Laboratory Animal Research specialist within the field of Parkinson’s Disease

PACE - The Lundbeck Foundation Parkinson’s Disease Research Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University invites applications for an AC-TAP position as a laboratory animal research specialist within the field of Parkinsons’ Disease as per 1 January 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 3 years.

PACE - Lundbeck Foundation Parkinson’s Disease Research Center

You will be part of PACE, the newly established Lundbeck Foundation Parkinson’s Disease Research Center, which is a translational research center focused on studies of Lewy body diseases. PACE consists of a close-knit community of world-leading research groups in basic and clinical Parkinson’s disease research, wherein a number of novel group leaders will be embedded. The center comprises research programs in clinical research and trials, longitudinal cohort building, multi-modal imaging, biobanks, epidemiology, neuropathology, wearables and biotech, experimental disease models including animal and cell models, and basic science programs in alpha-synuclein patho-mechanisms, neuroimmunology, and biomarker discovery. In two years, we expect to comprise 8-10 group leaders totaling 70+ researchers, students, and support staff. PACE is part of and collaborate closely with both Aarhus University, which is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top 100 universities, and Aarhus University Hospital, which in 2024 was elected Denmark’s best hospital for the 15th time.

PACE’s mission is to take research in Parkinson’s disease to the highest level possible and to improve life for people with Parkinson’s disease or other neurodegenerative disorders. We focus on discovering and validating novel innovative tools, biomarkers and disease-modifying mechanisms, which within a 10-year time frame will be applied in clinical trials. You can read more about PACE here. 

Department of Clinical Medicine

PACE is part of the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, which is probably the largest health science research department in Denmark. Our clinical research covers all medical specialties and takes place in close collaboration with the university hospital and the regional hospitals in the Central Denmark Region. We have approx. 30,000 square metres of modern research facilities for experimental surgery and medicine, animal facilities and advanced scanners at our disposal. The department has overall responsibility for the Master's degree programs in medicine and in molecular medicine. At the department we are approx. 670 academic employees, 500 PhD students and 160 technical/administrative employees who are cooperating across disciplines. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

Your job responsibilities

As a laboratory animal research specialist, your primary tasks are to give support to the research groups in PACE working with preclinical models of alpha-synucleinopathies. In your daily work, you have a close interaction with competent colleagues. The position involves providing expert support for in vivo rodent studies, including surgical procedures, behavioural testing, and biological sampling. The role includes advising on experimental design, ensuring regulatory compliance, training researchers in animal procedures, and facilitating collaboration between in vivo research groups. In addition, the position contributes to methodological development, adoption of new techniques, and educational activities within PACE. You will not be responsible for individual research projects but work in close collaboration with colleagues.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Generate and analyze in vivo behavior of rodent models of Parkinson’s Disease
• Provide hands-on support to research groups during in vivo experiments
• Train researchers in experimental procedures to ensure consistency and animal welfare
• Ensure compliance with approved protocols and national/institutional guidelines
• Advise on experimental design, model selection, and behavioral assays
• Support preparation of experimental project plans and license applications
• Monitor developments in animal models and behavioral assays relevant to Parkinson’s Disease, to evaluate and recommend new technologies and equipment for in vivo studies
• Participate in scientific meetings related to animal models and welfare
• Facilitate communication and coordination across research groups in PACE, to promote sharing of expertise, and infrastructure and support collaborations across groups
• Serve as a resource for best practices and skill development in vivo research

The position is a 3-year, full-time position.

You will report to Professor Marina Romero-Ramos.

Your competences

The successful candidate will have an excellent track record and will be a highly motivated self-driven candidate with a PhD or similar position and with at least 4 years of experience in the field of Parkinson’s disease. You have a deep understanding of the Parkinson’s disease biology and a background with in vivo preclinical models of the disease, both toxic and alpha-synuclein based models. You should be able to independently plan, execute, and troubleshoot in vivo experiments. You have excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

At the time of your hiring, it is required that you can independently perform the following:

• Advanced surgical techniques for in vivo modelling including stereotaxic brain injections, microinjections into the gastrointestinal wall and in the vagus nerve and vagotomy
• Run and analyse relevant motor and sensorimotor behavioural tests in rodents such as those used in the Parkinson’s field (i.e. challenging beam, cylinder, adhesive removal tests…)
• Can euthanize rodents and process diverse tissue for histological, biochemical and cellular analysis
• You can plan and run an in vivo animal study that will comply with the Danish regulation requirements for the use of laboratory animals for basic research

It is an absolute requirement that you have a FELASA B certificate and experience handling rodent of at least 4 years. You have experience in long term animal studies involving multiple labs. You have a thorough knowledge of in vivo experimental design and animal models, especially the model based on alpha-synuclein aggregation and spreading in Parkinson’s Disease. You should have published several (>3) per review articles in the field of Parkinson’s disease. Prior experience training and teaching will also be considered a plus.

As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented, and able to contribute to a good work environment.

We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Marina Romero-Ramos, mobile: 6020 2749.

Your place of work will be PACE - the Lundbeck Foundation Parkinson’s Disease Research Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, DK-8200 Aarhus N.

We expect to conduct interviews during weeks 47-48.

Terms of employment

Terms of employment and pay are regulated by the collective agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and academics in the state (AC)

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Indication of education (a copy of the diplomas should be uploaded)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the recruitment system

We refer to the faculty’s Guideline for applicants.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/