PhD fellowship in beta-cell mitochondrial dynamics at the Immuno-endocrinology laboratory

We are offering a PhD fellowship fully funded by the Independent Danish Research Council in beta-cell mitochondrial dynamics at the Immuno-endocrinology laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, commencing 1 September 2019 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Our group and research (see https://bmi.ku.dk/english/research/immuno_endocrinology/)

We work to prevent and cure type 1 and type 2 diabetes by targeting the inflammatory pathways leading to pancreatic beta-cell failure. Ongoing projects define the transcriptional, translational and posttranslational responses of the pancreatic beta-cell to immune, inflammatory, metabolic and oxidative stress, with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic targets to be tested in preclinical models and clinical trials.

We typically employ two complementary schemes: a hypothesis-driven approach evolving from new discoveries in the lab, and an unbiased screening approach employing systems biology and using functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and post-translatomics.

Our translational experimental strategy is to move from insulin-producing cell-lines to primary intact or dispersed islets to human islet experiments, the latter mainly used to confirm critical observations from cell lines and rodent islets. Studies also involve animal and clinical studies.

The group comprises ~15 members (the PI, an associate, professor, a part time lab technician, postdocs, PhD students, master’s-, exchange- and bachelor’s-students.

The group and entire floor is highly international with members of ~10 different nationalities. English is the daily language. We entertain several regular social activities at the department, floor and group level.

Project description
Type 1 diabetes results from immune-mediated β-cell damage leading to insufficient functional β-cell mass to meet peripheral insulin demands. β-cells rely upon mitochondrial respiration to generate the energy necessary for insulin synthesis, processing, and secretion. Immune-mediated cytokine release also leads to generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial damage, which ultimately result in β-cell apoptosis. Indeed, defects in mitochondrial structure and function have been reported in the β-cells of patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Defects in mitochondrial structure and function are characteristic of impairments in mitophagy, a selective form of autophagy necessary for elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria; however, the role of mitophagy in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis is not well understood. Our collaborators at the University of Michigan (PI Scott Soleimanpour) previously discovered a key role for the T1D susceptibility gene Clec16a in control of glucose homeostasis in humans and mice through its regulation of β-cell mitophagy. Therefore, our goal is to dissect the mechanistic and physiologic regulation of Clec16a-mediated mitophagy in β-cells to elucidate its contribution to diabetes pathogenesis.

Principal supervisor is Thomas Mandrup-Poulsen, Professor, MD, DMSc, Director of the Immuno-endocrinology laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, [email protected], Direct Phone +45 30330387.

Co-supervisor Scott Soleimanpour, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Michigan, USA.

Start 1 September 2019

Duration 3 years as a PhD student. If needed and relevant, an initial 3 month period as research assistant for enrolment can be negotiated.

Job description

• Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are to:
• Carry out an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
• Complete an exchange stay at another research group. Agreements are already in place for a stay at Scott Soleimanpours lab in Michigan.
• Contribute to teaching
• Disseminate your scientific results at scientific meetings, in scientific journals and in lay fora
• Write a PhD thesis based on the data obtained in your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants

Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project e.g. molecular biomedicine, molecular biology, human biology, medicine, biology, biochemistry, or equivalent.

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point for Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and the grade average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications, published abstracts or scientific presentations, if any
• Relevant lab experience
• Other professional activities and work experience
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in cell biology
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Good communicative and social skills

Place of employment
The place of employment is at Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. An exchange stay at Scott Soleimanpour’s lab in Michigan has already been agreed upon. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include recently completely renovated laboratories and core facilities.

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years. If needed and relevant, an initial 3 month period as research assistant for enrolment can be negotiated.

It is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant, possibly during an initial three-month employment as a research assistant, if agreed upon.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary begins around 26.755 DKK /approx. 3.567 EUR (April 2018-level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure

Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page). Why are you the right candidate for the position?

2. CV incl. education, experience, lab skills, language proficiency and other skills relevant for the position

3. Master of Science diploma and transcript of records. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor will do

4. List of publications, abstracts or scientific presentation (if any)

Application deadline 31 July 2019, 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.

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 http://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.

Interviews are expected to be held in weeks 34 and 35.

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7500 students, 1500 PhD students and 3200 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