PhD fellowship in Functional Proteomics

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research

University of Copenhagen

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Functional proteomics commencing March 1, 2023, or after agreement.

Our group and research:

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research’s vision is to strengthen interdisciplinary research that transforms our basic understanding of the mechanisms that underlie metabolic health and disease, and to accelerate this knowledge toward new prevention and treatment strategies. We were established in 2010 and in 2017, we moved into new laboratories, offices, and meeting rooms in the Maersk Tower www.maersktower.ku.dk .

The Center has around 260 employees who work in an international, highly collaborative research environment across a range of biomedical disciplines. You can read more about us here: www.cbmr.ku.dk .

The Group:

Our goal is to investigate protein dynamics and how they relate to metabolism. By using Mass-Spectrometry-based proteomics, we provide detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate whole-body metabolism. We uncover new insights into metabolic disease, and strategies for their prevention and treatment. More information about the group can be found here.

Project description:

We seek an enthusiastic, passionate researcher to perform a PhD project in functional proteomics. The main objective of the PhD project is to identify and understand subcellular organelle level protein dynamics of insulin and exercise stimulated skeletal muscle. The successful applicant will apply sucrose gradient fractionation, proteomics, bioinformatics and microscopy techniques on skeletal muscle tissue and work in an interdisciplinary team comprising molecular biologists, bioinformatics and cell biologist.

Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Atul Deshmukh, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, E-mail: atul.deshmukh@sund.ku.dk

Start: March1, 2023, or after agreement

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 Biology, Molecular Biomedicine, Biochemistry, Medicine or Human Biology. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (BSc 3 years + MSc 2 years).

Other important criteria are:

• Work experience relevant to the PhD project:
  • Hands-on experience using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on Thermo Scientific instruments with standard software instrument control (Xcaliber)
  • Knowledge concerning preparation of biological samples (e.g. tissue, cells, plasma, serum) for MS-based proteomics
  • Experience conducting a variety of different analyses, such as sucrose gradient fractionation, staining/labelling and microscopy
  • Ability to pursue and evaluate quantitative analysis and skills to analyze complex proteomics data sets using MaxQuant and Perseus or other related softwares.
  • Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project, including statistical analysis methods and knowledge within coding language, including R
• Curious mind-set with strong competences and a interest in the protein dynamics in the cell of complex metabolic diseases in human
• The grade point average achieved
• Previous scientific publications
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Skills in interdisciplinary research work
• Prior knowledge and experience in metabolic research.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic 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, bioinformatics and statistic guidance, and access to big data from multiple cohorts.

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years. The starting date is March 1, 2023, or after agreement.

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 formulated by the applicant

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 Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 28,400 DKK/Roughly 3,800 EUR (October 2022 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. 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. 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: 16 November 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.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

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.