PhD fellowship in Transcription and the DNA damage response in the Svejstrup laboratory at Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM)

We are offering a PhD fellowship for a talented and highly motivated student interested in investigating the interface between gene transcription, RNA metabolism and genome stability. The successful candidate will be employed in the Svejstrup laboratory at the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM) at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

About the lab and the institute
In September 2020, the Svejstrup Laboratory re-located from the Francis Crick institute in London to the ICMM (https://icmm.ku.dk/english/research-groups/svejstrup-group/research-group/ ).

The Svejstrup’s laboratory focuses on various aspects of transcription-associated genome instability and the cellular response to DNA damage. Details of recent papers and research projects currently being undertaken can be found in the link above.

Research techniques used in the laboratory include: Molecular cell biology, biochemistry (including proteomics and reconstitution of key processes with purified factors in vitro) and modern genome-wide techniques (ChIP-Seq, RNA-Seq, TT-Seq, etc), as well as genomic screening (siRNA and CRISPR screens).

Svejstrup lab represents cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and training, and is located at the Panum Institute (18.6) within the ICMM. We have access to state-of-the-art facilities for mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, cell engineering, and next-generation sequencing.

Project description
The project will be decided in consultation with the student and adjusted to their interests but might involve: 1) Investigations aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the molecular processes underlying transcription-coupled DNA repair (TC-NER), with a particular focus on the factors CSA and CSB, both encoded by genes that are mutated in the severe neurological disorder Cockayne syndrome (Tufegdzic Vidakovic, Cell 2020); 2) a new research area investigating factors that govern nucleus-cytoplasm communication, and which ensure that the entire process of gene expression (from transcription in the nucleus to mRNA translation in the cytoplasm) is correctly regulated and proofread (Williamson et al., Cell 2017; Wan et al., Molecular Cell 2021); or 3) an investigation of the biochemical and cellular function of the DDI2 protease, required for maintaining proteostasis during cellular stress (Dirac-Svejstrup et al., Molecular Cell 2020).

Principal supervisor is Professor Jesper Svejstrup, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; e-mail: [email protected] .

Start:             1 February 2022 or soon thereafter.
Duration:       3 years as a PhD student.

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

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision.
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points.
• Participate in an active and ambitious research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project.
• Teach and disseminate your knowledge.
• Write 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 Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedicine or similar (equivalent of the Danish candidate, 3 + 2 years) related to the subject area of the project.

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.

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved.
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project.
• Previous publications.
• Relevant laboratory experience in molecular cell biology or biochemistry.
• Other professional activities.
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in DNA, RNA and gene expression.
• Excellent English skills written and spoken.

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), University of Copenhagen. Our lab at the ICMM offers a creative and ambitious scientific environment, with nine different nationalities presently represented and English as the working language. We strive to produce research results with high international impact, focusing on the functional cell, its genetic components, and molecular cellular mechanisms in a medical context. The ICMM currently comprises five research programs, three high profile Research Centers as well as a number of internationally renowned research groups. The scientists at ICMM are involved in high quality research based undergraduate and graduate teaching programs at the University of Copenhagen.

More information can be found at: https://icmm.ku.dk/english/ . 

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time (37 working hours per week in average) and the position is for 3 years.

It 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 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 DKK 27,871 / approx. EUR 3,741 (October 2021-level) plus pension.

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

General information about PhD study 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: 

Application deadline: 20 November 2021, 23.59 p.m. 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.

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7,850 students, 1,700 PhD students and 4,800 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.