Postdoctoral researcher of Barrier Immunology at the Department of Immunology & Microbiology

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc who would like to join the group of Barrier Immunology at the LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center (SIC), Department of Immunology & Microbiology for a 2-year position to commence on October 1st, 2024.

As postdoc, you would join and help shape our future research activities around understanding intestinal immune responses in humans during health and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). By using cutting edge experimental wet lab and in silico tools, you would contribute to drawing a multifaceted picture on human intestinal immunity.

Information on the department can be found at: https://isim.ku.dk/ and https://sic.ku.dk/



Our research
We and our collaborating partners strive to generate fundamental insights into the cellular and molecular networks that regulate intestinal immune responses. As a postdoctoral fellow, you would join a superb and diverse team of international researchers within the newly established NovoNordisk Foundation challenge grant-funded ‘Center for Intestinal Immune Regulation (CIIR)’. CIIR comprises of 4 collaborating teams (Agace, University of Copenhagen; McCoy, Calgary (Canada); Bendtsen, Hvidovre hospital; Rønn-Larsen, Technical University of Denmark) whose combined expertise in mucosal immunology, gastroenterology, microbiota-host interactions, bioinformatics and state-of-the-art animal models aims to identify intestinal immune-stromal interactions important in intestinal homeostasis and IBD. In joining, you will be part of a highly vibrant and cross-disciplinary team of researchers at the international forefront of mucosal barrier immunology research.



Your job

We are looking for a highly engaged candidate to join our current research activities and contribute in deciphering the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie IBD.

Your tasks as a postdoctoral fellow would include:

• A close collaboration with local hospitals to retrieve and process surgical resection material from the human intestine.
• Flexible in working hours to process patient-derived biological specimens.
• The generation and analysis of complex and high-dimensional data, for example by applying (but not limited to) flow cytometry, cell sorting, histology and single-cell transcriptomics.
• Establishment of human intestinal epithelial organoids including epithelial/fibroblast coculture techniques
• Designing, writing and amending study protocols to pursue our scientific projects.
• Supervision of early-stage scientists.
• Help to acquire external funding for future research activities.
• Presentation and dissemination of research activities to scientific peers and the broader public.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following skills and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in immunology or a related field.
• You have hands on experience in the processing of human intestinal surgical tissues including isolation of intestinal lamina propria and gut associated lymphoid tissues
• You are experienced in multi-colour flow cytometry and cell sorting
• You are experienced in cell culture work and specifically in the generation of human intestinal organoid
• You have experience with single-cell isolation and library construction for single-cell RNA sequencing
• You have experience with data visualization and analysis using R
• Previous experience with translational research within inflammatory bowel diseases
• You have documented experience in writing scientific articles for publication.
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams.
• You have experience in acquiring funding for research activities.
• Excellent English skills written and spoken.

Desirable experience and skills:

• A strong Interest to study intestinal fibroblast functions
• Knowledge of the European Union GDPR rule framework, required to implement studies based on patient-derived biological specimens.
• Possessing a medical degree.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Immunology & Microbiology (ISIM), LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center, Panum Institute, 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 core facilities to fulfill the experimental project aims. As you would be part of highly collaborative scientific network, also the research infrastructure of collaborating partners may be used.



Terms of employment

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 2 years. The start date is October 1st, 2024, or after agreement.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or another relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 35,000 DKK/approx. 4,700 EUR (October 2021 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.



Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.



The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.



Questions
For further information please contact Professor William Agace ([email protected]) www.sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).



Application procedure
Your application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (Max. one page)
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do
4. List of publications
5. Teaching portfolio (If applicable)

Deadline for applications: 21 April 2024, 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. 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 http://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 from week 21.



The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.