PhD scholarships at the Department of Communication

 

The Department of Communication at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen is inviting applications for 3 three-year PhD scholarships starting on 1 September 2022.

We are interested in innovative PhD project proposals that further the department’s already strong, international research profile. The department is organized into eight sections and three centers. We expect applicants to account for how the proposed research project contributes to the department’s existing research and point to which section or center is best suited to host the project. If the proposed project is situated between different research fields, applicants may name two or more sections/centers. Please read about the sections and centers here: https://comm.ku.dk/research/

Introduction

PhD studies consist of research programmes that qualify students for independent and wide-ranging research, development and teaching at international level. The main emphasis is on PhD students organising and conducting their own research project (under supervision). The programme culminates in the submission of a PhD thesis, which the student must defend in public. The programme is prescribed to 180 ECTS points, corresponding to three years of full-time study.

A PhD opens up a range of career opportunities in academia and elsewhere. As well as writing a thesis, PhD students work in active research environments in Denmark and abroad. They contribute to the academic environment, take research training courses and convey the results of their research in teaching, at academic conferences and to the general public.

Qualification requirements

Applicants must have a two-year Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent and, as a minimum, have submitted a Master’s thesis for which they have received pre-approval at the time of application.

The qualifications of applicants with non-Danish Master’s degrees will be assessed to ascertain whether they correspond to the Danish level. For further information, please refer to the website of the Ministry of Education and Research: https://ufm.dk/en/education/admission-and-guidance.

Applicants must possess skills in written and spoken academic English at a high level. If deemed necessary, the department may request that applicants document their English skills.

Application

All applications must be submitted online, in PDF or Microsoft Word format, via the link “Apply now” at the bottom of the page.

The application must include:

1. Project abstract

(max.1,200 characters with spaces)

2. Personal statement (max. one page)

In their personal statements, applicants are encouraged to:

• outline how the PhD project relates to other research activities at the department, including the availability of supervisors
• describe as clearly as possible their competencies and personal qualifications relevant to the PhD programme.

3. CV

Applications must be accompanied by a CV (max.one page) and a list of publications, where relevant.

4. Documentation (diplomas and transcripts)

Applicants must upload the following:

• A copy of their Master’s degree diploma or similar (if this is not available by the application deadline, applicants must document pre-approval of their Master’s thesis)
• A copy of their Master’s degree transcript
• A copy of their Bachelor’s degree diploma
• A copy of their Bachelor’s degree transcript.

Applicants with a degree from a university where the working language is not English or one of the Scandinavian languages must submit a translation of their Master’s diploma and/or diploma transcripts approved by the Danish embassy or consulate in the country where the original document was issued. These documents must be translated into English, Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. An official description of the grading scale (and a diploma supplement where relevant) must also be attached.

Chinese applicants must attach a China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Evaluation Committee (CADGEEC) certificate. Read more about CADGEEC here.

5. Project description

Applications must include a detailed project description covering the problem formulation, overall objectives, methodology, design and timetable (max. five pages/12,000 characters, incl. spaces, excl. bibliography).

Applicants who anticipate incurring extraordinary expenses (related to questionnaires, fieldwork, extended stay(s) abroad, equipment, etc.) must include brief comments about this in their project description.

Guidelines and good advice on project descriptions are available here.

6. Other relevant material

Statements of consent, e.g., regarding access to special archives and approval of studies abroad, may be submitted along with the applications. It is not necessary to include commitments from supervisors.

Please do not upload or submit recommendations, publications, theses, etc.

Assessment criteria

The following criteria are applied when assessing PhD applications:

• The quality, originality and feasibility of the PhD project
• Research qualifications, as reflected in the attached CV and project description
• Competencies and knowledge of relevant fields of academic research
• Level (grades obtained) of Bachelor and Master’s studies.

Please note that only a few scholarships are awarded at each call for applications and competition is intense.

The recruitment process 

After the deadline for applications, the Head of Department considers advice from the Appointment Committee and then selects applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether or not they have been shortlisted. After this, the Head of Department sets up an expert Assessment Committee to assess the shortlisted applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. Individual applicants will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced. The assessments are expected to be completed by the end of March 2022.

Enrolment

It is a prerequisite for employment that successful applicants enrol at the PhD School of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen.

For further information about the structure of the PhD programme, please refer to: https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/become-phd-student/what-is-it/structure-of-the-phd-programme

For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, please refer to: https://phd.ku.dk/english/

Remuneration and terms of employment

Appointment as a PhD Fellow is subject to the collective bargaining agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

We seek to reflect the breadth and diversity of society and encourage applications irrespective of personal background.

The deadline for applications is 26 January 2022, at 23:59 CET.

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

However, changes may be made to the submitted application right up until the deadline.

For further information about the application procedure, please refer to the University of Copenhagen website: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

For further information about the structure and rules of the PhD programme, please e-mail the PhD Administration at HR South and City Campuses, e-mail: phd@hrsc.ku.dk.

If you have any questions about the academic content of the PhD programme, please e-mail Deputy Head of Department for Research and PhD coordinator, Mette Mortensen phd-komm@hum.ku.dk

For any further questions regarding the recruitment process please contact HR-employee Salma Schou, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk, please refer to ID number 211-0952/21-2H

 

APPLY NOW

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Info

Application deadline: 26-01-2022

Employment start: 01-09-2022

Department/Location: Institut for Kommunikation

PhD fellowship in food biotechnology

 

Department of Food Science, Section of Food Analytics and Biotechnology, invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in food biotechnology with the aim to identify enzymes in germinating seeds, produce those heterologously and explore their use in protein extraction with start 1/4-2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

The PhD position is part of a project funded by the Danish research council: ‘Realising the plant protein future: gentle seed deconstruction (Seedstruction)’.

Obtaining seed storage proteins with good functional properties to be used in food is challenging due to reasons such as the dense packing of proteins within the seed cells. Current methods involve physicochemical treatments based on fractionation of the cells, requiring significant resources, e.g. water and energy, resulting in environmental impact that can be comparable to that of animal proteins production. Seedstruction will generate new knowledge required to identify novel bioinspired enzymatic technologies that combined with gentle flow/mixing will enable release of highly functional proteins from whole seeds with minimal requirements for purification, resulting in sustainable processes with reduced water and energy use.

The aim of the PhD position is to explore the potential to release and extract seed storage proteins in a mild, controlled, and sustainable way by using enzymatic methods inspired by the pea plant’s own mechanism to mobilise the storage proteins during germination. This involves 1) establishing enzymatic events and identify enzymes during germination using mass-spectrometry, 2) producing and characterising the identified enzymes in E. coli, 3) use combinations of the produced enzymes to release seed storage proteins from dry pea seeds and 4) explore the role of hydration and flow on enzymatic reactions and how these can be combined to facilitate access of the enzymes to the central part of the seeds, in particular in low water systems.

Specfic tasks for the PhD position in food biotechnology:

• Detailed mapping of germination events: identification of enzymes using mass-spectrometry and structural changes of cells and protein bodies using confocal microscopy.
• Cloning and production of selected enzymes in E. coli followed by biochemical characterisation.
• Enzymatic digestion of seed material and characterisation of released storage proteins.
• Exploring high density systems for enzymatic treatments of seed material.

The principal supervisors are Dr. Ourania Gouseti, ourania@food.ku.dk and Dr. Poul Erik Jensen, Department of Food Science, UCPH, peje@food.ku.dk.

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology or bioengineering. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Salary range starts at DKK 27,871.40 per month incl. PhD supplement (1 Oct. 2021 level).

General responsibilities

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, which will be abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for one or more of the following qualifications:

• A MSc degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, or biotechnology
• Practical experience in seed and germination biology
• Proteomics, mass-spectrometry and related bioiformatics
• Heterologous production of enzymes
• Enzyme assays,
• Protein analysis: SDS-PAGE and UV-spectroscopy
• Excellent English communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong work ethics
• High ambitions
• Team player

Key selection criteria:

• Professional qualifications relevant for the position
• Relevant work experience
• Language skills
• Creative thinking
• Level of enthusiasm and motivation

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
4. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
5. Publication list (if possible)
6. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 27th of January 2022, 23:59 GMT+1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in late February 2022.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

APPLY NOW

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Info

Application deadline: 27-01-2022

Employment start: 01-04-2022

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: FOOD

PhD Fellowship in Chromatin Replication, Epigenetic memory, and Genome stability

Article

 

One PhD fellowship is available in the Groth group at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (NNF CPR, https://www.cpr.ku.dk/) at the University of Copenhagen. 
  
Before entering the 3-year fellowship, the successful candidate will have an initial employment as Research assistant for 1 year scheduled to start 1 April 2022 or after agreement.

Our Group
The focus of the Groth group is to elucidate how chromatin organization and function is propagated during mitotic cell division to maintain genome and epigenome stability. Our goal is to understand mechanisms that underpin epigenetic cell memory and how they impact on cell fate decisions in development and epigenetic/genetic instability in cancer. We apply innovative proteomic and genomic approaches in combination with cutting-edge cell biology, high-content imaging, chromatin biochemistry and structural biology. Our group is diverse and multidisciplinary with many scientific collaborations nationally and internationally, and we put high value on idea sharing and use Creative Problem Solving tools to develop our research projects. We also have a translational focus connected to our spin-out company Ankrin Therapeutics.

The Groth Group is part of the Protein Memory Program at NNF CPR, a multidisciplinary and international research center with a highly collaborative research environment and cutting-edge core facilities, such as genomics, proteomics, protein imaging, protein production and characterization, big data management platforms.

Project Description
The projects will address transmission of chromatin organization through DNA replication, which is key to understand epigenetic cell memory in development and disease (Stewart-Morgan et al., 2020 Nature Cell Biology). The successful candidate will join a team addressing how histones are recycled to the daughter DNA strands, using this as an entry point to elucidate how epigenome inheritance impacts gene expression in daughter cells and during development. This project builds on the recent discovery of pathways controlling recycling of parental histones by us (Petryk et al., 2018 Science) and others with links to chromatin plasticity, 3D genome organization, and genome stability. The candidate will have opportunity to learn cutting-edge genomics and proteomic approaches, genome-editing, and participate in development of super-resolution microscopy methods.

Required qualifications  
As an applicant you must have: 

• Obtained (or expect to have obtained) a Master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish Master’s degree) in Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics or related areas prior to the starting date 
• Highly collaborative mindset and ability to work independently
• Fluency in English and excellent written and oral communication skills   

Preferred qualifications 
We are especially interested in candidates with:

• Background in chromatin biology, DNA replication, developmental biology or genome stability
• Previous experience in next generation sequencing approaches and data analysis, protein biochemistry, genome-editing and/or super-resolution microscopy is an advantage. All necessary training will be provided to help you succeed. 
   

Job description 
During the first year as Research assistant, the candidate will have to formulate a PhD project, help out with research tasks and start become familiar with the research field of interest and apply for enrolment as PhD fellow.

Article Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at the Faculty are to: 

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision 
• Write scientific articles and the PhD thesis on the grounds of your research project 
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points 
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project 
• Participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings  
• Stay at an external research institution, preferably abroad  

 

Place of employment

The employment is at CPR (www.cpr.ku.dk), a Novo Nordisk Foundation center of excellence established in 2007 and embedded in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, to promote basic and applied research on human proteins of medical relevance. The Center comprises modern laboratories, supercomputer resources and state-of-the- art facilities within protein science and genomics. CPR is an interdisciplinary international environment with English as the main language. We are located in central Copenhagen, a city with one of the highest qualities of life in the world and a vibrant and highly interactive research environment.

 

Terms of employment
The employment as Research assistant is full time and for 1 year. 
Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary begins around 29,600 DKK /approx. 3.980EUR (February 2021-level) plus pension.

The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years. 
It is conditioned upon the applicant’s successful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, as well as a positive assessment of the 1-year research assistant position. Enrolment at the Graduate School requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant (for more information, please see https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/).

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2019) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary begins around 27,871 DKK /approx. 3.741 EUR (October 2021-level) plus pension.

Questions
For further information, please contact Prof. Anja Groth; e-mail anja.groth @cpr.ku.dk . For administrative information please contact the HR Center, sund-hr-cpr@sund.ku.dk.
 
Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 
-    Letter of motivation 
-    CV incl. contact details of three references and a complete list of publications, if applicable
-    Transcripts of university studies (BSc and MSc, showing individual grades). If the MSc has not yet been completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor will be fine.

Application deadline: 30 Janaury 2022, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.
The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.
Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.
You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 1443 of 11 December 2020 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universitie

APPLY NOW

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Info

Application deadline: 30-01-2022

Employment start: 01-04-2022

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research

Article

PhD fellowship in Geodynamics

Article

 

The Geology Section at IGN invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Dynamics/thermodynamics of the North Atlantic lithosphere/upper mantle.

Start date is (expected to be) 15 April 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
This project aims at studying the vertical motions of the North Atlantic lithosphere throughout the Cenozoic in connection with flow of, and heat-flow out of, the underlying mantle. The project aims at using geological records in connection with quantitative models in order to test hypotheses on the temporal and spatial patterns of movements in the tectonic region. Attention will be placed to the geodynamics of Greenland and surrounding regions. The project is funded by the Geocenter Danmark, and will be carried out in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of geodynamics/geophysics. Applicants can have a background from Earth sciences, geosciences, geophysics, and physics.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The successful candidate will be working within the Geophysics group of the Geology Section at IGN, which focuses on the application and development of physics-based methods to studies of the solid Earth, including seismic methods, geodynamic modelling, georadar methods, wireline logs, etc.

The group is a part of the Geology Section at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.

Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Giampiero Iaffaldano (IGN), email: giia@ign.ku.dk, direct phone: +45 35 33 46 40.

The PhD programme involves a three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

********************************************************************************

Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Earth sciences, geosciences, geology, geophysics, physics. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). Article The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision 
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Good quantitative skills
• Good experience with geological data sets
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in geosciences
• Good language skills
• Good collaboration skills

***************************************************************************

Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page), including your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 31 January 2022, 23:59 GMT +1. 

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

APPLY NOW

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Info

Application deadline: 31-01-2022

Employment start: 15-04-2022

Department/Location: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

Article

PhD fellowship in therapeutic targeting of protein phosphatases at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research

Article

 

We are offering a 1-year research assistant followed by a 3-year PhD fellowship in therapeutic targeting of protein phosphatases commencing spring/summer 2022.

Our group and research
The Nilsson lab investigate how protein phosphatases achieve substrate specificity and exploits these specificity principles for precise phosphatase inhibition. A key discovery has been the identification of short consensus binding motifs as major specificity determinants for the PP2A-B56 and PP4 protein phosphatases (Hertz et al, Mol Cell 2016 and Ueki et al, Mol Cell 2019). These consensus binding motifs engage conserved pockets on globular domains of the protein phosphatases hereby bringing the phosphatase in proximity of its substrates. The consensus binding motifs guide several important biological processes such as cell division, homologous recombination as well as viral infections (Kruse et al, Mol Cell 2018 and Ambjørn Nature Communications 2021). The Nilsson lab is an international lab integrating biochemical assays with cell-based assays and microscopy to drive new discoveries in the area of protein phosphatases. We emphasize the importance of interdisciplinarity, teamwork, openness, and knowledge- and information sharing in our work together.

 

Project description
We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled PhD fellow to join the lab to develop the first in line specific inhibitors of protein phosphatases based on our pioneering work on consensus binding motifs. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with Bach Group (University of Copenhagen) that has a strong expertise in fragment-based drug discovery. The project entails fragment based screening by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and further development of hit compounds using structural and computational approaches followed by in depth cellular analysis of target specificity and therapeutic effects. The PhD fellow will work in both the Nilsson and Bach labs to bridge small molecule discoveries with precise phenotypic screens in cells to fully exploit the expertise of both labs.

Principal supervisor is Professor Jakob Nilsson, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, jakob.nilsson@cpr.ku.dk

Start:                 Spring or early summer 2022

Duration:          3 years as a PhD student + 12 months as research assistant for enrolment

 

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

 

Article Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
 We are looking for highly motivated and skilled applicants interested in bringing basic scientific discoveries to translation applications by developing precise small molecules with established mode of action. Applicants must have a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. drug discovery, biochemistry and cell based assays. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years). Prior knowledge on one or more of the following techniques are preferred:

• Insights into medicinal chemistry concepts like structure-activity relationship (SAR), physicochemical properties related to drug-likeness and biological activity.
• Biochemical and cell-based assays development to evaluate compound affinity and biological activity.
• Small molecule compound screening by SPR

Other important criteria are:

• A collaborative mindset
• Ability for independent work and thinking
• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in working in a collaborative environment.
• Language skills

 

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state of the art technologies in high content microscopy, mass spectrometry and protein purification and structural studies.

 

Terms of employment
The employment as RA and PhD fellow is full time and for a total of 4 years.

The employment as PhD fellow is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant during an initial 12-month employment as a research assistant.

 

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.

 

Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 27,800 DKK/Roughly 3,700 EUR (October 2021 level) plus pension.

 

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science

4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline:  31/1 2022, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

 

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

 

Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

 

You find information about the recruitment process at: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

 

The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

 

Interviews are expected to be held from 21st to 25th of February

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7500 students, 1500 PhD students and 3200 employees. The Faculty advances the field of health sciences through its core activities: research, teaching, knowledge sharing and communication. With basic research fields ranging from molecular studies to studies of society, the Faculty contributes to a healthy future through its graduates, research findings and inventions benefitting patients and the community. The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

APPLY NOW

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

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Application deadline: 31-01-2022

Employment start: 01-05-2022

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research

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PhD fellowship in Circadian Neurobiology and Endocrinology in Copenhagen

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We are offering a PhD fellowship in circadian neuroendocrinology commencing on April 1, 2022 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Our group and research
Our research is focused on the 24h circadian system of the mammalian brain. We have a special interest in the circadian interplay between the endocrine system and circadian clocks in the brain.
You will be part of a young, friendly, energetic, highly productive and international research group, including postdocs, PhD-students and technical support. Daily contacts between PI and junior scientists and weekly lab meetings ensure frequent guidance. We discuss new data and project progress on a daily basis.

Our lab facilities are located in central Copenhagen.

Information on the department and our research group can be found at:  https://in.ku.dk/research/rath-lab/

Project description

Recent progress suggests that circadian hormones control circadian function of brain neurons. In this project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, our aim is to determine the role of rhythmic hormones in plasticity and large-scale gene expression in the cerebral cortex. Your main task will be to perform stereotaxic surgeries in brains of rats in combination with circadian infusion of hormones, namely melatonin and cortisol, by use of programmable micropumps. You will subsequently analyse the circadian profile by telemetric and behavorial techniques. The cerebral cortex, including the hippocampus, will undergo extensive state-of-the-art molecular biological and biochemical analyses. You will work closely with Professor Martin Fredensborg Rath and other group members.

We expect you to spend at least six months in the laboratory of our collaborators, professor Janne Grønli and professor Silje Skrede, at University of Bergen, Norway.

Principal supervisor is Professor Martin Fredensborg Rath, Department of Neuroscience, e-mail mrath@sund.ku.dk , direct phone 9356 5394.

Start:                April 1, 2022

Duration:         3 years as a PhD student

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
• Participate in active research environments including a stay at another research team
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teach and disseminate your knowledge
• Write a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project e.g. molecular biomedicine, human biology, neuroscience, veterinary medicine, biomedicine, biology or medicine.

Other important criteria are:

• Article Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Permission to work with laboratory animals
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in circadian endocrinology and neurobiology
• Language skills

Place of employment

The place of employment is at Department of Neuroscience, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment with short distance between the group leader and team members and strong local and international collaborations. Our research facilities include brand new laboratories and equipment designed to specifically meet the requirements of our projects, including this specific PhD project.

Also, you will be part our Graduate Program in Neuroscience hosting a number of highly popular scientific and social activities: https://neurograd.ku.dk 

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years.

It is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary begins around 27,800 DKK /approx. 3,700 EUR (October 2021-level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

3. Master of Science diploma and transcript of records. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor will do

4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline:  January 31, 2022, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held in February/March.

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7500 students, 1500 PhD students and 3200 employees. The Faculty advances the field of health sciences through its core activities: research, teaching, knowledge sharing and communication. With basic research fields ranging from molecular studies to studies of society, the Faculty contributes to a healthy future through its graduates, research findings and inventions benefitting patients and the community. The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

APPLY NOW

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Contact

Martin Fredensborg Rath

E-mail: mrath@sund.ku.dk

Info

Application deadline: 31-01-2022

Employment start: 01-04-2022

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: Department of Neuroscience

Article