Postdoc in genetic screening and cellular stress responses at the Center for Gene Expression (CGEN)

A fully funded postdoctoral position with a duration of two years is available in the group of Peter Haahr as part of the DNRF Center of Excellence, Center for Gene Expression (CGEN) within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM) at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. Starting date: 1st of September 2024 or after agreement.

About the Haahr Group and the institute
Research in the Haahr Group aims to understand molecular aspects of cellular stress responses and cell signaling pathways in human cells and how its dysregulation contributes to disease development. Particularly, we are interested in the intersection of these responses with the complex regulation of transcriptional and translational machineries and how this underpins cell and organismal fitness. To do this, we combine CRISPR-mediated genome engineering with systems-wide phenotypic mutagenesis screens as well as proteomic approaches and a broad panel of more targeted methodologies within cell biology and biochemistry to identify new factors and characterize their functional significance and mechanistic underpinnings.

We offer a vibrant, ambitious, and highly international research environment as well as access to state-of-the-art facilities for next generation sequencing, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry and advanced microscopy platforms. In the Haahr Group we strive to do excellent science in an open, collaborative, and collegial work environment that provides ample mentorship and training opportunities to further each members’ individual career goals.

For more information about the group: https://icmm.ku.dk/english/research-groups/haahr-group/.

The research will take place as part of CGEN, which is located in the Mærsk Tower and comprise three excellent research teams (Svejstrup Group, Bekker-Jensen Group, and Haahr Group) working in close collaboration on related research topics in cell stress and gene expression.

Read more about the Center for Gene Expression (CGEN): https://cgen.ku.dk/.

Project description
The project will be decided in consultation with the successful candidate and adjusted to their interests but could involve the use of functional genetic screens to identify and characterize new factors at interface of cellular stress responses and mRNA translation or developing screening strategies to identify genetic modifiers of disease biology related to these topics. We have implemented a versatile and streamlined genetic screening pipeline based on fluorescence activated cell-sorting (FACS) and ultra-deep mutagenesis in human cells (see Haahr et al. Science 2022 & Liu et al. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 2024) to gain unbiased insights into how regulation of cell signaling and protein abundance changes during cell stress and how it determines cell fate. Using systematic screens for quantitative molecular readouts we can generate comprehensive roadmaps of the factors regulating our phenotype of interest. Where relevant, genetic screening approaches will be complemented by mass-spectrometry-based proteomic analysis. The biological functions and mechanistic basis of screen findings will be investigated by means of a wide range of approaches within cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, and imaging approaches. The successful candidate will also have an opportunity to take part in the development and implementation of new functional genomic tools to further our goals.

Principal supervisor is Associate professor Peter Haahr, Center for Gene Expression (CGEN), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), e-mail: [email protected].

See here for previous publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/peter.haahr.2/bibliography/public/.

Start: 1st of September 2024 or after agreement.

Duration: 2 years.

Qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious candidate with:

• A PhD degree in a relevant biological subject (e.g., cellular stress responses, protein signaling, functional genomics, gene expression or related). If the PhD has not been completed, a written statement from the PhD supervisor should be provided.
• Solid experience in methodologies within cell and molecular biology, functional genomics, protein biochemistry and/or bioinformatics.
• A documented publication record, preferentially with at least one first author paper in an international peer-reviewed biological journal.
• An open-minded and enthusiastic personality.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently as part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills and sound command of English, both oral and written.

Place of employment
The place of employment is the new DNRF Center of Excellence CGEN (Center for Gene Expression) within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM) at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

As an institute, ICMM offers a creative and ambitious scientific environment, with many different nationalities presently represented and English as the working language. We strive to produce research results with high international impact, focusing on the functional cell, its genetic components, and molecular cellular mechanisms in a medical context.

The ICMM currently comprises five research programs, three high profile Research Centers (including CGEN) as well as a number of internationally renowned research groups. The scientists at ICMM are involved in high quality research based undergraduate and graduate teaching programs at the University of Copenhagen.

More information can be found at https://icmm.ku.dk/english/.

Terms of employment
The employment as a postdoctoral researcher is a full time (37 working hours per week in average) and fixed-term position for 2 years. Starting date is 1st of September or after agreement.

Salary, pension, and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organization. Currently, the monthly salary starts at DKK 38,575 / approx. EUR 5,143 (April 2024-level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

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

Questions
For further information please contact Peter Haahr by e-mail: [email protected].

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: https://ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must be in English and 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. A certified copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. Publication list.

Application deadline: Sunday 30th June 2024, 23.59 p.m. 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 formal 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 https://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 7,823 students, 1,886 PhD students and 5,100 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