PhD fellowship in antimalarial drug resistance surveillance at the Centre for translational Medicine and Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology

We are offering a PhD fellowship in antimalarial drug resistance surveillance commencing 1 October 2024, or as soon as possible hereafter.



Our group and research
The research in the DRUGS Team explore various, mainly molecular aspects of pathogens causing vector-borne infectious diseases, with a focus on malaria. The research include efficacy of antimalarial drugs, testing of various novel strategies for providing prevention for the most vulnerable and molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance. A new focus is on climate change and its effects on emergence and distribution of vector-borne diseases. Our team consist of researchers at all levels from bachelor students to professors, with either a biological or a clinical background. See more at: https://cmp.ku.dk/research/drugsteam/



Project description

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in regions like Eastern Africa where the emergence and spread of antimalarial drug resistance pose substantial obstacles to control efforts. Understanding the dynamics of drug resistance and routes of transmission is crucial for informing effective interventions and safeguarding progress in malaria elimination efforts.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join our research team as a PhD fellow to investigate the emergence and relatedness of antimalarial drug resistance in Eastern Africa. This position will utilize cutting-edge Oxford Nanopore technology (ONT) to explore the genomic landscape of drug-resistant malaria parasites in the region. This project is a joint collaboration between University of Copenhagen and the Danish Technical University (Professor Frank Møller Aarestrup, Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, National Food Institute, DTU) and involves collaboration with several institutes in sub-Saharan Africa as well as London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.



Principal supervisor is Associate professor Michael Alifrangis, Centre for translational Medicine and Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, [email protected], Direct phone number: +45 2345 1804.

Start: August 1st 2024

Duration: 3 years as a PhD student



Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.

• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing 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. MSc. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project. In particular, experience with molecular biology with a focus on DNA, malaria, antimalarial drug resistance at molecular level and next generation sequencing and basic bioinformatics analyses.
• Previous publications within related topics
• Relevant work experience including experience with facilitating molecular training courses at institutions in sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience with training of other researchers in molecular methodologies and analyses of data
• Other professional activities
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in malaria and public health in general
• Language skills

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Centre for translational Medicine and Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, 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 and opportunities for visiting partner institutions in the South.



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 3 years. The start date is 1 October 2024 or after agreement.

The employment 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 30,700 DKK/Roughly 4,100 EUR (April 2024 level) plus pension.



Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD studies 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. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. 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: 29 May 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.

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 find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/



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