156931 Professor of Veterinary Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

The University seeks to appoint a professor of Veterinary Cell Biology and Biochemistry in the Section of Pathobiology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences to commence as soon as possible.

Information on the Department can be found at: https://ivh.ku.dk/

Job description
The research activities within Veterinary Cell Biology and Biochemistry at the Department for Veterinary and Animal Sciences is focused on human, porcine and canine stem cell models to decipher cellular pathologies in Alzheimer’s disease, canine cognitive dysfunction, frontotemporal dementia, epilepsy, schizophrenia and glaucoma. These diseases are not only challenging human health due to the lack of disease modifying treatments, they also have counterparts in animals with similar pathologies. Candidates for the professorship should demonstrate a strong track record within cell biology and biochemistry including development, characterization and application of human and animal induced pluripotent stem cell models and manipulation of such using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The professor must have extensive experience with both analytical biochemistry-based assessment of cellular pathologies and cell biology qualifications to generate and analyse in vitro induced pluripotent stem cell models and organoid models from animals and humans.

In addition, the successful candidate should demonstrate good knowledge of the biomedicine area in relation to bridging preclinical and clinical research. The research group of the applicant must be internationally recognized and acknowledged as one of the best within the area. The candidate of the professorship must have strong collaborations with both national and international universities, industrial companies and hospitals. The successful candidate should have extensive experience teaching within veterinary cell biology and biochemistry at undergraduate level, since it is expected that the candidate overtakes course responsibilities within both courses and develops the new veterinary curriculumExperience as a research group leader and outstanding leadership skills are required as well as a strong record for attracting post docs and PhD students. A proven track record of previous external funding as well as ongoing external funding to support their own research group is a necessity.

The Professor of Veterinary Cell Biology and Biochemistry will be course leader and teach within the veterinary curriculum with an emphasis on cell biology and biochemistry, but it is considered a strong asset if the candidate is able to teach within other for the section relevant veterinary areas such as anatomy, physiology, genetics and molecular biology.

The professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• Research, including publication/academic dissemination
• Research-based teaching, including associated examination related to veterinary biochemistry and cell biology
• Research leadership, including guidance and supervision of researchers
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate
• Academic assessments

Required qualifications
Six overall criteria apply for professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Find information about each criterion here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit .

Furthermore, each applicant must be able to document:

• A high degree of original academic production at an international level, including considerable contributions to the development of the academic discipline
• Research experience related to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and generation of inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from human and animal cells
• Research experience related to stem cell biology and disease models based on human and animal cells.
• A high level of external funding from various sources
• Documented leadership, coordinator function on larger project consortia and other management functions
• Academic flexibility with relevant long-term stays abroad and international collaborations.
• Research-based teaching within veterinary cell biology and biochemistry at a course leader level
• A PhD degree within veterinary or biological science
• Established research portfolio within the field of veterinary cell biology and biochemistry.
• Experience with teaching anatomy is an advantage.
• Experience within automated cell culturing systems and electrophysiology would be considered an advantage. 

Terms of employment
The position is permanent. The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information, please contact Head of Department Birgit Nørrung, e-mail: [email protected] or Section Leader, Associate Professor Kirstine Callø, email: [email protected]

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: https://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).

Application
The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:

• Application, including information about external funding (Maximum 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae, including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD, and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (3‐5 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 5 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio )

Application procedure
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee.  All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee in order to make an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself. You can read about the recruitment process at https://jobportal.ku.dk/ .

Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.

The applicant 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 encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position.

Please submit the application with the required attachments. The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, Sunday, 14 August 2022.

Interviews for this position are likely to be held in the month of January 2023.

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.