Applications are invited for a 3 year PhD position at the University of Copenhagen. The successful candidate will work at the interface between molecular pharmacology, physiology and developmental biology with a special focus on adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The applicant will be appointed at the Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology in the Department for Biomedical Sciences at Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. The group leader will be Prof. Mette Rosenkilde.
About us
The Department of Biomedical Sciences is concentrating on basic research from a clinical perspective to improve diagnostics and patient therapies. The molecular pharmacology group comprises 25 strongly motivated group members with diverse backgrounds, enabling an interdisciplinary approach to the challenging projects – all in the field of GPCR research. For more information about the group see: http://bmi.ku.dk/english/research/molpharm/mettemrosenkilde
Project description
The research of the project is focused on adhesion GPCRs, which form the second largest class of GPCRs and are vitally important for health and disease, rendering them promising drug targets. It has become increasingly clear that they are essential players in various aspects of cell polarity and organ development. However, for many of them, their specific roles in this context are poorly understood, and we are interested in unravelling their physiological roles by performing loss-of-function studies in genetic zebrafish (Danio rerio) and mouse models (Mus musculus).
The project will take place in the Rosenkilde Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen and will be in close collaboration with the laboratory of Associate Prof. Elke Ober (Liver Development and Regeneration; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology) and Kjeld Møllgård (Prof. of Neuroanatomy; Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Medicine). For more information about the project, please contact Mette Rosenkilde or Katja Spiess (see contact details below).
The successful candidate will study adhesion GPCR function in genetic animal models with the focus on organogenesis and organ function. For this the candidate will establish physiological in vivo assays and combine those with receptor expression analyses using qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and advanced microscopy techniques e.g. confocal and super-resolution microscopy.
The candidate should have an MSc degree in medicine, molecular biomedicine, human biology or related fields, be fluent in English, and have a solid background in molecular biology. Experience working with animal models such as Danio rerio or Mus musculus, light microscopy, as well as in developmental biology is beneficial. An accredited course in laboratory animal science is useful, but not a requirement.
Terms of employment
The successful candidate will be offered a full-time 3-year position and will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff. Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background. Foreign applicants may find the following links useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility) and www.workingconditions.ku.dk.
Application
Send your application and CV, including documentation of your education as an electronic file via
http://employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=146632
Application deadline is March 1st 2018.
If you have questions regarding the announced position, please contact:
Professor Mette M. Rosenkilde, +45 30604608, rosenkilde@sund.ku.dk,
or Assistant Professor Katja Spiess, +45 53680277, kspiess@sund.ku.dk.