PhD fellowship in The cellular composition of the skin: A single cell omics study of the skin of healthy humans and patients with allergic contact dermatitis

We are offering a PhD fellowship to examine the cellular composition of the skin of healthy humans and patients with allergic contact dermatitis by single cell omics studies commencing 1 June 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Our group and research
Research at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology ranges from basic to applied research with immunology being one of the main areas. As part of the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Centre (SIC) focuses on skin immunology and dermatological research projects, combining translational and clinical research. The T Cell Biology and Skin Inflammation Research Group is led by Professor Carsten Geisler and Professor Charlotte Menne Bonefeld. Our research focuses on T cell biology and inflammatory skin diseases, e.g. T cell responses during inflammatory skin diseases, crosstalk between various T cell subsets, antigen presenting cells and keratinocytes, and the role of skin-resident memory T cells and systemic memory T cells during skin inflammation. We have extensive experience in cutting-edge analysis of the adaptive immune system in both humans and mice, and have established advanced in vitro studies of human and mouse T cells including Single Cell Transcriptomics methods e.g. ECCITE-seq.

Project description

The skin is the largest organ of the body and protects us against harmful events caused by sunlight, pathogens, chemicals, allergens etc. This protection is provided by a complex collaboration between immune and epithelial cells. In this project, the PhD student will investigate how different skin sites, skin types and age influence the cellular composition of the skin. Furthermore, the PhD student will investigate how the immunological profile of the skin exposed to allergens versus irritants differs. And the PhD student will map the cellular influx in different stages of allergic contact dermatitis.  

Principal supervisor is ProfessorCharlotte Menne Bonefeld, e-mail [email protected]

Start:                  1 June 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. Master of Immunology and Inflammation. 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 skin immunology
• Language skills, solely in English

Place of employment

The place of employment is at The LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, 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 and a wonderful work environment at the top of the Mærsk Tower.

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 1 June 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 formulated by the applicant.

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 27,800 DKK/Roughly 3,700 EUR (October 2021 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/

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: Monday 20 March 2023, 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 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.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 14 and 15

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.