Breaking news for aspiring PhD researchers in mathematical and biological physics: the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, has opened applications for a fully funded PhD fellowship in Physics (Biocomplexity) under the internationally recognized PandemiX Center of Excellence. This is a doctoral research fellowship open to international students and is expected to recruit for the 2026–2027 cohort, with the PhD programme starting from March 2026 or shortly thereafter.
This article walks international applicants through what this PhD fellowship is about, what it offers, who can apply, and when the application deadline is, helping you assess whether this interdisciplinary research opportunity in Denmark aligns with your academic and research goals.
What is this PhD fellowship about?
This PhD fellowship focuses on biocomplexity and infectious disease dynamics, using tools from statistical physics, mathematics, and computational modelling to study pathogen behavior at the within-host level. The research explores how pathogens interact with the host immune system as stochastic and dynamical processes, with direct relevance to understanding respiratory diseases, pathogen evolution, and pandemic preparedness.
The project is jointly hosted at the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI) and the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) in Copenhagen and is embedded within the PandemiX Center of Excellence, a Danish National Research Foundation–funded initiative aiming to establish the emerging field of pandemiology.
What does this PhD Fellowship Offer?
Successful candidates will receive a fully funded PhD position under Denmark’s regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), offering both financial security and access to world-class research environments. The fellowship includes:
- Full-time PhD employment for up to 3 years
- Salary and employment conditions in line with Danish national academic agreements
- Enrollment at the PhD School, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen
- A highly interdisciplinary research environment across physics, biology, epidemiology, and data science
- Opportunities for international research stays, particularly with collaborators in the US and UK
- Access to leading research infrastructure at NBI, SSI, and PandemiX partner institutions
- Strong supervision from senior researchers in physics and epidemiology.
Eligibility checks for international applicants
To be considered for this PhD fellowship, applicants must meet the following academic and skill-based criteria:
- Hold a degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (BSc + MSc, typically 180 + 120 ECTS)
- Educational background in physics, applied mathematics, or a closely related field
- Applicants with a biology master’s degree are eligible if they demonstrate strong skills in mathematics and physics
- Strong competence in mathematical modelling, computational methods, or theoretical physics
- Demonstrated interest in applying physics to biological and epidemiological systems
- Excellent written and spoken English proficiency
- Ability to conduct independent, creative research in an interdisciplinary setting.
PhD Responsibilities and Research Training
The appointed PhD fellow will be expected to:
- Conduct an independent research project under expert supervision
- Complete approximately 30 ECTS of PhD coursework
- Actively participate in international research environments
- Contribute to teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
- Publish research in high-impact scientific journals
- Write and defend a PhD thesis based on the research project.
Apply: https://employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=152510.
Application deadline and timeline
The deadline to apply for the PhD fellowship in Physics (Biocomplexity) at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, is 1 January 2026 at 23:59 (GMT+1).
Only applications submitted electronically in English by this deadline will be considered for the 2026–2027 PhD cohort, with the programme expected to commence from 1 March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.