PhD fellowship in chemical methods for half-life extension of peptides

The Department of Chemistry, Section for Chemical Biology invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in chemical methods for half-life extension of therapeutic peptides. The project is part of the research project “New strategies for half-life extension of peptide therapeutics”, which is financed by a Distinguished Innovator Grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Start date is (expected to be) January 1st 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

The PhD project aims at developing new methods to chemically modify peptide therapeutics to enhance and prolong their effect in the body. The first goal is to develop novel cleavable linkages that activate the peptide when the bond is broken. The second goal is to develop new methods for taking a native peptide and chemically modify it locally so that it becomes more resistant to breakdown by enzymes.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates within the fields of chemical biology, synthetic organic chemistry, peptide science,



and medicinal chemistry. Applicants can have a background in synthetic bioorganic chemistry with a focus on peptides and proteins, preferably also experience with chemo-selective conjugation chemistries, medicinal chemistry of biopharmaceuticals. Experience with synthesis and characterization of bioconjugates would be advantageous. Experience with HPLC and mass spectrometry would also be advantageous.

Our group and research - what do we offer?

Our research is at the interface between synthetic chemistry, biology, and biophysics; it includes peptide, oligonucleotide and carbohydrate chemical biology and nanoscience. It merges design and chemical synthesis of complex bio-molecules with biophysical chemistry and medicinal chemistry. The group consists of about 10 members.

The group is a part of Department of Chemistry, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located at the Frederiksberg Campus,

📌 PhD fellowship in chemical methods for half-life extension of peptides (Huarmey)
🏢 Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen
📍 Huarmey