Postdoc in single molecule RNA folding

Postdoc opportunity within RNA folding and single molecule fluorescence as part of the COFOLD interdisciplinary research project concerned with co-transcriptional folding: https://inano.au.dk/about/research-centers-and-projects/cofold .

We seek a postdoc candidate with experience in experimental biophysics to join the single molecule biophysics and chemistry group at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University.

The postdoc position is for ~21 months and a start around September 1st 2024. The start date and duration of the employment will be decided in agreement with the successful candidate.

Job description/research project/research area

The project is centered on how RNA molecules fold during synthesis (co-transcriptional folding), a kinetic non-equilibrium process important in Nature and harnessed for making RNA origami structures. The postdoc focus will be on experimental investigations of RNA folding and conformational heterogeneity and dynamics using single molecule fluorescence and FRET tools. The postdoc is expected to interact with the computational and synthetic biology groups in the COFOLD consortium for the design of RNA structures, including RNA origami structures, and development of a folding model.    

Your profile

The candidate should hold a PhD in biophysics, chemistry, nanoscience or related subjects. He/she should have a strong background in experimental biophysics or RNA folding and preferably hands on experience in single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. The candidate should be able to work in an interdisciplinary environment both independently as well as in a team.

Who we are

iNANO, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (www.inano.dk ), was established in 2002 and at present is a major research and education center based at Aarhus University hosting 60 senior scientists, ~100 postdocs and ~160 PhD students. The center combines expertise from the disciplines including physics, chemistry, molecular biology and medicine to carry out world class interdisciplinary research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The center gives access to a broad range of infrastructure, tools and expertise.

 
Place of work

The place of work is Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, and the Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University.

Contact information

Further information about the position please contact Associate Professor Victoria Birkedal: [email protected].

Application deadline 

Applications must be received no later than 2 May 2024.

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range

Natural Sciences refers to the

Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here . Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here .

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here .

At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website , you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.