PhD Fellowship – Solid State Pharmacy We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic researcher for a three-year PhD fellowship in solid state Pharmacy, starting as soon as possible.

Project Description

Poor aqueous solubility is one of the greatest unsolved challenges in modern drug development, affecting more than 90% of small‑molecule drug candidates and severely limiting their therapeutic potential. While crystalline drug forms provide physical stability, their poor solubility often compromises bioavailability and clinical performance. Amorphous drug forms can overcome this limitation by dramatically enhancing solubility; however, their inherent instability and tendency to recrystallize remain major barriers to their widespread application.

This project seeks to challenge conventional paradigms in pharmaceutical formulation by pioneering new concepts in “amorphous engineering”. Recent breakthroughs from our group have demonstrated that drugs can exist in multiple amorphous forms and/or polyamorphs, with distinct physicochemical properties. This largely unexplored phenomenon, known as amorphous variability, opens unprecedented opportunities for the design of next‑generation medicines.

The project will investigate the formation, stabilization, and confinement of amorphous forms of drugs within biocompatible particles, creating innovative formulations capable of combining enhanced solubility with improved physical stability, without the need for additional excipients. By integrating state‑of‑the‑art experimental characterization techniques with computational modelling, this research aims to establish transformative strategies for poorly water‑soluble drugs and accelerate the development of more effective medicines for patients. Principal Supervisor Associate Professor Inês Catarina Batista Martins, Department of Pharmacy Start and Duration Start: As soon as possible Duration: 3 years as a PhD student Our Group and Research The Pharmaceuticals, Products and Processes (3P) group is internationally recognized and highly collaborative, at the forefront of innovative pharmaceutical product design and materials science.





With a strong focus on solid‑state pharmaceutical systems, the group pioneers research on transformation of crystalline drugs into high‑energy amorphous forms to improve performance and enable next‑generation medicines. The group investigates physicochemical properties, stabilization, and functionality of advanced crystalline and amorphous drug systems, comprising about 20 researchers and producing around 40 peer‑reviewed publications annually.

Our Department

Departments of Pharmacy advance pharmaceutical sciences through research and teaching in topics such as pharmaceutical technology, formulation, drug delivery, advanced drug analysis, and clinical and social pharmacy.

– Responsibilities - Carry out an independent research project under supervision - Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points - Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research team, preferably abroad - Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project - Teach undergraduate students in pharmaceutical sciences - Write a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project Key Criteria for the Assessment of Applicants Applicants must have a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project (e.g., solid‑state pharmacy, pharmaceutical manufacturing, drug formulation). The master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

Other Important

Criteria - Background in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related discipline - Good understanding of basic physical chemistry and/or solid‑state science - Familiarity with (or strong interest in learning)



pharmaceutical formulation or materials characterization - Ability to analyze and interpret experimental data in a structured and critical way - Interest in interdisciplinary research combining experiments and (optionally) computational or data‑driven approaches - The grade point average achieved - Previous publications - A curious mind‑set with a strong interest in amorphous drug formulation and characterization using combined experimental techniques (e.g., differential scanning calorimetry, micro‑calorimetric analysis, X‑ray diffraction, solid‑state NMR) with computational modelling - Good written and oral communication skills in English Additional Skills (optional) - Experience with solid‑state characterization techniques (e.g., DSC, PXRD, IR spectroscopy) - Exposure to pharmaceutical formulation or drug delivery research - Basic programming or data analysis skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB) - Basic knowledge on computational modelling Place of Employment The department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Modern laboratories and state‑of‑the‑art equipment are available. Terms of Employment The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed‑term position limited to 3 years. Employment is conditioned upon successful enrollment as a PhD student at the Graduate School. The PhD study must be completed in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2025) 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 Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 31,600 DKK (roughly 4,120 EUR, April 2026 level) plus pension.

EEO Statement The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background. For more information on working and living in Denmark visit International Staff Mobility and Work in Denmark.

📌 PhD fellowship in solid state Pharmacy at the Department of Pharmacy (Huarmey)
🏢 Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen
📍 Huarmey