PhD fellowship in “Super Resolution Ultrasound Imaging of the Healthy and Diseased Kidney - verification using µCT” at the Department of Biomedical Sciences

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Description of the scientific environment

This project integrates four research groups located at the University of Copenhagen, the University Hospital Rigshospitalet and the Technical University of Denmark.We combine traditional organ physiology with novel imaging techniques to bring new insights into the pathophysiology of diabetic kidney disease. In particular, we develop new approaches for super resolution ultrasound imaging without the use of contrast agents and apply them to study the vascular network in the healthy and the diabetic kidney in vivo. Our goal is to reveal the very early signs of developing diabetic kidney disease to improve the treatment for the many patients. The project is funded by the European Research Council (ERC).

Project description

Diabetes is one of the leading causes for chronic kidney disease (CKD). App. 30% of patients with diabetes develop CKD, for which we have no cure. It is unknown why these 30% develop CKD. The earliest sign of CKD is an increase in urinary excretion of protein but already at this point, there is substantial renal damage. Our goal is to visualize these early damages to enable development of new treatment strategies.

The vascular tree in the kidney serves an important role in maintaining kidney function. It is currently not possible to visualize the renal vascular tree at capillary level non-invasively in humans at bedside. Conventional ultrasound is used for imaging larger renal arteries, but diabetic kidney disease is believed to arise from vascular damage in the small arterioles and the capillaries. We have developed a novel method for super resolution ultrasound imaging. This method currently has a resolution of 50 µm, which enables us to visualize the renal vascular tree at near-capillary level. The goal is to reach capillary level.

The student will use an integrated approach – a combination of experimental in vivo and ex vivo techniques – to perform super resolution ultrasound scans on rat kidneys in healthy and diabetic animals. Subsequently, the same kidney is scanned using micro-computed tomography (µCT) to verify the findings from the ultrasound scan. The student will be guided through the surgery procedures and the steps of performing super resolution ultrasound scans in order to perform independent animal experiments. µCT scans are performed at DTU and additionally at SYRMEP beamline in Trieste, Italy. These scans will be used to extract information on the anatomical structure of the renal vascular networks. The student will analyse and interpret the data collected in collaboration with the supervisors and fellow students.

We are looking for an exceptional candidate with interdisciplinary skills: animal experimentation, novel imaging and advanced data analysis. The candidate will perform science across physiological, engineering and computational specialities.

Principal supervisor isAssociate Prof. Charlotte Mehlin Sørensen: https://bmi.ku.dk/english/research/heart-renal-and-circulation/renal_hemodynamics/ . Co-supervisors are Profs. Michael Bachmann Nielsen (RH) and Jørgen Arendt Jensen (DTU).

Start: 1st May 2022 or soon thereafter.

Duration: 3 years.

Job description

Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Independent research under supervision
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
• Teach and disseminate your research
• Write a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of candidates

• Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project e.g. physiology, biology, bioengineering, medical physics or similar;
• Experience with animal (rodents) experiments is desirable. The candidate will perform surgery (surgical exposure of the kidney, tracheostomy, blood vessels cannulation). Prior skills in animal experiments are preferred but no required. The candidate should be able to learn the procedure within the first few months after being accepted to the program;
• Experience with ultrasound imaging is highly meriting;
• Experience with complex data analysis is an advantage;
• The candidate should have a basic knowledge in vascular and/or renal physiology;
• High proficiency in English is a benefit.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include state-of-the-art laboratories, core and computational facilities.

Some research activities also take place at Technical University of Denmark in Lyngby.

Terms of employment and employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years. Starting date is 1st May 2022 or soon thereafter.

The appointment as a PhD fellow is for 3 years. It is conditioned upon the candidate’s successful enrollment in the PhD school at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the candidate.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the University’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary begins around 27.871 DKK /approx. 3.747 EUR (October 2021-level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD scholarship, please contact the principal supervisor [email protected] .

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

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. A certified/signed copy of Master of Science certificate and transcript. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor will do

4. Publication list (if applicable)

Application deadline: 6th February 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 above mentioned 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 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 week 11, 2022

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7500 students, 1500 PhD students and 3200 employees. The Faculty advances the field of health sciences through its core activities: research, teaching, knowledge sharing and communication. With basic research fields ranging from molecular studies to studies of society, the Faculty contributes to a healthy future through its graduates, research findings and inventions benefitting patients and the community. The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

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.