Faculty of Natural Sciences
University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB)

We invite applications from highly motivated and scientifically ambitious candidates for a 3-year academic staff position (AC-TAP), with the possibility of renewal, as Scientific Platform Manager for Advanced Cellular Models, TORI-SDU, starting August 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

About TORI and TORI-SDU

The position is part of the Biomedical Tissue Modeling and Organoid Research Infrastructure (TORI), a new national open-access research infrastructure established in collaboration between the University of Copenhagen (KU), Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital (AU/AUH), and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). TORI will give researchers across Denmark access to advanced cellular model systems, standardized protocols, expert support, and shared know-how for organoids, iPSC-based models, and other physiologically relevant cell culture systems.

At SDU, TORI-SDU will be located at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Odense and will be closely integrated with DaMBIC and research environments in bioimaging, cell biology, molecular biology, and advanced cellular models. The SDU node will work closely with the TORI nodes at KU and AU to ensure common practices, protocol transfer, user support, and national coordination.

The Automated Cell and Organoid Culture Platform

At the center of TORI-SDU is a state-of-the-art automated cell and organoid culturing system. The platform combines controlled incubation, robotic liquid handling, automated plate and media handling, live imaging, image-based monitoring, and AI-assisted workflow control. It will enable automated and semi-automated maintenance, expansion, passaging, phenotypic monitoring, quality control, and protocol optimization of organoids and other advanced cellular models.

The Scientific Platform Manager will be the key person responsible for implementing, running, using, and further developing this platform at SDU. The position is therefore not only an operational role. It is a scientific platform-development position for a candidate who wants to build new capabilities, solve challenging biological and technical problems, and help define how automated organoid culture is established and applied in Danish research.

Your Role

The Scientific Platform Manager will lead the daily scientific and technical activities of TORI-SDU in close collaboration with Professor Jonathan Brewer as scientific director, staff at DaMBIC, users at SDU and beyond, and colleagues at the KU and AU TORI nodes.

The role has four main components:

• Scientific and technical leadership of the automated cell and organoid culture platform, including implementation of automated and semi-automated workflows for culture maintenance, expansion, passaging, imaging-based monitoring, and quality control.

• Development of new protocols for organoids and other advanced cellular models, including translation of manual workflows into automated formats, systematic optimization of culture conditions, troubleshooting, documentation, and conversion of successful workflows into robust SOPs.

• Close collaboration with users to turn scientific questions into feasible platform workflows, including experimental design, feasibility assessment, training, hands-on support, interpretation of platform performance, and participation in selected scientific projects.

• Professional operation and strategic development of TORI-SDU together with the scientific director, including transparent user access, booking systems, user-fee models, budget follow-up, SOP governance, reporting, project prioritization, and national coordination with KU and AU.

We are looking for a scientist who enjoys building methods, working hands-on with complex biological systems, and developing a platform that can enable new research. The ideal candidate is curious, technically strong, structured, collaborative, and motivated by both excellent daily operation and ambitious scientific development.

Scientific Opportunities

This position offers substantial opportunities to contribute to new science. TORI-SDU will support projects where automated organoid and advanced cell culture workflows are not simply a service, but an enabling technology for new biological questions. The Scientific Platform Manager will participate in the development of automated protocols, image-based quality-control strategies, and reproducible workflows for advanced cellular models.

Depending on the project, the candidate may contribute to experimental design, data generation, interpretation of platform performance, publications, grant applications, scientific dissemination, and national infrastructure development. The position is particularly suited for a candidate who wants to work at the interface between advanced cell culture, automation, bioimaging, and collaborative biology.

What We Offer

• A central role in establishing a new national research infrastructure for automated organoid and advanced cellular model systems.

• Access to state-of-the-art automation and bioimaging technologies in a strong scientific environment at BMB and DaMBIC.

• The opportunity to develop new automated protocols and workflows that can be used by researchers across Denmark.

• Close collaboration with scientists, clinicians, engineers, and core facility staff at SDU, KU, AU/AUH, and external user groups.

• A role with scientific visibility, including opportunities to contribute to collaborative projects, publications, grant applications, and national TORI activities.

Qualifications

We seek applicants with the following qualifications:

Essential

• PhD in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, biomedical science, or a closely related discipline.

• Strong hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and advanced cell culture workflows.

• Experience with organoids, iPSC-based models, primary cells, 3D cell culture, or related advanced cellular models will be considered a strong advantage.

• Ability to troubleshoot, optimize, and document complex protocols in a systematic and reproducible manner.

• Strong scientific interest in automated cell culture, image-based monitoring, organoid models, and technology platforms for scalable and reproducible biology.

• Ability to work independently, manage several complex projects in parallel, and maintain structured operation of a shared research infrastructure.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work with users from different scientific and technical backgrounds.

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Hands-on experience with automated or semi-automated cell culture platforms, robotic liquid handling, high-content imaging, live-cell imaging, or AI-assisted culture/imaging systems.

• Experience working in a core facility, shared research infrastructure, technology platform, or translational research environment.

• Experience with bioimaging-based phenotyping, microscopy-based quality control, or quantitative image-based readouts for cell culture systems.

• Experience developing SOPs, user documentation, quality-control workflows, or standardized protocols.

• Experience with project coordination, user training, budget follow-up, booking systems, reporting, or grant-related activities.

• Familiarity with ethical and regulatory considerations related to patient-derived material or advanced cellular models.

Experience with automation is highly desirable, but not a formal requirement. The most important qualifications are a strong scientific and technical background in advanced cell culture, a willingness to learn and develop new technologies, and the motivation to help build a scientifically ambitious national platform.

About Us

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at SDU hosts strong research environments in cell biology, molecular biology, bioimaging, and advanced biological model systems. TORI-SDU will be embedded in this environment and will work closely with DaMBIC, SDU’s advanced bioimaging infrastructure, to combine automated cellular model development with image-based analysis and high-quality user support.

TORI is designed to lower the barrier for Danish researchers to use advanced cellular models by providing access to state-of-the-art automation, expert support, reproducible workflows, protocol development, and coordinated national expertise. The SDU node will contribute to this national mission together with the TORI nodes at KU and AU, supporting researchers from basic biology, translational medicine, biotechnology, and related fields.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact Professor Jonathan Brewer (brewer@bmb.sdu.dk).

Application Details

Deadline: June 20, 2026

Start Date: August 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter

Duration: 3 years, with the possibility of renewal

Employment type: Academic staff position (AC-TAP)

Location: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense

Salary: Employment shall take place in accordance with the framework agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).

Application must include:

• Motivated cover letter, preferably no more than one page

• Detailed CV, including publication list

• PhD certificate or official confirmation if pending

• Relevant diplomas and certificates

• Contact information for 1-2 references

All attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. Cover letter and CV can contain max. 5 Mb.

All documents in connection with the application should not contain CPR number (civil registration number) – in that case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

We recommend that you read how to apply before you apply.

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

About SDU

The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education or learning, we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains, develops and recruits talent. At the same time, we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities – and we can only do that with the right people. The University’s researchers, lecturers, students, managers and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.