Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genetic engineering of bacteria to study multispecies biofilms

Department of Biology, Section of Microbiology
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

The Postdoc position is for 3 years and the project will be carried out at Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen where you will engage in teamwork within the group and with national and international collaborators.

The position is open from 1 February 2022.

This Postdoc position is associated with the ERC Consolidator project “The biofilm matrix and its functional role in the ecology of bacterial communities – BioMatrix. The overall aim of the project is to examine the production and composition of matrix components in multispecies biofilms and their role in shaping community function, activity and protection.
A four-species soil community interacting synergistically in biofilm formation will be used as model. Experimental designs will span various levels of community and environmental complexity to facilitate both a mechanistic and an integrative understanding of the impact of the biofilm matrix for community ecology.

The postdoc’s duties will include research within Microbiology. The post may also include performance of other duties

The main tasks of the Postdoc fellow will be to 1) design, optimize and apply various in vitro models for analysis of the functional role of the multispecies biofilm matrix, 2) characterize and identify biofilm matrix components based on visual approaches (staining and microscopy) and metaproteomics, and 3) study specific gene expression in multispecies biofilms.

Qualifications                                                           

We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious researcher with strong experience in biofilm microbiology, microbial ecology and bacterial interactions.
Applicants should have the following qualifications:

• PhD in Microbiology, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology or equivalent

• Hands on and documented experience with cultivation and analysis of bacteria
• Previous experience with use of in vitro biofilm models and confocal microscopy analysis of bacterial populations and/or communities
• Hands on and documented experience with protein purification and proteomics

• Previous experience with analysis of large (omics-) datasets
• Fluency in English

Main tasks of the appointed applicant

• Optimization and application of in vitro models for analysis of multispecies biofilms
• Visual analysis of spatial community and matrix structure
• Metaproteomics analysis of the biofilm matrix
• Analysis of gene expression in biofilms
• Structural and functional characterization of the biofilms using e.g. stains binding specific matrix components, biomass and viability assays etc.

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

Application

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

• Motivated letter of application
• Curriculum vitae
• Complete List of publications
• PhD and Master diploma or transcripts in English
• Separate reprints of 2 particularly relevant papers

The University of Copenhagen wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The deadline for the application is 21 October 2021, 23:59 GMT +2.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Contact and inquiries

Associate Professor Mette Burmølle, PhD: [email protected]

If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH in this links: http://ism.ku.dk , https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/frontpage.htm and https://www.workindenmark.dk/ .

Further information on the Department is linked at https://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/ .

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.