PhD fellowship in forensic RNA investigations

The Department of Forensic Medicine is offering a three-year PhD fellowship. The PhD fellowship is financed by the Department of Forensic Medicine. The fellowship is available from 1 July 2024 or after agreement.

Project description
There is a need to improve the understanding and use of RNA in forensic genetics. In forensic genetics, RNA is studied and used primarily for identification of human tissue (body fluid identification). However, it may also be used for estimation of the time since deposition of the stain and for human identification. The current project will investigate RNA in forensic relevant body fluids using whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS). The purposes of the project are to investigate the use of RNA for human identification in different body fluids and develop assays that may be implemented in forensic genetic case work. The project will be performed at the Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine.

Principal supervisor
Senior Researcher Claus Børsting, Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine. Email: [email protected].

Primary co-supervisor
Associate Professor Jeppe Dyrberg Andersen, Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine.

Co-supervisor
Head of Research Cordula Haas, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Postdoc. Stine Bøttcher Jacobsen, Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine.

Required qualifications
As an applicant you must have:

Obtained a Master´s degree in genetics, biology, medicine, or a related field prior to the starting date, fluency in English and excellent communication skills, the ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment, and the ability to travel for performing experiments abroad.

Preferred qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in genetics, biology, and related fields. Experience with forensic RNA investigations, NGS data analysis, and bioinformatics are an advantage.

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at the Faculty are to:

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision.
• Write scientific articles and the PhD thesis on the grounds of your research project.
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points.
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project.
• Participate in the teaching of undergraduate students in forensic genetics.
• Participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings.
• Stay at an external research institution.

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD programme.
• The grade point average achieved.
• Other professional activities.
• Language skills.
• The successful applicant is also required to be enterprising and to possess good interpersonal skills.

Formal requirements
The successful applicant will be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences according to the rules stipulated in the Ministerial order on the PhD programme at the universities (PhD order) from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Higher Education and the guidelines for the PhD programme at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

The PhD student is expected to be affiliated to the Graduate programme for Oral Sciences, Forensic Medicine and Bioanthropology (RIO).

Terms of employment
The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years.

The employment 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.

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

1. Cover letter: Letter stating the interest in and qualifications for the project (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)

5. Other information to consider: Possible letters of references and recommendations.

Application deadline: 11 April 2024, 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.

Questions
For further information, applicants may contact the principal supervisor, Senior Researcher Claus Børsting, Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine, email: [email protected].

For more information on working and living in Denmark visit ism.ku.dk (International staff mobility) and www.workindenmark.dk.

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