Do you get excited by designing and optimizing therapeutic biologics? Are you motivated by translating molecular innovation into cardiovascular therapies with real patient impact?
Come join us at the BioInnovation Institute (BII) in Nørrebro as an experienced Lead Scientist on the Liminal Biotech project within our company-creation program, Bio Studio.
Your Opportunity to Join BII’s Bio Studio Program!
Established by the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2018, BII promotes collaborative, interdisciplinary, research-based innovation in the Life Sciences, Quantum Science, and Deep Tech and helps build viable start-up companies to ensure that such innovations become widely available for the benefit of people and society.
This is where Bio Studio comes into the picture, which is one of BII’s programs supporting the creation of viable start-ups. Bio Studio is our company-creation program that aims to build life science start-ups based on world-class research. Bio Studio projects are three years, grant-funded projects sourced from leading researchers worldwide. Selected for their scientific novelty, commercial potential, and societal and/or health impact, each project forms a dedicated team based at BII and led by an Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR), which is expected to become the core of the future start-up company. Teams have access to laboratory facilities, office space, and BII’s network of industry experts, investors, and advisors to support scientific development, IP, commercialization, and fundraising.
A career at BII allows you to work with world-leading entrepreneurial scientists in a position where you will have a substantial chance to impact your job and the opportunity to develop your bio entrepreneurial skills.
About The Project And The Role
As a Lead Scientist, you will become part of an exciting project focused on novel cardiovascular therapeutics. This project aims to transform groundbreaking research into a viable startup company within a three-year timeframe in Bio Studio.
You will play a central role in the design, production, and characterization of therapeutic proteins within a small, highly collaborative team. Success in this role requires strong scientific judgment, hands-on expertise in protein engineering, and the ability to advance a focused biologics program from early concept through preclinical development toward clinical readiness. The candidate will contribute across disciplines, provide mentorship to junior team members, and make key decisions that guide the scientific and technical direction of the program.
Specifically, you will play an instrumental role in the following role responsibilities:
- Design and optimize proteins through rational engineering (e.g., point mutations, deletions; not de novo design), applying innovative modification strategies to address therapeutic challenges
- Express, purify, and characterize recombinant proteins, primarily in E. coli, with the potential to establish mammalian expression capabilities
- Play a central role in advancing a focused biologics program from early concept through preclinical development and toward clinical readiness
- Collaborate closely within a small, highly interdisciplinary team, contributing across disciplines and helping shape scientific and technical strategy
- Provide day-to-day scientific guidance and mentorship to a junior team member in the laboratory
- Support progression from discovery into development, including documentation, data interpretation, and decision-making support
Your daily work and well-being will be shared directly with the EiR, but as a small community with close ties and bright minds, you should be prepared for many cross-functional and inspiring discussions that can help shape your work at BII. The EiR will provide support on scientific strategy, contribute to program direction, and advance your professional growth while tackling complex therapeutic challenges.
Professional & Personal Qualifications
We seek a colleague who is driven by purpose and dedicated to bringing science to life. Ideally, you bring the following competencies and skills:
- PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, protein science, or a related field, with at least 3 years of postdoctoral experience
- Industry experience in biologics drug discovery and development is required, ideally with exposure to early-stage biologics programs
- Hands-on experience with biologics, including design, recombinant expression, purification, and characterization in E. coli and preferably mammalian systems
- Knowledge of biologic developability attributes relevant for preclinical and clinical progression
- Experience driving program strategy, prioritizing experiments, and making scientific decisions that advance therapeutic candidates
- Exposure to preclinical development and early-stage biologics programs is an advantage
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a small, highly interdisciplinary team
- Resilient and adaptable, comfortable navigating ambiguity in a dynamic early-stage program
- Ambitious, proactive and structured in problem-solving, with strong analytical and scientific judgment
- Flexibility, initiative, and adaptability to contribute across multiple areas of an early-stage program, with the ability to guide junior colleagues where relevant
- Proficiency in English at a professional level, both written and spoken
Working at BII
At BII we offer a purpose-driven community where science and innovation create meaningful change and impact in society. BII’s entrepreneurial environment is shaped and nurtured every day by our employees, start-ups, and everyone who joins us in bringing science to life. This role offers a unique opportunity to join Europe’s largest innovation and incubation initiative within life sciences and deep tech.
At BII, we value diversity, inclusion, and well-being at the core of our operations, believing that the best ideas emerge when diverse perspectives unite. Join us to work alongside passionate changemakers in a dynamic, supportive environment where you can grow, shape the future of life sciences, and make a meaningful impact.
Located in the heart of Copenhagen, our offices provide an inspiring setting for collaboration and innovation. You can find us at Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N.
See our open positions at BII on our career page or on LinkedIn.
Curious for more?
If you are curious to know more about the position, please contact Morten Lundh, EiR, on e-mail: mol@biostudio.dk.
To apply, please send your CV, cover letter, and academic transcripts by clicking on the “Apply now” button. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible and no later than 10th of February.
You can expect to hear from us after the application deadline, once the hiring team has reviewed all applications. We expect the interview process consisting of two interviews to take place during February and March.
