Postdoc in molecular profiling of the entorhinal cortex using Patch-seq at Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic researcher for a 2 year position, who has a background and PhD in Neuroscience, Neurophysiology, Electrophysiology, Developmental Neurobiology or similar to commence on the 15 December 2022 or as close to this date as possible.

The position entails molecular profiling of the entorhinal cortex in the developing human brain, intrauterine embryo injections in mice, genotyping neurons in the adult pig brain using state-of-the art patch sequencing (Patch-seq) from organotypic brain slice cultures and bioinformatic analyses of Patch-seq data. The position also involves a 1 month stay at Harvard University, US with a collaborating group.

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

Our research

The Group for Brain Development and Disease is an inclusive and diverse research group that is composed of local and international researchers of varying age and background. The group collaborates with leading experts in a variety of different fields (bioinformaticians, neuroanatomists and developmental biologists and imaging experts) both nationally and internationally. It is expected that all group members thrive on achieving excellence, are an active team member and respect their peers and colleagues, irrespective of their gender or background. The group leader is also chairwoman of a non-profit organization that addresses gender inequality issues in academia, and this is high on the priorit list for her own research group. The group’s values include, providing positive feedback, rewarding excellence, envision BIG if starting small, being passionate about research, that growth and learning is in our DNA and that it’s all about the people. The research group was established in 2017 and has over the last years focused on categorizing the developing entorhinal cortex using single cell RNA sequencing, bioinformatics, MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and immunohistochemistry technologies. The group has discovered the genotypes of several cells within the entorhinal cortex and that the entorhinal cortex forms in a sandwich pattern atypical of the inside out typical formation of the rest of the neocortex. The entorhinal cortex is the brain region in focus for the group, as it is “ground zero” for the emergence of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Understanding the uniqueness and intricacies of this part of the brain is important for better understanding Alzheimer’s disease, which could lead to novel treatments in the future. For more info see the group’s research page: https://ivh.ku.dk/english/research/pathobiological-sciences/brain-development-and-disease/

Your job

This project is a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary project with 8 different collaborating groups located nationally in Denmark and internationally, from China, Italy, and the US. Your tasks will be to perform Patch-seq on murine organotypic brain slice cultures, immunohistological evaluation of the developing human brain, mechanistic studies investigating sandwich lamination, such as using a knock down approach in combination with intrauterine embryo injections in mice, bioinformatic processing of Patch-seq data and writing of high-quality manuscripts suitable for publishing in excellent journals. You will also be expected to train guest researchers and other new incoming researchers on certain techniques/technologies and run certain events in the group such as the journal club. We are also looking for a person willing to travel to our collaborator labs. We strive for excellence, a team-player attitude, a thirst for learning and discovering and a passion for research. We also encourage a small amount of teaching in one or more of our teaching courses, which could include participation in Anatomy or Physiology to Veterinarian students or Animal Scientists.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in Neuroscience, Neurophysiology, Electrophysiology, Developmental neurobiology or similar.
• You have practical experience in electrophysiology and patching of cultured neurons or brain slices
• You are experienced in one or more of the following molecular techniques, including, immunohistochemistry, lentiviral production, single cell RNA sequencing, qPCR, siRNA knockdown approaches, bioinformatic processing of single cell RNA sequencing data.
• You have practical experience in one or more of the following including, organotypic brain slice cultures, preparation of acute brain slices, neural cell culture.
• You have a high level of knowledge in neurodevelopment, neurogenesis, neuroanatomy and/or neurophysiology.
• You have a solid understanding of patch sequencing technologies, single cell transcriptomic approaches and bioinformatic pipelines for analysing single cell RNA seq data.
• Have proficient communication skills and can work in teams.
• You have excellent English skills, both written and spoken.

Desirable experience and skills:

• Have published in a medium to high impact journal as first or co-author.
• Have obtained own research money for travel or research through externally applied for grants.
• Have obtained a research/poster prize for your previous research.
• Have experience in Smart Seq for single cell RNA sequencing.
• Have experience in vibratome sectioning of brains.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Healthy and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories, GMO Class 1 and 2 cell labs, bacterial and molecular labs, a confocal microscope, a Leica vibratome and electrophysiology equipment for patch clamping of brain slices.

Terms of employment
The employment as postdoc is a full time and fixed-term position for 2 years. Starting date is 15 December 2022 or as close to this date as possible.

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). Currently, the monthly salary starts at 33,600 DKK/ approx. 4,480 Euro (April 2018-level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities” of 2020.

Questions
For further information please contact Associate Professor Vanessa Hall; [email protected]; www.sund.ku.dk

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

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).

2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.

4. List of publications.

Application deadline:  15th October 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 https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

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

Interviews are expected to be held in late November 2022.

University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.

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.