Postdoc in AI-Driven Design of Selective Inhibitors for Antifungal Receptor Targets - DTU Bioengineering

Are you establishing your career in computational protein design and looking to apply your skills to a major unmet societal need? At DTU Bioengineering, you will develop next-generation, highly selective inhibitors for fungal receptors as an underexplored target class with potential to expand the antifungal drug-development toolbox. You will work at the forefront of generative AI and structural biology, translating de novo designs into experimentally tested candidates in close collaboration with expert wet-lab researchers. The position offers a strong platform for building an independent research profile at the interface of AI, protein engineering, fungal biology, and translational biotechnology.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your overall focus will be to use state-of-the-art generative AI and computational structural-biology methods to design selective protein inhibitors against fungal receptors. You will lead the computational design cycle, from target and binding-site analysis through candidate generation, prioritization, and interpretation of experimental results. You will work closely with researchers performing cell-based validation and use the resulting data to refine and improve subsequent design rounds. The project bridges fundamental receptor biology with the development of potential therapeutic modalities against the rising threat of fungal disease.

Your primary tasks will be to:

• Design de novo protein inhibitors using tools such as RFdiffusion3 and LigandMPNN.
• Model receptor-ligand interactions and evaluate binding specificity.
• Prioritize candidates using structural, biophysical, and sequence-based criteria.
• Collaborate with wet-lab colleagues on cell-based validation assays.
• Integrate experimental data into iterative design-build-test cycles.
• Develop reproducible computational workflows and data-management practices.
• Contribute to follow-on funding acquisition.

You must have:

• A PhD degree in computational biology, bioinformatics, structural biology, biophysics, machine learning, protein engineering, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience with protein-structure prediction, molecular modelling, or computational protein design.
• Practical experience using generative AI approaches for protein or peptide design.
• Strong programming and workflow-development skills.
• Ability to analyse, interpret, and prioritize large sets of computational design candidates.
• Experience working independently while collaborating effectively across computational and experimental disciplines.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.

The position is jointly supervised by Emil D. Jensen and Timothy P. Jenkins and offers the opportunity to join a collaborative, multidisciplinary team at the forefront of antifungal development.

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. In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 1 year: 1 January – 31 December 2027.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Emil Damgaard Jensen [email protected].

You can read more at DTU Bioengineering

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 12 October 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 Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering) is an international leader in the fields 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 in healthcare systems that are transforming towards personalized medicine.

We have a clear focus on the needs of the life sciences and biotech industries and contribute to innovation, new businesses, and scientific services for the benefit of society. The department has extensive collaborations with national and international research institutions and industry partners.

DTU Bioengineering has approximately 400 employees, of whom two-thirds are scientific staff. The department is located at DTU's 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.