Postdoc in Bidirectional relationship between the circadian clock and metabolism in type 2 diabetes

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research
University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated and talented postdoctoral fellow to commence October 1, 2022, at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen.

The postdoctoral fellowship is part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research International Postdoctoral Program www.cbmr.ku.dk/postdocprogram.

About Us
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research’s vision is to strengthen interdisciplinary research that transforms our basic understanding of the mechanisms that underlie metabolic health and disease, and to accelerate this knowledge toward new prevention and treatment strategies. We were established in 2010, and in 2017 we moved into new laboratories, offices and meeting rooms in the Maersk Tower www.maersktower.ku.dk.

The Center has around 260 employees who work in an international, highly collaborative research environment across a range of biomedical disciplines. You can read more about us here: www.cbmr.ku.dk.

Our Research
The successful candidate will be supervised by Professor Juleen R. Zierath. The Zierath Group investigates the interactions between intrinsic biorhythms and external perturbations such as exercise and nutrient provision to identify novel translational strategies for prevention and treatment of metabolic disease:https://cbmr.ku.dk/research/integrative-metabolism-and-environmental-influences/zierath-group/. The group is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary with established expertise in transcriptomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and metabolic phenotyping across a range of experimental models (cells, rodents, and humans).

Job Description
Circadian rhythms are driven by an internal biological clock that is synchronized by Zeitgebers (time-keepers) that anticipate day/night cycles to optimize the physiology and behavior of organisms. The circadian program is regulated at both a central and peripheral level, and cell autonomous circadian rhythms are generated by a transcriptional auto-regulatory feedback loop. A basic paradigm of circadian regulation of metabolism is that oscillations of gene expression generate daily rhythms in cellular metabolism. While disrupted circadian rhythms alter metabolism, the extent to which these processes are impaired in humans with obesity or type 2 diabetes is unknown.

The main objectives of this postdoctoral project are to:

1. determine the mechanisms and signals by which the core clock regulates mitochondrial rhythmicity,
2. investigate how the circadian transcriptional machinery is disrupted in type 2 diabetes, and
3. validate the role of candidate transcription factors and signaling pathways on circadian rhythmicity in transcription and mitochondrial respiration.

The postdoctoral fellow will adopt multi-disciplinary approaches, integrating cell-based systems and animal models to investigate the bidirectional relationship between the circadian clock and metabolism in type 2 diabetes. This project will include usage of mitochondrial respirometry, microscopy, and various “omics” approaches (e.g. proteomics, transcriptomic and metabolomics) as well as bioinformatics tools, and the successful candidate will therefore receive necessary basic training within these fields. Proteomics studies will be carried out in collaboration with the Deshmukh Group at CBMR.

Profile
The fellowship is aimed at early career researchers with a basic science background or clinicians who aspire to a career in academic medicine. We are particularly interested in candidates who are familiar with integrative research approaches within the broad area of basic metabolic research with an application towards human pathophysiology.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biomedicine, or related sciences
• Knowledge of mitochondrial respiration, mammalian metabolism and circadian biology
• Documented experience with animal handling
• Demonstrated experience with mammalian tissue culture techniques and biochemical assays
• Experience with “omics” approaches (e.g. transcriptomics and/or proteomics) and bioinformatics analysis is desirable
• The candidate should be able to work independently and interactively in a team setting, and be enthusiastic, motivated and proactive
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral

Eligibility
The CBMR International Postdoctoral Program is open for applicants that hold a PhD degree awarded from a university outside of Denmark. The PhD degree must be obtained before October 1, 2022. The program is also open for applicants with a Danish PhD degree who can document at least 12 months full-time research experience from outside Denmark. You are not eligible to apply for the program if you have been employed in a postdoctoral position for more than one year at the University of Copenhagen prior to the commencement of the fellowship.

Terms of Employment
The employment as a postdoc is a full-time position (37 working hours per week) for 3 years. Starting date is October 1, 2022.

Salary, pension, and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated.
Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not been tax liable to Denmark within the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities of December 11, 2019”.

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Juleen R. Zierath at [email protected]. Questions regarding the CBMR International Postdoctoral Program must be directed to [email protected]. For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact HR at [email protected].

The University of Copenhagen International, Staff Mobility office, offers support and assistance to all international researchers on all issues related to moving to and settling in Denmark. Read more at www.ism.ku.dk.

Application Procedure
Your online application may be submitted in English via the ‘Apply now’ link below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

• Cover letter expressing the motivation and previous research experience of the applicant (max 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of PhD degree and Master’s degree certificate or equivalent. In case the PhD has not yet been completed, a written statement from the supervisor confirming it will be obtained before October 1, 2022, is acceptable.
• List of publications
• References (name and contact details of at least two references)

Application Deadline: April 11, 2022, 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 www.employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of March 13, 2012, on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

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

Kilde: Jobnet.dk