Postdoc position in cryo-electron microscopy in the Montoya group at Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR)

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Deadline: 08 Jun 2022

A postdoctoral position is available in the Montoya Group (Structural Molecular Biology) at Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), University of Copenhagen. The position is initially for 2 years, thus providing a unique long-term opportunity to work on an exciting project in a well-equipped and supportive environment. Expected starting date 1 October 2022.

About CPR
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR) (www.cpr.ku.dk) was established in 2007 at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, to promote basic and applied research on human proteins of medical relevance. CPR spans broad areas of protein research, ranging from structural and mechanistic understanding of proteins and protein pathways to development of clinical applications of proteomics and systems biology. The Center is structured into five complementary research programs: Proteomics, Protein Structure and Function, Protein Signalling, Disease Systems Biology and Protein Memory. The center accommodates a number of core facilities including protein production, crystallography, biophysics, high performance computing, mass spectrometry and genomics. https://www.cpr.ku.dk/

About the Cryo-EM facility
The Danish Cryo-EM Facility offers access to state-of-the-art equipment to collect data in single particle and tomography. The Facility has two nodes, one at University of Copenhagen and one at Aarhus University. The Copenhagen node is hosted at Core Facility for Integrated Microscopy (CFIM, cfim.ku.dk/) at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The facility gives users access to a Titan Krios and a Glacios, powerful and flexible high resolution electron microscopes for 3D characterization of biological samples.

Responsibilities and tasks 
The Structural Molecular Biology Group (https://www.cpr.ku.dk/research/protein-structure-function-program/montoya/) led by Guillermo Montoya, studies different molecular machines involved in genome editing and genome maintenance. Our group has deep interest in developing new procedures for understanding the dynamics of these protein complexes. In this framework, the postdoc candidate will be involved in a project addressing in situ structure-function studies of these systems in eukaryotic cells. The project will merge single particle cryo-EM with cryo-electron tomography and single-molecule approaches. We are looking for a candidate with strong background in cryo-EM. The selected candidate will work together with other researchers on various aspects of a larger biological question involving functional cellular experiments, so collaborative skills are a requirement. Besides joining an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and supportive environment, the selected candidate can also profit from soft skill courses run by the CPR and/or the University of Copenhagen.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic person with the following competencies and experiences:

Required qualifications

  • Ph.D in Physics, Biochemistry, Chemistry or related scientific field and in addition minimum 2-3 years of relevant experience in cryo-EM.
  • Experience in electron microscopy sample preparation, imaging, and data analysis
  • Experience in structural biology, cell biology, and/or chemistry
  • Intellectual curiosity, analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Enthusiastic, adaptable, and hard working
  • Demonstrated ability to multi-task and manage time appropriately
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Linux operation
  • Scientific publication and technology/methodology development record, plus proven and successful experience from laboratories/institutions of high scientific standard

Desirable additional skills

  • Experience in imaging workflows including correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), FIB milling and tomography
  • Python programming

You are also expected to have the following personal qualifications:

  • Good inter-personal communication skills
  • Good English skills, written and spoken

Place of employment
The place of employment is at Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and core facilities.

Terms of salary and employment
Expected start date is 1 October 2022. It is a full-time position (37 working hours per week) for 2 years.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at around 35,600 DKK/approx. 4,780 EUR (April 2022 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign 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 Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact research director Guillermo Montoya, [email protected] .

International applicants may find these links useful www.ism.ku.dk  (International Staff Mobility) and https://www.workindenmark.dk/  . 

Application
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.

Application deadline: 8 June 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.

Thefurther 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.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcome 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.



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