PhD fellowship in Microanalytical Solutions for Drug Transport Studies across Barriers at the Department of Pharmacy

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Microanalytical Solutions for Drug Transport Studies across Barriers commencing on 15 May 2023 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Our group and research
Research related to this position will be performed in the Microscale Analytical Systems Group (group leader: Prof. Jörg P. Kutter). The Microscale Analytical Systems Group is internationally recognized in research on microfluidic systems with a focus on chemical-analytical separations and sample preparation approaches. We also have strong collaborative efforts for application of microfluidic approaches in pharmaceutical and life sciences problems.

Project description
The PhD project’s focus is on developing sensitive analytical methods directly coupled to a microfluidic organ-on-a-chip based skin model. It is envisioned to realize sample preparation (e.g., solid phase extraction or electro-membrane extraction) and separation modalities (chromatography or electrophoresis) also using microfluidics and microfabrication approaches, and then finally provide an interface to mass spectrometry.
The ultimate goal is to have an online, time-resolved detection of drug transport processes through a skin model and also be able to investigate kinetics of possible metabolite production and cell fate in this model. The project is embedded in a larger highly cross-disciplinary project involving four dynamic research groups (at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and the University of Copenhagen (UCPH)) under the common leadership of Prof. Jonathan Brewer from SDU. Strong ties and interactions with in particular the Brewer group is considered essential to arrive at solutions to provide meaningful insight by combining the analytical methods directly with the organ-on-a-chip models.

Principal supervisor isProf. Jörg P. Kutter, Department of Pharmacy, [email protected], Direct Phone: +45 2671 0519.

Start: 15May 2023

Duration: 3 years as a PhD student

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g., analytical chemistry, microfluidics, or nanotechnology.  Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in analytical chemistry
• Language skills.

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories microfluidics research and analytical chemical experiments. We expect the successful candidate to spend some time in direct collaboration with the project partners at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. The start date is 15 May 2023 or after agreement.

The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project to the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.

Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 28,400 DKK/roughly 3,780 EUR (October 2022 level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

For more information on working and living in Denmark visit https://ism.ku.dk (International staff mobility) and https://www.workindenmark.dk

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 

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

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

3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science

4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline: 12 February 2023, 23.59 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.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

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 find information about the recruitment process at: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicants 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 wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply 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.