PhD fellow in Plant Membrane Biochemistry

Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen is offering a PhD scholarship in Plant Membrane Biochemistry commencing 01.02.2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Description of the scientific environment
The focus of Fuglsang lab is to identify and elucidate signal transduction pathways regulating the activity of plasma membrane H+-ATPases as response to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Our focus is on protein kinases, phosphatases and signaling peptides. A broad range of techniques within biochemistry, bioimaging, molecular biology and biophysics are employed. We have developed pH biosensors especially for in vivo measuring of pH as response to physiological changes.
We have expertise within the area of protein-protein interactions, phospho-proteomics, molecular biology, heterologous expression and molecular plant physiology.

For further details, please see https://plen.ku.dk/english/research/transport_biology/stpii/  

Project description
The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture have greatly reduced the number and diversity of microorganisms in the environment. There is a great demand for new biologicals to facilitate the trend towards sustainable agriculture, with the emerging awareness of soil microbiome. Biologicals is a class of agricultural products that include biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants, all of which are derived from natural material, such as animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. The aim of the project is to establish (I) the plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase as a new target for bioherbicides, (II) proof-of-concept based on the fungal compound tenuazonic acid (TeA), through genetically engineering of the biochemical pathway in TeA producing fungi, and finally (III) To screen fungal extract for compounds with potential as new biofertilizers or biostimulants having the plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase as target.

Principal supervisor isProfessor Anja Thoe Fuglsang, PhD,Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, email: atf@plen.ku.dk, direct Phone: +45 35 33 25 86.

Job description

The position is available for a 3-year period and your key tasks as a PhD student at SCIENCE are:

• To manage and carry through your research project 
• Attend PhD courses
• Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
• Teach and disseminate your research
• To stay at an external research institution for a few months, preferably abroad
• Work for the department

Formal requirements
Applicants should hold an MSc degree in biology/biotechnology with good results and good English skills. As criteria for the assessment of your qualifications emphasis will also be laid on previous publications (if any) and relevant work experience, including purification and characterization of membrane proteins from plant material.

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.
The starting salary is currently at a minimum DKK 331,125 (approx. €43,750) including annual supplement (+ pension at a minimum DKK 53,811). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

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

Please include

• Cover Letter
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
• Acceptance Letter for the relevant MSc Program at SCIENCE, if any
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any)
• 1-2 names for potential references

Reference letters must be uploaded by the applicant him/herself. The recruiting person must NOT obtain reference letters which content is not known to the applicant him/herself. This is against Danish law.

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

The deadline for applications is Sunday 13 December 2020, 23:59 GMT +1.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. Afterwards an assessment committee will be appointed to evaluate the selected applications. The applicants will be notified of the composition of the committee and the final selection of a successful candidate will be made by the Head of Department, based on the recommendations of the assessment committee and the interview committee.

The main criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant and the above mentioned skills. The successful candidate will then be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of Science.
You can read more about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Questions
For specific information about the PhD scholarship, please contact the principal supervisor [Professor Anja Thoe Fuglsang, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, atf@plen.ku.dk ,  Direct phone: +45 35 33 25 86

General information about PhD programmes at SCIENCE is available at https://www.science.ku.dk/phd .

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.