Postdoc in -omics integration and cardiometabolic diseases

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

We are looking to hire a highly motivated and talented Postdoc Fellow with experience in integrating large-scale data and with an interest in cardiometabolic diseases and/or precision nutrition to commence on January 1, 2024, in the Guasch Group at the Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), University of Copenhagen. The position is a 3-year position.

The Postdoc fellowship is part of CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program.

About us
Department of Public Health
The Department of Public Health’s focus is to improve the health of the population and the connection between health and society. The Department provides the scientific foundation for efforts that aims to improve public health, both nationally and globally, and to create greater insight into the links between health, the individual and society as well as the ethical, equity and political implications. This is achieved through research, education and engagement with stakeholders and the public at large with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary research agenda covering most aspects of public health at a high international level. You can read more about the Department of Public Health here.

Section of Epidemiology
Section of Epidemiology contributes to the development of the field of theoretical epidemiology, with a specific focus on causal inference, complexity, and life course epidemiology. The dynamic interplay between genes, environment, and health across the life course and across generations are objects of research in the section. You can read more about us here.

CBMR
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 cardiometabolic 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 and offices in the Maersk Tower. The Center has around 260 employees who work in an international, highly collaborative research environment across a range of biomedical disciplines. For more information, visit www.cbmr.ku.dk.

Our research
The Guasch group is part of the Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, and works closely with researchers at CBMR.

The Guasch group focuses on investigating the role of dietary and lifestyle factors in cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes and integrating -omics data to identify potential biomarkers of disease and improve our understanding of molecular mechanisms. You can read more about the Guasch Group here.

The candidate will also work closely with the Loos Group, at CBMR, which focuses on identifying the key genetic and non-genetic determinants of body weight regulation to gain insight into the biology that underlies obesity and metabolism, and additionally, to improve prediction, prevention, and treatment through implementation of precision health strategies. You can read more about the Loos Group here.

Job description
The successful candidate will join a research group that is focused on investigating the role of dietary and lifestyle factors in cardiometabolic diseases in an interdisciplinary and international research environment. They will primarily work with high-throughput -omics data, including but not only metabolomics and genetics, to be integrated into traditional epidemiological analyses to gain insights into underlying mechanisms that may explain the link between environmental factors in relation to common cardiometabolic disease outcomes, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The candidate will design new and/or nested studies leveraging complex and big data from existing cohorts and national registries applying novel machine learning methods.

The specific work tasks will include data management of large studies, scientific work related to the topics described above, statistical analysis of data, writing scientific papers, grant writing, and presentation of findings at professional meetings. The postdoctoral research fellow will also be encouraged and mentored to develop new proposals and research initiatives to support additional research. Exchange stays with collaborating research centres will be optional. Over the course of the position, opportunities to teach at either the graduate or undergraduate level exist.

Profile
The Postdoc 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 cardiometabolic research with an application toward human pathophysiology.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in Epidemiology, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Molecular Biology, Biomedicine, or related sciences.
• Excellent scientific track record in relation to career stage showing scientific productivity in peer-reviewed journals.
• Profound knowledge of analyzing data, interpreting results, and concisely summarizing key messages.
• A strong computational background and expertise in dealing with large and complex datasets.
• An active interest in nutrition, lifestyle, metabolomics, genomics, cardiometabolic diseases, and/or precision health.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral.
• A team player, and “can do” attitude.

Eligibility
The Postdoc fellowships within the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program are open for applicants that hold a PhD degree awarded from a university outside of Denmark. The program is also open for applicants with a Danish PhD degree who can document at least 12 months of full-time research experience from outside Denmark. The PhD degree has to be obtained before January 1, 2024. 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 Postdoc is a full-time position for 3 years. Starting date is January 1, 2024.

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 for the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Marta Guasch- Ferré at [email protected]. Questions regarding the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc 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.

Application procedure
Your online application must 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. one page)
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of the PhD degree certificate and the Master’s degree certificate. In case the PhD has not yet been completed, a written statement from the supervisor is acceptable, confirming it will be obtained before January 1, 2024.
• List of publications
• References (name and contact details of at least two references)

Application deadline: July 16, 2023, at 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 can 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 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 backgrounds.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk