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

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.