPR-based genetic engineering.
• Experience with, or a strong interest in learning, single-cell RNA sequencing, ATAC-seq, spatial transcriptomics, spatial epigenomics or computational analysis of omics datasets.
• Interest in developing and optimising experimental models that connect mechanistic biology with clinically relevant questions in IBD and mucosal healing.
• Previous experience with bioinformatics, statistics or image analysis will be considered an advantage but is not essential.

Research strategy for OUH and the Department of Clinical Research

The joint research strategy for the Department of Clinical Research and Odense University Hospital sets the direction for our shared research efforts in the years ahead. Rooted in the vision –We conduct research together to shape the patient care of the future – it focuses in particular on: cross-disciplinary research – with people at the centre; strong research environments – as drivers of development; and the research journey – from idea to impact. Further information on the joint research strategy of the Department of Clinical Research and Odense University Hospital is available here.

Further information

For further information please contact

Srustidhar Das

Department of Clinical Research and Department of Molecular Medicine

University of Southern Denmark (SDU)

Tel.: +45 71504339

E-mail: srudas@health.sdu.dk

Application deadline

September 15, 2026, at 23.59 hrs. (CET/CEST).

Salary and terms of employment

The applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).

The position as research assistant is placed within salary steps 4–8 of the Danish state salary scale, depending on seniority. In addition, a centrally agreed research assistant allowance is paid, and further qualification- and function-related allowances may be negotiated.

The work location will be at Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M.

Application

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link “ Apply now” - see below.

We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.

Only applications written in English will be accepted for evaluation.

The application must include (as PDF files) (please note that the application (the motivation letter) and CV must not exceed 10 MB in total):

• a motivation letter
• a detailed CV
• degree certificates (inclusive of master’s degree)
• an explanation of other qualifications relevant to the position

For technical issues, please contact: hcm-support@sdu.dk

Please note that all the above-mentioned information must be included in the application.

Applications received after the deadline and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Assessment

Shortlisting will be used as part of the initial selection process.

Assessment of shortlisted applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Shortlisted applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. The committee may request additional information, and, if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicants will receive part of the evaluation that concerns themselves.

References will be obtained for the preferred candidate from their current and previous employers. Applicants invited for interview should expect to complete a work-related personality assessment.

Living and working in Denmark

Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment.

The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark.

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