Postdoctoral Researcher

Are you interested in using machine learning to design proteins that respond to their environment and control biological function with high precision?

We are looking for a postdoc for a 4-year position starting 1st of September 2026 (or soon thereafter) in the Antibody Technologies Group at DTU Bioengineering, led by Professor & Head of Section Andreas Hougaard Laustsen-Kiel.

In this project, you will work at the interface of machine learning and protein engineering, computationally designing antibodies, nanobodies, and binding proteins with condition-dependent activity. You will develop deep learning and generative models for binder design, work closely with wet lab scientists who express and test your designs, and collaborate with leading international partners. The position offers the opportunity to take ownership of your project and contribute to new strategies for controlling protein function in complex biological environments.

The research project: PROTÆCT
This postdoc position is part of the Villum Foundation funded project, PROTÆCT: Precision Regulation Of Toxin Activity through Environmentally-Controlled Targeting, which aims to uncover how protein-based toxins can be controlled using binding proteins that respond to environmental cues such as pH and metal ions.

Most engineered proteins function under static conditions, whereas biological systems are dynamic. PROTÆCT addresses this by developing binding proteins with condition-dependent activity, enabling selective modulation of protein function in defined microenvironments.

You will computationally design antibodies and nanobodies whose binding changes with environmental conditions. This could e.g. enable the development of proteins that are only active in specific tissue environments or are activated when conditions change during a fermentation process, with potential applications in targeted therapeutics, biosensing, and synthetic biology.

The project integrates computational design with advanced in vitro selection technologies. You will play a central role in developing the computational models and in linking these to how environmental factors influence protein–protein interactions.

The research group
You will join the Antibody Technologies Group at DTU Bioengineering, working at the interface of toxinology, antibody engineering, and protein science. The group has a strong track record in developing recombinant antivenoms, environment-responsive antibodies, and translational biotechnological solutions.

We are an international and interdisciplinary team combining experimental and computational expertise. You will be expected to take ownership of your project and work independently, while contributing to a collaborative environment where ideas and expertise are shared across the team.