Postdoc in Synaptic Signalling Mechanisms Along the Gut-Brain-Axis at Department of Neu...

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

University of Copenhagen

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic researcher with interest in synaptic transmission for a 3-year position to start at April 1st 2020 or after agreement.

Background

The position is part of the project “Molecular, morphological, and functional requirements for gastrointestinal serotonin release” funded by a Lundbeck foundation fellowship awarded to Cordelia Imig. The goal of the project is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that mediate the release of signalling substances such as serotonin in the gut on the single-cell level and to understand how the cellular and neuronal circuits is organized to transmit this information to the brain. Altered or defective signalling between the gut and the brain may contribute to the development of a number of serious diseases, such as the neurodegenerative disorders Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease as well as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Our research

Our group is part of the Department of Neuroscience and will start in March 2020. We are looking forward to build up with your help a highly interactive, interdisciplinary, and international research team and we welcome team members of any nationality, gender and age. Imig’s work is focused on understanding the molecular mechanism of synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter and peptide hormone release. Work is carried out on enterochromaffin cells with a range of methods, including cell culture, molecular biology, cell biology, electron microscopy, and electrophysiology/electrochemistry. The project will be performed in close collaboration with research groups at the Department of Neuroscience and the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research.

Your job

The specific aim of the current position is to investigate the functional properties of serotonin release from cultured enterochromaffin cells.Your tasks will be to generate primary intestinal monolayer epithelial and 3D organoid cultures and to perform patch clamp recordings in enterochromaffin cells in vitro. Single-cell amperometry will be used to analyse the kinetics of serotonin release from EC cells at high spatiotemporal resolution and whole-cell capacitance measurements to probe the amount of depolarization-induced vesicle fusion under different physiologically relevant conditions.

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

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in Neuroscience
• You have an excellent scientific track record with at least one first-author publication
• You are highly experienced in electrophysiology or electrochemistry (e.g. patch-clamp capacitance measurements and carbon fibre amperometry)
• You have experience with primary cell culture methods (e.g. adrenal chromaffin and enteroendocrine cell cultures)
• You are enthusiastic, highly motivated and a self-starter
• You have experience in working in an international research environment
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Place of employment

The place of employment is at Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories in the new ‘Mærsk Tower’, https://maersktower.ku.dk/

Terms of employment
The employment as postdoc is a full time and fixed-term position for 3 years. Starting date is 1 April 2020, or after agreement.

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). Currently, the monthly salary starts at 34,400 DKK/ approx. 4,480 Euro (October 2019-level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Non-Danish 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 “Ministerial Order on the Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities” of December 11, 2019.

Questions
For further information please contact Assistant Professor Cordelia Imig [email protected]

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

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).

2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate (if applicable), c) transcripts of records, including courses followed and marks obtained. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.

4. List of publications.

5. Letters of recommendation and the name of at least two references

Application deadline: 29 January 2020, 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 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.

University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.

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Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Info

Application deadline: 29-01-2020

Employment start: Start as soon as possible

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: Department of Neuroscience

Kilde: Jobnet.dk