PhD fellowship in Physics

The Niels Bohr Institute, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Mechanobiology and Active Matter. The project is part of the research project “PhysCoMeT”, which is financed by the Eurpean Union’s ERC Starting Grant.

Start date is (expected to be) 1 February 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

Active matter comprises a wide range of living systems including cells, bacteria, and subcellular filaments, as well as artificial and synthetic materials that are continuously driven far from equilibrium by their constituent elements. Fundamental biological processes such as cell division, cell death, and the emergence of coordinated motion of cells are governed by the activation of biochemical signals by mechanical stresses and by the physics of active matter. This research project will use theoretical and computational modeling with potential applications in the life sciences.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of soft and active matter physics with the knowledge on active topological defects and active turbulence. Applicants can have a background from theoretical and computational modeling of active materials.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

At the Active Intelligent Matter Group we combine multiscale modeling – discrete and continuum simulations - with in-house experiments to address various aspects of complexities in active materials. This spans a wide range of problems from revealing the impact of mechanical forces on biochemical signalling in cells, investigating the dynamics of bacterial competition, to design and control of bio-inspired materials that are capable of self-organization, self-healing, and self-pumping.

We offer a highly creative and collaborative research atmosphere at the interface between physics, biology and fluid mechanics. The PhD fellowship is given in accordance with Danish legislation and will typically run for 3 years. The salary is set accordingly to Danish Union Contracts which are quite competitive on an international scale.

The group is a part of Niels Bohr Institute, 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 research facilities include modern laboratories and high performance computing facilities.

Principal supervisor is Prof. Amin Doostmohammadi, Niels Bohr Institute, [email protected], +45 53364260.



The PhD programme

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.

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. 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). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks

• 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 soft matter systems
• Good language 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)
2. CV including publications (if any)
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. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 5 October 2023, 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 in week 45.

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.