A 3 year PhD fellowship researching the molecular mechanisms underlying CSF production and their role in pathology is available at the Department of Neuroscience, starting November 1st 2019, or soon thereafter.
Background
The PhD project is part of a collaborative project (Lundbeck Foundation thematic grants) with the clinical group led by Professor Rigmor Højland Jensen, Glostrup Hospital, working on patients with elevated intracranial pressure in obese individuals, so-called idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The PhD project will be carried out at Department of Neuroscience https://in.ku.dk/ in collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research http://cbmr.ku.dk, at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
Project description
The work-package residing at SUND (with Professor Nanna MacAulay https://in.ku.dk/research/nanna-macaulay/) will focus primarily on the hypothesis that overweight rats (mimicking the human condition) have elevated secretion of brain fluids. The work package is managed by an assistant professor, who will carry out the in vivo experimentation, and the posted PhD fellow, who will predominantly take care of the bioinformatics analyses related to RNA analysis of the fluid secreting tissue, choroid plexus, in these rats. In addition, the PhD fellow will participate in the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from patients, but also do some cell work in the laboratory. Associate professors Tune H. Pers and Matt Gillum, CMBR, are associated with this part of the project.
The research group currently exists of 4-5 post-docs/assistant professor and 2 other PhD students + a technician and mainly works on in vivo and ex vivo experimentation on rodents, cell culture, Western blot/IHC, and electrophysiology. The group is very keen on including a PhD student within the field of bioinformatics to add this expertise to our research.
Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist, who ideally has the following competencies and qualifications:
- Bachelor and master degrees in biomedical or natural sciences, ideally with expertise within basic biology/biomedicine and bioinformatics
- Experience in programming languages R and/or Python
- Experience with RNA-seq data analysis
- Experience with basic laboratory work
- An ambitious and critical mind-set
- Ability to work alone as well as in a group setting
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral
Key criteria for the assessment of applicants - Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
- Relevant work experience
- Grade point average
- Previous publications
- Other professional activities
- Language skills
Highly motivated and ambitious candidates are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen encourages career development of its graduate students and the position carries an obligation to conduct some undergraduate teaching within the Medical School.
In all cases, the ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration, and thus the University of Copenhagen wishes to encourage everyone interested in this post to apply, regardless of personal background.
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 formulated by the applicant and the supervisor.
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 27.135 DKK /approx. 3.585 EUR (April 2019-level) plus pension.
Questions For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor Professor Nanna MacAulay
macaulay@sund.ku.dk 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: August 16th 2019 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
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.
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.