PhD scholarship in Infection Microbiology

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 11 Jun 2022

Prof. Ivan Mijakovic advertises a PhD position in his group at DTU-Biosustain. This PhD position is partly associated to the PEST-BIN Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovation Training Network (ITN), funded by the European Commission, Horizon 2020 Program. PEST-BIN consortium comprises six universities, three research institutes, a hospital and five private companies with one common mission: to pioneer novel technologies to fight bacterial infections. All PEST-BIN PhD students will be trained in an interdisciplinary environment and experience a collaboration among academia, healthcare and the private sector.

PhD project title: Proteome dynamics of bacterial pathogens during infection: new drug targets

Responsibilities and qualifications
The candidate hired for this position will work on clarifying the signalling and regulation of bacterial pathogens in contact with relevant human cells during infection. The starting point will be identification of bacterial and human proteins that are differentially expressed or phosphorylated when bacteria encounter human cells. This will be done by proteomics, for which samples will be analyzed at the DTU proteomics platform.

Strains will be genetically engineered in which candidate proteins will be either inactivated or transformed into phospho-mimetic or phospho-ablative mutants. The mutant strains will be tested in virulence assays. In cases where impact on virulence will be proven, we will follow up with genetic and biochemical characterization of participation of these proteins in the infection process. The outcome will be a list of differentially regulated proteins confirmed to be involved in infection – to be used as targets for antibiotics development. The student will be engaged in active collaboration with other groups in the consortium.

The specific tasks will include:

  • Studying the available literature in the field and formulating own scientific hypotheses and questions
  • Conducting experiments with different human cell lines in contact with bacterial pathogens
  • Performing sample preparation for proteomic analysis and analyzing the data using various proteomic and statistical computational tools
  • Genetic engineering of selected pathogens and virulence assays
  • Writing peer reviewed scientific publications
  • Actively interacting and collaborating with other team members
  • Participating in PEST-BIN consortium outreach activities
  • Completing courses and training required for being awarded the PhD degree

Please note that a master’s degree project carried out in a proteomics laboratory, or a microbiology laboratory will be considered as an advantage. Experience with handling human cell lines will also be considered as an advantage. If you have had such experience, please highlight this in your cover letter.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Applicants are required to undertake transnational mobility (i.e., move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment. At the time of recruitment, the candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of appointment.

Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see https://www.dtu.dk/english/Education/PhD/Rules DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
Submitted applications will be reviewed by Prof. Mijakovic and his team. Top applicants will be invited to an online interview, where among other items, fluency in English will be assessed.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

For the first two years of the project, the hired PhD student will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Early Stage Researchers (http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/ ">http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/ ). The salary includes a living allowance, a mobility allowance and a family allowance (if already married at the start of appointment). For the last year of the project, the PhD student will receive a standard DTU PhD salary. The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 months.

You can read more about http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Prof. Ivan Mijakovic: mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

You can read more about the department at https://www.biosustain.dtu.dk/ <br">https://www.biosustain.dtu.dk/ <>< a=""> />
If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/moving-to-denmark DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/moving-to-denmark/before... PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 11 June 2022 (Danish time).

Apply at https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/vacant-positions <br">www.career.dtu.dk <>< a=""> />
Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

  • A letter motivating the application (cover letter) This should include a concise description of your motivation for getting a PhD degree: why do you want it, and what do you expect from your PhD project in terms of scientific and education goals and your own career development.
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain)
Recent progress in our ability to read and write genomic code, combined with advances in automation, analytics and data science, has fundamentally changed the scope and ambition of harnessing the potential of biological systems. Big data approaches and analysis of biological systems are key research instruments at the Center. DTU Biosustain utilizes these advances for microbial cell factory design to foster sustainable lifestyles in relation to three application areas: Sustainable Chemicals, Natural Products, and Microbial Foods.

Learn more at biosustain.dtu.dk

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science<><>



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