14 postdoctoral fellowships to the BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme

BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND) at the University of Copenhagen is seeking 14 highly motivated and dynamic postdoc fellows to commence the BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme on September 1, 2022. Fellows will be appointed for a period of two years and receive an annual sum of DKK 50.000 to cover costs for PC, travel, conference and workshop participation, language courses and other activities outside the programme.

The BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme is financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with the ambition to train fellows in translational medicine, mentored by fully committed and top-level professionals in basic biomedical research, a clinical environment, and the life science industry. The programme constitutes a clear career path for candidates whose ambition is to bridge the gap between research, patient care and the life science industry and for those wishing to become pioneering leaders in the field of translational medicine.

The BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme expects to appoint 7 fellows with an MD background and 7 fellows with an MSc background.

Application deadline is February 28, 2022, at 23:59 CET. Appointed fellows are expected to participate in a two-day Boot Camp on September 8-9, 2022. Mentors are expected to participate on September 8, 2022.

Research area
The BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme provides fellows with the ability to translate insights from basic research into the clinical sciences and/or the life science industry, and vice versa, and the competences to manage essential collaboration between disciplines.

The Academic Curriculum  tied to the programme covers the translational stages T0 (Population/clinic to lab feedback, Disease modelling -omic studies, Basic research), T1 (Biomarker discovery, Target development, Pre-clinical development) and border to early T2 (First in human, Phase 1 clinical trials, Phase 2 clinical trials, Phase 2b clinical trials).

Job description
Appointed fellows spend 80% of their time on individual translational research projects mentored by a Mentor Team consisting of a basic biomedical scientist from a SUND Department or Centre, and a clinical scientist from a hospital in the Capital Region of Denmark or Region Zealand, and/or from the life science industry. The fellows spend 20% of their time on a mandatory Academic Curriculum that covers the translational stages T0 to early T2 in addition to generic skills such as research management, ethics, research communication and successful grant writing. Please find more information about the BRIDGE Academic Curriculum .

Eligibility
To become a BRIDGE-fellow applicants to need to have:

• An MD and a PhD or equivalent (proof of an appointment that requires doctoral equivalency). Specialist training is no hindrance to apply, and medical training is appreciated.

or

• An MSc and a PhD within a relevant discipline such as veterinary science, biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, pharmacy, dentistry, or medical engineering.

As a PhD student you may apply, if you attach a declaration from your supervisor stating that your thesis will be submitted and defended prior to project commencement on September 1, 2022.

Please find more information about the 'four-year rule' for postdocs (Danish legislation) under 'Eligibility' here .

Mentor Teams
Fellows must apply for the programme in cooperation with a Mentor Team.

A Mentor Team consists of two or three mentors, representing 1) basic biomedical science from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH, and 2) clinical science from the Capital Region of Denmark or Region Zealand and/or 3) the life science industry environment in Denmark.

A life science industry mentor is highly encouraged to enter the Mentor Team, if relevant.

Incorporating a mentor from a basic biomedical science environment at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH, into the Mentor Team is mandatory. If a life science industry mentor acts as a third mentor – accompanying a basic and clinical mentor – that mentor may reside outside Denmark.

Qualifications
As a BRIDGE fellow, you are highly motivated to participate in the Academic Curriculum, to be mentored by senior researchers, network and cooperate with other BRIDGE fellows and you see yourself as an ambitious scientist who will work on bridging the gaps between research, medical treatment and/or the life science industry.

We expect BRIDGE fellows to be scientifically independent, showing a high degree of academic maturity and have:

• An enthusiastic interest in a translational research project co-designed with a Mentor Team and be a good match with a committed Mentor Team
• A strong CV, having published in high-quality journals and presented at international conferences
• The ability to manage one’s own academic research and associated activities
• Experience with project management
• Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills and leadership, with the ability to communicate research ideas and results in a clear and logical way and the ability to interact with peers and the broader research community confidently and effectively

How to apply
As a BRIDGE fellow, you will be working on a translational research project co-designed with a Mentor Team. As such, the first step in the application process is to connect with a Mentor Team.

If you are not already in contact with an eligible Mentor Team, we recommend that you:

If you are an applicant without ties to the Faculty or hospitals in either of the two regions, please read more about our suggestions on how to proceed here .

If you are in contact with a Mentor Team, we recommend that you:

Read more about becoming a fellow .

Read more about the three steps to apply  and watch the animated video for your reference.

 Application material for applicants with a Mentor Team (deadline 28 February 2022)

• Mentor CV template
• Project synopsis template
  Part 1a: Project description (must be co-designed by the applicant and Mentor Team)
• Part 1b: Budget (must be signed by the Head of Department(s) and merged with Part 1a)
• Part 2: Project abstract and CV (must be composed by the applicant independently)

Applications must be submitted online via HR Manager through the link on the website (available from 7 January 2022) no later than February 28, 2022, at 23:59 CET.

Please find the requirements for the application and download the application templates .

We reserve the right to disregard material received after the application deadline along with applications and application material that do not comply with the above-mentioned criteria. 

Recruitment procedure
The received applications will be shortlisted and assessed according to the Ministry Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities 2012 and the University of Copenhagen’s guidelines 2013.

Upon the application deadline, the authorised recruitment manager will select applicants for assessment based on the advice of the Appointment Committee. The Appointment Committee is composed of a subset of members of the BRIDGE - Executive Scientific Committee (link ) assisted by supplementary health experts in Denmark.

All applicants will be notified on whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Assessment Committee will do a non-prioritised assessment based on the applicant’s academic qualifications and on the match between the fellow and his/her translational research project. All applicants will have the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him-/herself (Part 2).

Please find more information on the recruitment process .

Appointment interviews
Following the completion of the assessments, a subset of candidates will be invited for an appointment interview with the Appointment Committee. The BRIDGE programme will reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for invited applicants.

The interviews are scheduled to take place May 23-25, 2022. Please note that Mentor Teams will need to be present for a short introduction of the Mentor Team at this interview.

Financial composition of the fellowships
The fellowships cover salary in accordance with the collective agreement between AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) and the Ministry of Finance. The financing of running costs for the individual research projects will be covered by the hosting environments. Each fellow will in addition receive an annual sum of DKK 50.000 during their two-year employment to cover costs for PC, travel, language courses, conference and workshop participation and other activities outside the programme.

Successful fellowship recipients will be enrolled in the BRIDGE – Translational Excellence Programme and employed at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH.  

Upon fulfilment of course participation and the individual research project fellows will be awarded a Certificate of Excellence.

Please note that applicants who at the application deadline have more than five years of experience since obtaining their PhD degree are not eligible. Any documented periods of leave will be accepted as extensions of this time limit (maternity leave, paternity leave, family care leave, illness, military service, etc.).

Please also note that more than two years of postdoc-experience based at UCPH prior to programme enrolment is not allowed. Any documented periods of leave will be accepted as extensions of this time limit (maternity leave, paternity leave, family care leave, illness, military service, etc.). Please refer to the applicable governmental jurisdiction here .

For more information about the BRIDGE - Translational Excellence Programme
Please visit www.bridge.ku.dk  and/or contact Programme Coordinator Danny Damsgaard on telephone +45 93509265.

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

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.