PhD fellowship in novel peptide hormone discovery and exploration

Department of Biology
Faculty of SCIENCE

University of Copenhagen



The department of Biology invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in peptide hormone discovery and exploration.

Start date is expected to be October 1st 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

We are seeking a highly motivated biologist or biochemist to join our research team in the discovery and exploration of novel peptide hormones using cell culture and mouse experiments. The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing our understanding of the endocrine system and metabolic regulation.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a candidate with an interest in the fields of endocrinology and obesity. Applicants can have a background from biology, biochemistry, biomedicine or similar.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct experiments using cell culture techniques to investigate the biological activity of novel peptides.
• Design and execute mouse experiments to study the metabolic effects of novel peptide hormones.
• Analyze experimental data and contribute to the interpretation of results.
• Optimize experimental protocols and troubleshoot technical challenges as needed.
• Stay updated on relevant scientific literature and contribute to the development of new research directions.
• Present research findings at internal meetings and external conferences.

Qualifications:

• Experience with cell culture techniques and molecular biology methods.
• FELASA certification and experience with mouse handling, including experimental design and procedures.
• Familiarity with peptide hormone biology and metabolism.
• Knowledge of metabolic assays and in vivo imaging techniques.
• Excellent communication skills and an open mindset.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience with bioinformatics tools and data analysis is highly desirable.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

We are a newly established group focusing on pairing prediction algorithms with cell assays and in vivo experiments to find novel peptide hormones with effects on metabolism. We combine the power of mammalian sequencing data with algorithms to predict peptides and assays to guage metabolism in order to find novel hormones. The ultimate aim is to find novel peptide hormones contributing to the development of new treatments for obesity and related disorders.

The group is a part of the department of Biology, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our buildings include modern laboratories and mouse facilities. Please contact the head of the hiring committee for any questions regarding the position:

1. Head of hiring committee Assistant Professor, Niels Banhos Danneskiold-Samsøe, Department of Biology, nds @ bio.ku.dk, phone: +45 26 44 97 22.
2. Principal supervisor Professor, Karsten Kristiansen, Department of Biology.

The PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the program
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. 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.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in PhD program

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme

(ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and 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
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in metabolism
• Good language skills

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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. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science and 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 20. June 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

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 http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held between June 21 and July 5th.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the head of the hiring comittee.

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.