Postdoc position in circadian biology and bioinformatics Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research ...

The University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated and dynamic researcher with expertise in analysis and interpretation of high-throughput sequencing (transcriptomics, epigenomics etc.) and mass spectrometry (proteomics, metabolomics etc.) to work in the Zierath Group in collaboration with the Barrès and Deshmukh Groups at Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR). The position is a 3-year position starting January 1, 2024, or after agreement.

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 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 Zierath Group investigates the interactions between intrinsic biorhythms and external perturbations such as exercise, nutrient availability, and temperature to identify potent translational strategies for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases. Read more about Circadian Biology in the Zierath Group here.

The collaborators in this project are members of the Barrès Group and Deshmukh Group. The Barrès Group focuses on how diet and physical activity, by influencing somatic and gametic cells, affect long-term metabolic health in the present and future generations. The Deshmukh Group investigates how exercise and diet influence the dynamics of proteome including secretome, post-translational modifications, subcellular organization of proteins, and the mitochondrial supercomplexome.

Job Description
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by altered whole-body and tissue-specific metabolism, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance of peripheral tissues. One risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes is the disruption of circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are driven by biological clocks that are synchronized by environmental stimuli such as light, diet and exercise. The research performed within this postdoctoral position will elucidate mechanisms by which physiological and epigenetic processes are modulated by the circadian clock machinery in a diurnal manner, and how synchronizing the timing of therapeutic interventions (e.g. diet and exercise) to the molecular circadian clock can optimize the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher who will analyze and integrate a range of omics data (transcriptomics, epigenomics, metabolomics, proteomics) with comprehensive metabolic phenotyping from a range of clinical and preclinical models (e.g. cell, rodent, and human) to identify important targets in the regulation of circadian rhythms and metabolic health.

Your responsibilities will include carrying out all major computational analyses of the project: Analysing and interpreting high-throughput sequencing (RNA-seq, bisulfite sequencing, ChIP-seq) and mass spectrometry (metabolomics, proteomics) data obtained from metabolic tissues as well as previously published datasets. You will be working with a team of biologists/clinicians and bioinformaticians; therefore, you are expected to support the team with the experimental design and statistical interpretations of the experimental results.

In addition, you must have excellent communication and organizational skills as you will contribute to collaborative work with colleagues in the Zierath, Barrès and Deshmukh Groups at CBMR.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and qualifications:

• PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology or a related field
• High level of proficiency in programming and experience in applying statistical methods to genomic data (preferably in R and/or Python)
• Solid experience in Linux/UNIX environment, shell scripting and high-performance computing (HPC)
• Expertise in next generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis such as RNA-seq, Bisulfite-seq (WGBS, RRBS), ChIP-seq)
• Experience with mass spectrometry (proteomics, metabolomics) data analysis
• Experience with circadian data analysis (rhythmicity and differential rhythmicity) is desired, but not essential
• Knowledge of human physiology and metabolic disorders
• Demonstrated capacity for effective teamwork
• Proven track record showing scientific productivity in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience in supervising other researchers at different levels
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral

Eligibility

The Postdoc fellowship is open for applicants that hold a PhD degree obtained before January 1, 2024.

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 lived in 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 Professor Juleen R. Zierath at [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: June 18, 2023, 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 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