Postdoctoral Position in Mass Spectrometry-based Proteomics (Method Development)

Are you interested in joining a highly inspiring and dynamic research environment? A place where you can excel in science and apply your skills, while acquiring new ones. We strive to maintain a positive working environment and focus on recognition for team effort and dedication to your tasks.

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern Denmark invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellowship (two years) in the area of fundamental mass spectrometry/proteomics.

Hiring starts as soon as possible and no later than 1 October 2021. Application deadline: 17 May 2021.

Scientific environment:

The Kjeldsen research group is part of the Protein Research Group (PRG) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Odense, Denmark. Odense is located about one hour from the main capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. PRG is internationally recognized for its contributions to biological mass spectrometry, proteomics, biomedical research and clinical proteomics. Research is spanning from fundamental gas-phase chemistry to biomedical studies, including protein structural analysis, cancer and neuroscience.

Today the PRG consists of eight individual research groups encompassing more than 50 scientists, postdocs and students who share facilities and research environment. The PRG has a fantastic student environment with many multicultural inputs. The PRG has the newest mass spectrometers for biological mass spectrometry applications including Orbitrap Eclipse, Orbitrap Exploris, and TIMS-TOF-PRO. In addition, the PRG has a fully equipped protein chemistry/proteomics laboratory, cell laboratory facilities and bioinformatics that will be available for the project.

Topic/background:

Current proteomics approaches lack complete protein coverage largely due to the almost exclusive use of positive ion mode as the ionization method, which results in inefficient ionization of many acidic peptides. With the existence of equal amount of acidic and alkaline proteins (the same distribution for their derived peptides) in the human proteome this inefficient ionization poses a significant challenge, yet at the same time presents substantial potential. This fact underlines the timeliness to advance the area of proteomics by making use of the largely unexplored negative ion mode.

Job description:

The successful applicant will be responsible for investigating new settings of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry ideal for detection of negatively charged peptides. This includes systematic testing of mobile phases, column materials, proteolytic enzymes, and MS parameters. You will be using this setup to characterize and validate a number of peptide-specific features, e.g. peptide retention times, and develop in collaboration, machine-learning and statistical tools that ensures reliable protein identification and quantification. The developed methodology will be tested in combination with traditional positive ion-mode proteomics on a number of biological relevant samples.

Furthermore, it is expected that the successful candidate will participate in the supervision and teaching of undergraduate students.

Requirements:
Apply if you have substantial experience with mass spectrometry-based proteomics/metabolomics and chromatographic separation. This project implies close collaboration and knowledge sharing between group members and collaborators. The successful candidate should also be able to work independently and have comprehensive knowledge of solution-phase and gas-phase chemistry of biomolecules. This means that you have at least two scientific publications supporting mass spectrometry skills of biomolecules. The documented experience and mentioning of the scientific publications should be stated in the cover letter.

Advanced knowledge of data-processing and analysis (R scripting) is an advantage. In addition, a strong background in one or more of the following fields: analytical chemistry, protein chemistry, cell biology, biochemistry, or a related field as well as excellent exams are a prerequisite for application submission. Your application must contain at least one recommendation letter.

Applicants are expected to be highly motivated, reliable and interested in working in an interdisciplinary and international environment. Finally, a good command of English is a requirement.

For further information please contact Frank Kjeldsen, [email protected] .

Application, salary etc.
The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Please check links for more information on salary and taxation.

The application must include the following:
• A curriculum vitae including information on previous employment.
• A full list of publications stating the scientific publications on which the applicant wishes to rely.
• At least one recommendation letter. Should your referees wish to send their letters directly to us, please have them use e-mail: [email protected] mentioning your name and the title of the position in the subject line. And please note that these also need to reach us before deadline.

Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process.

Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

To qualify you must have passed a PhD or equivalent. Applications will be assessed by an expert assessor/committee. Applicants will be informed of their assessment by the university.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply online". Attached files must be in Adobe PDF or Word format. Each box can only contain a single file of max. 10 Mb. We strongly recommend that you read How to apply before you apply.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark.