BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen is seeking 14 highly motivated and dynamic postdoc fellows to commence the BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme on September 1, 2021. Fellows will be appointed for a period of two years and receive an annual sum of DKK 50.000 to cover costs for PC, travel, conference and workshop participation, language courses and other activities outside the programme.

The BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme is financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with the ambition to train fellows in the area of translational medicine, mentored by fully committed and top level professionals in basic biomedical research, a clinical environment and the life science industry. The programme is developed as a clear career path for candidates whose ambition is to bridge the gap between research, medicine and the life science industry and for those wishing to become pioneering leaders in the field of translational medicine.

The BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme expects to appoint 7 fellows with an MD background and 7 fellows with an MSc background.

Application deadline is February 28, 2021, at 23:59 CET. Appointed fellows are expected to participate in a two-day Boot Camp on September 2-3, 2021. Mentors are expected to participate on September 2, 2021.

Research area

The BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme will provide the fellows with the ability to translate insights from basic research into the clinical sciences and vice versa and the competences to manage essential collaboration between disciplines.

The programme will cover the translational stages T0 (Population/clinic to lab feedback, Disease modelling -omic studies, Basic research), T1 (Biomarker discovery, Target development, Pre-clinical development) and border to early T2 (First in human, Phase 1 clinical trials, Phase 2 clinical trials, Phase 2b clinical trials).

Job description

Appointed fellows will spend 80% of their time on individual translational research projects mentored by a Mentor Team consisting of a basic biomedical scientist and a clinical scientist from a hospital or the life science industry. The fellows will spend 20% of their time on a mandatory Academic Curriculum that will cover the translational stages T0 to early T2 in addition to generic skills such as research management, ethics, research communication and successful grant writing. Please find more information about the Academic Curriculum here.

Eligibility

To become a BRIDGE-fellow applicants to need to have:

• An MD and a PhD or equivalent (proof of an appointment that requires doctoral equivalency). Specialist training is no hindrance to apply, and medical training is appreciated.

or

• An MSc and a PhD within a relevant discipline such as veterinary science, biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, pharmacy, dentistry or medical engineering.

As a PhD student you may apply, provided that you attach a declaration from your supervisor stating that your thesis will be submitted and defended prior to project commencement on September 1, 2021.

Mentor Teams

Fellows must apply for the programme in cooperation with a Mentor Team.

A Mentor Team consists of two or three mentors, representing 1) the basic biomedical science environment (from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH) and 2) clinical research (from the Capital Region of Denmark or Region Zealand) or life science industry environment in Denmark. If a life science industry mentor acts as a third mentor or partner – accompanying a basic and clinical mentor - such may reside outside Denmark.

The Mentor Team will guide you in undertaking your individual translational research project and the Mentor Team will participate in the BRIDGE network, bridging the basic biomedical science and clinically oriented environments.

Please find the detailed requirements for Mentor Teams here.

Qualifications

As a BRIDGE fellow you are highly motivated to participate in the Academic Curriculum courses, to network and cooperate with other BRIDGE fellows and you see yourself as an ambitious scientist who will work on bridging the gaps between research and medical treatment.

We expect BRIDGE fellows to be scientifically independent, showing a high degree of academic maturity and have:

• An enthusiastic interest in a translational research project co-designed with a Mentor Team and be a good match with a committed Mentor Team
• A strong CV, having published in high-quality journals and presented at international conferences
• The ability to manage one’s own academic research and associated activities
• Experience with project management
• Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills and leadership, with the ability to communicate research ideas and results in a clear and logical way and the ability to confidently and effectively interact with peers and the broader research community.

How to apply

As a BRIDGE fellow you will be working on a translational research project co-designed with a Mentor Team. As such, the first step in the application process is to find a Mentor Team.

If you are already in contact with an eligible Mentor Team, have them register before January 31, 2021.

If you are not in contact with a Mentor Team, you may either browse the list of “Submitted Mentor Teams” on the website after January 31, 2021 – and contact an appropriate Mentor Team to explore the possibility of a collaboration. OR you may encourage potential mentors matching your research interest to sign up on your initiative too.

Read more about becoming a fellow.

Read more about the three steps to apply and watch the animated video for your reference.

Application material

• Part 1a: Project description (must be co-designed by the applicant and Mentor Team)
• Part 1b: Budget (must be signed by the Head of Department(s) and merged with Part 1a)
• Part 2: Project abstract and CV (must be composed by the applicant independently)

Please find the requirements for the application and download the application templates here.

Applications must be submitted online and via the link 'Apply now' below or via the job announcement here no later than on February 28, 2021, 23:59 CET.

We reserve the right to disregard material received after the application deadline along with applications and application material that do not comply with the above-mentioned criteria.

Recruitment procedure

The received applications will be shortlisted and assessed according to the Ministry Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities 2012 and the University of Copenhagen’s guidelines 2013.

Upon the application deadline, the authorised recruitment manager will select applications for assessment based on the advice of the Appointment Committee. The Appointment Committee is composed of a subset of members of the BRIDGE Executive Scientific Committee (link) assisted by supplementary health experts in Denmark.

All applicants will be notified on whether or not their application has been passed for assessment. The Assessment Committee will do a non-prioritised assessment based on the applicant’s academic qualifications and on the match between the fellow and his/her translational research project. All applicants will have the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him-/herself (Part 2).

Please find more information on the recruitment process here.

Interview

Following the completion of the assessments, a subset of candidates will be invited for an appointment interview with the Appointment Committee. The BRIDGE programme will reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for invited applicants.

The interviews are scheduled to take place May 25-27, 2021. Please note that Mentor Teams will need to be present for a short introduction of the Mentor Team at this interview.

Financial composition of the fellowships

The fellowships covers salary in accordance with the collective agreement between AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) and the Ministry of Finance. The financing of running costs for the individual research projects will be covered by the hosting environments. Each fellow will in addition receive an annual sum of DKK 50.000 during their two-year employment to cover costs for PC, travel, language courses, conference and workshop participation and other activities outside the programme.

Successful fellowship recipients will be enrolled in the BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme and employed at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH.

Upon fulfilment of course participation and the individual research project fellows will be awarded a Certificate of Excellence.

Please note that applicants with more than five years of experience since obtaining their PhD degree at the time of application are not eligible. Any documented periods of leave will be accepted as extensions of this time limit (maternity leave, paternity leave, family care leave, illness, military service, etc.).

Please also note that more than two years of postdoc-experience based at UCPH prior to programme enrollment is not allowed. Any documented periods of leave will be accepted as extensions of this time limit (maternity leave, paternity leave, family care leave, illness, military service, etc.). Please refer to the applicable governmental jurisdiction here.

For more information about the BRIDGE - Translational Excellence Programme

Please visit www.bridge.ku.dk and/or contact Programme Coordinator Danny Damsgaard on telephone +45 93509265.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk