Post doctorial position: Genetic variants of milk proteins and effect on coagulation properties

Aarhus University, Department of Food Science, offers a 1-year position at the post doctoral level within the area of milk proteins, starting from 1st September 2023 or subject to mutual agreement.

Milk proteins are main food proteins, but there is still a lack of understanding of what drives variation in milk composition, casein micelles and coagulation properties between different genetic variants. To address this the aim is to perform model studies isolating the effect of different milk components and their effect on milk coagulation properties. By reconstitution and mixing different fractions, these experiments should be able to provide insight into what drives differences in milk coagulation properties especially between cows with different β- and κ-casein genotypes.

This will be explored as part of the project “A2 milk – disentangling drivers for variation in coagulation properties”. The project focuses on milk from cows with specific genotypes and compositional and coagulation analyses. For the characterization of milk composition state-of-the-art mass spectrometry facilities for protein and mineral profiling will be used (LC-ESI/MS single Q and ICP-MS) together with methods for milk coagulation (Rheolaser) and casein micelle size (Zetasizer). The successful applicant will be part of the Science Team ‘Food Chemistry’

Qualifications

• A PhD degree in a relevant area e.g. food chemistry, food science, molecular biology, molecular medicine or similar
• Science communication skills proven publication record in international peer-reviewed journal
• Documented experience in protein chemistry
• Preferable with knowledge of milk proteins, casein micelle size and coagulation properties 

Place of work

The place of work is the Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N (Denmark).

Contact information
For further information about the project or the position, please contact the principal investigator and project leader Associate Professor Nina Aagaard Poulsen, phone: +45 23 96 70 03, e-mail: [email protected] .

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

Technical 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 .

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