Department of Neuroscience Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

We are offering a PhD fellowship in the neural bases of neurorehabilitation commencing 1st of February 2024.

Our group and research
Join our newly formed team at interface between fundamental and translational neuroscience. We are a dynamic research group translating biological discoveries in cutting-edge approaches to restore movement after paralyzing spinal cord injury (https://in.ku.dk/research/bellardita-lab/ ). Leveraging a range of methodologies from molecular genetics to in vivo physiology and behavioural assessments, we aim to translate basic science into effective rehabilitation protocols. The laboratory has members with diverse scientific backgrounds that provides a rich environment for innovation and educational development. We are embedded in the Neuroscience Department of Copenhagen University where regular activities, including workshops and seminars, foster a vibrant environment for knowledge exchange and professional growth.

Project description
The successful applicant will be engaged in a project aiming to integrate neuro-modulatory approaches and pharmacological strategies to enhance recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). In particular, the selected candidate will explore the efficacy of targeted neuronal modulation through pharmacological and optogenetic interventions in a murine model of thoracic SCI. Leveraging state-of-the-art neuronal tracing, electrophysiological recording methodologies, optogenetics and behavioural profiling, the project will delineate the neural circuitry reconfiguration that occurs after brain damage, during spontaneous recovery and during the functional recovery induced by the therapeutic intervention. The aim of the project is to delineate the anatomical and functional remodelling within the motor pathways critical for the translation of neural motor commands into seamless locomotion, providing a deeper understanding underlying effective neurorehabilitative processes.

Principal supervisor

Title: Associate professor Carmelo Bellardita

Affiliation: Department of Neuroscience

Email: [email protected]

Direct Phone: +4552807980

Start: 1st February 2024

Duration:3 years as a PhD student

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of 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 (neuroscience, biology, bioengineering). Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications
• Experience working with rodent models of spinal cord injury.
• Experience with optogenetic/virus/mouse intersectional genetics
• Experience in behavioral profiling, imaging analysis and signal processing.
• Experience in electrophysiological recordings
• Other professional activities
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in the neural bases of neurorehabilitation
• Language skills

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and core facilities for integrated microscopy, experimental surgery units, Flow cytometry and single cell facility, facility for transgenic mice and more (for more information visit https://healthsciences.ku.dk/research/corefacilities/).

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years.

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.

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 Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 28,900 DKK/Roughly 3,800 EUR (October 2023 level) plus pension.

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

General information about PhD studies 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)

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

3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science

4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline: 23 November 2023, 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 find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk