The Protein Research Group (Professor Ole N. Jensen) at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) at Odense invites applications for a three-year PhD position in mass spectrometry imaging and cancer research.

The research project aims to elucidate molecular mechanisms of cancer progression and identify candidate biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. It entails the development and application of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) technologies for studies of healthy and cancer tumour tissues in rodents and humans. The main focus will be on the development of high-sensitivity bioanalytical technologies for sample preparation, mass spectrometry imaging and computational data analysis using advanced MALDI-2 technology and a Bruker timsTOF fleX mass spectrometer.

You will be part of an international and dynamic research team. You will be motivated to use MALDI mass spectrometry imaging and computational tools and develop new experimental and computational approaches to investigate mammalian tissues by MSI. You will be responsible for implementing mass spectrometry imaging technologies for high-sensitivity quantitative studies of peptides, metabolites and/or lipids and subsequent data analysis workflows. You will manage independent research projects and assist in the supervision of undergraduate and graduate students.

The position is to be filled by 15 August 2021 or soon thereafter. Application deadline: 2 July 2021.

Qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated, competent and enthusiastic scientist with excellent communication skills.

For consideration, applicants must have:

• A recent Master’s degree in biochemistry, biomedicine, protein science, analytical biochemistry or similar field
• Demonstrated working experience in experimental biochemistry and biomolecular mass spectrometry for protein or lipid characterization
• Experience with biochemical or bioimaging characterization of mammalian tissues
• Proficiency in computational image data analysis, statistics, and preferably basic programming skills in R and/or Python
• Excellent English speaking, reading and writing skills.

In addition, applicants with one or more of the following types of experience will be preferred:

• Working experience with MALDI tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)
• Advanced knowledge of physical chemistry and bioanalytical instruments
• Experience in handling and characterizing clinical pathology samples
• Computational image data analysis by machine learning methods.

Strong research and training environment
The Jensen laboratory is part of the Protein Research Group and offers an open international collaborative research environment in protein chemistry, biomolecular mass spectrometry, and computational proteomics. Our main focus is the elucidation of the functional roles of dynamic post-translational modifications of proteins in health and disease as well as mass spectrometry imaging technologies and their applications.

The ON Jensen laboratory at SDU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology provides world-class facilities for quantitative proteomics and mass spectrometry research, including a suite of Orbitrap mass spectrometers (Eclipse, Lumos, Exploris 480) and Q-TOF mass spectrometers (Bruker timsTOF Pro and flex/MALDI-2).

Recent publications in biomolecular mass spectrometry and protein science by the ON Jensen group include Möginger et al (2020) Oncotarget 11(44) 3998-4015; Shliaha et al (2020) Anal. Chem. 92(3) 2364-2368; Radzisheuskaya et al (2019) Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. (26)11 999-1012; Tvardovskiy et al (2017) Nucleic Acids Res. 45(16):9272-9289.

Place of work
Protein Research Group (Professor Ole N. Jensen), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

For further information please contact Ole Nørregaard Jensen, e-mail: [email protected].

Application, salary etc.
Appointment as a PhD Research Fellow is for three years. Employment stops automatically at the end of the period. The holder of the scholarship is not allowed to have other paid employment during the three-year period.

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

The successful candidate will be enrolled at this university in accordance with faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order).

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

Application must be made in the form of a Declaration of Interest including the following:
• A research proposal/description of your approach to the above project (max one page excluding references)
• A letter stating your specific interest, motivation and qualifications for the project in question (max. two pages) (please attach this under box "Application form")
• Detailed CV, including personal contact information
• Copies of diplomas, Bachelor as well as Master’s degree, including transcript of notes/grades
• At least two signed reference letters. 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.

Further information about the PhD-study can be found at the homepage of the University.

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.

Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated. This also applies to reference letters.

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