Postdoc in Genetics of Body Composition

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research
University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated and talented postdoctoral fellow to commence October 1, 2022, at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen.

The postdoctoral fellowship is part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research International Postdoctoral Program www.cbmr.ku.dk/postdocprogram .

About Us
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research’s vision is to strengthen interdisciplinary research that transforms our basic understanding of the mechanisms that underlie metabolic health and disease, and to accelerate this knowledge toward new prevention and treatment strategies. We were established in 2010, and in 2017 we moved into new laboratories, offices and meeting rooms in the Maersk Tower www.maersktower.ku.dk .

The Center has around 260 employees who work in an international, highly collaborative research environment across a range of biomedical disciplines. You can read more about us here: www.cbmr.ku.dk .

Our Research
The postdoc position is in the Genomics of Obesity and Metabolic Health group, headed by Associate Professor Tuomas Kilpeläinen. The research group uses genomic, molecular and health data to understand how genetic variation contributes to obesity and related metabolic disorders. The group is international and diverse, including both computationally and experimentally oriented scientists. The group collaborates actively with local and international collaborators, and is well-networked within international genetics consortia. You can read more about the Kilpeläinen Group at https://cbmr.ku.dk/research/human-genomics-and-metagenomics-in-metabolism/kilpelainen-group/

Job Description
High body fat mass and low lean mass in proportion to body size are strong predictors of morbidity and mortality. At the population level, body fat and lean mass show a strong positive correlation. However, at the individual level, there is wide variability in their relative proportions. This raises important questions about the underlying biological mechanisms. Genetic associations provide unique opportunities for identifying the causal mechanisms that underlie this variability. Intriguingly, our recent studies have discovered many genetic variants that contrast the strong positive correlation between fat and lean mass in the population. The variants are associated with higher fat mass but lower lean mass. In the present project, we strive to identify the mechanisms of action of the identified genetic variants within adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and bone. Your tasks will involve integrative analyses of GWAS, transcriptomic, and gene regulatory data, to assess the functional role of the identified genetic variants. Your findings will guide gene perturbation studies in vitro and in vivo, to verify and further understand the functions.

Profile
The fellowship is aimed at early career researchers with a basic science background or clinicians who aspire to a career in academic medicine. We are particularly interested in candidates who are familiar with integrative research approaches within the broad area of basic metabolic research with an application towards human pathophysiology.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in molecular genetics, functional genomics, computational biology, or related sciences
• Excellent scientific track record in relation to career stage
• Experience on functional genomics research
• Experience in working with large genomic or other omics data
• Expertise with statistical programming (e.g. R)
• Strong interest in research on body composition and metabolic disorders
• Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral

Eligibility
The CBMR International Postdoctoral Program is open for applicants that hold a PhD degree awarded from a university outside of Denmark. The PhD degree must be obtained before October 1, 2022. The program is also open for applicants with a Danish PhD degree who can document at least 12 months full-time research experience from outside Denmark. You are not eligible to apply for the program if you have been employed in a postdoctoral position for more than one year at the University of Copenhagen prior to the commencement of the fellowship.                                                              

Terms of Employment
The employment as a postdoc is a full-time (37 working hours per week) position for 3 years. Starting date is October 1, 2022.

Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated.
Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not been tax liable to Denmark within the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities of December 11, 2019”.

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Associate professor Tuomas Kilpeläinen at [email protected] . Questions regarding the CBMR International Postdoctoral Program must be directed to [email protected] . For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact HR at [email protected] .

The University of Copenhagen, International Staff Mobility office, offers support and assistance to all international researchers on all issues related to moving to and settling in Denmark. Read more at www.ism.ku.dk .

Application Procedure
Your online application may be submitted in English via the ‘Apply now’ link below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

• Cover letter expressing the motivation and previous research experience of the applicant (max 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of PhD degree and Master’s degree certificate or equivalent. In case the PhD has not yet been completed, a written statement from the supervisor confirming it will be obtained before October 1, 2022, is acceptable.
• List of publications
• References (name and contact details of at least two references)

Application Deadline: April 11, 2022, 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.

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. 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 can read about the recruitment process at www.employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process .

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of March 13, 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

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