Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

University of Copenhagen

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Neuronal Cell and Membrane Biology commencing 1 July 2020 or as soon as possible hereafter.

The Group and Research

The research group started in 2013 and currently include 4 Post Docs, 3 PhD student, 3 master students, a research assistant and a technician. Our research addresses fundamental aspects of basic pharmacology, molecular pharmacology and neuropharmacology, with certain translational aspects. The work is divided into three Work Packages each containing a number of specific projects. Work Package 1 is focused on the pharmacology of PSD95/Disc-large/ZO-1 homology (PDZ) mediated proteins-protein interaction and how these domains might represent new attractive pharmacological targets as alternatives to surface receptors. Translational aspects of the WP relate to PDZ inhibitors for treatment of pain and addiction. Work Package 2 seeks to understand the role of protein-membrane interactions in context of synaptic transmission and generation of Large Dense Core vesicles. It further explores the controversial idea that trafficking of receptors and transporters, which in many cases is strongly integrated with their pharmacology, is determined not only by protein-protein interactions, but also by yet unappreciated protein-lipid interactions that govern localization of the receptors and transporters to areas of high membrane curvature in the plasma membrane. Work Package 3 is aimed at obtaining fundamental new understanding of dopamine signalling processes in the brain and its relation to PKA signalling. Evidently, this has broad pharmacotherapeutic perspectives given the key role of dysfunctional dopamine signalling in many brain disease including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, Parkinsons’ Disease and drug abuse.

Methodologically, we specialize in molecular biology, protein purification, receptor binding, advanced light microscopy, including live microscopy and fluorescence energy transfer microscopy (FRET), as well trafficking assays of integral membrane proteins using ELISA and confocal microscopy.

Project description

The project fall within WP2: ‘The specificity of cellular communication relies on proper localization of receptors, channels or transporters to their respective sites of action (e.g. synapses, endosomal compartments or synaptic vesicles). Consensus holds that trafficking, sorting and localization of such transmembrane (TM) proteins is achieved through semi-specific protein-protein interactions with an array of intracellular adaptor proteins. As a consequence, TM proteins act as passive

cargo or “innocent bystanders” in the actual processes. Our working hypothesis is that prominent amphipathic helices (AHs), know to read out nanoscopic membrane curvature in soluble protein inside the cell, may similarly serve as ‘curvature sensors’ within TM proteins to direct their localization to cellular compartments simply by means of decoding the membrane shape. Here, I propose to experimentally map these motifs genome-wide. This effort will strengthen a novel trafficking paradigm, and facilitate research into the specific function of these motifs world-wide. Meanwhile, cross-reference with mutational databases is likely to shed new light on disease mechanisms, which may well unravel AHs as putative points of therapeutic intervention.’

Principal supervisor is Associate professor, Kenneth Lindegaard Madsen, Department of Neuroscience, [email protected], Direct Phone: +45 23649401.

Start: 1 July 2020 or as soon as possible

Duration: 3 years as a PhD student

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

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
• Participate in active research environments including a stay at another research team
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teach and disseminate your knowledge
• Write 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. Molecular Biomedicine, Human Biology, Biochemistry etc.

Other important criteria are:

• Excellence in protein-membrane interactions in vitro
• Excellence in bioinformatics
• Experience in flow cytometry
• Experience in confocal microscopy
• Training in super-resolution microscopy
• Experience in molecular biology
• Experience in quantitative image analysis and scripting
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in Protein Trafficking and Neuroscience
• Good English skills

Place of employment

The place of employment is at Neuropharmacology and Genetics Lab, Department of Neuroscience, 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 access to all relevant experimental facilities.

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.

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 27,593 DKK /approx. 3,698 EUR (April 2020-level) plus pension.

The position I covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academics Staff at the Universities” of January 2020.

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

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: 19 May 2020, 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 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.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk