Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health (RTH) (http://rth.dk) at Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen is offering a PhD fellowship in Bioinformatics starting 1 August 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is limited to three years.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join our team. You will be a hard-working team player and a key person in the group and project essential for obtaining successful results. The PhD position is part of the Stem Cell Center of Excellence in Neurology, BrainStem (http://brainstem.dk) and the PhD student will be interacting closely with the Group for Stem Cells and Embryology. BrainStem is supported by the Innovation Fund Denmark.
Information about the department can be found at: http://ivh.ku.dk/english/.
Background
Within BrainStem patient-specific neurons are derived from induced pluripotent stem cells obtained from skin fibroblasts to study Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases with the long term aims of patient specific treatment and drug development. The studies will take outset in neurodegeneration caused by specific mutations and the disease processes will be addressed at the molecular level by both experimental and computational approaches. See more at http://brainstem.dk.
General job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND) are to:
• Manage, carry through and conclude your research projects
• Actively participate in PhD courses
• Write scientific articles and finalise your PhD thesis
• Participate in international congresses
• Conduct a research stay at an institution abroad
• Teach and disseminate your research
Specific job description
The project involves analysis of transcriptomic data with regard to detection of differentially expressed genes and differential processing profiles. Benchmarked pipelines and novel computational methods will be developed for analyses as well. These methods will take other types of cellular data obtained from the stem cell-derived neurons into account. A focus area will be noncoding and structured RNA and the developed methods and analyses will also involve coping with these. Other data generated within BrainStem will be incorporated in the pipeline settings and interactions with experimental groups with regard to mechanistic studies for RNA function will be carried out as well.
Required qualifications
The applicant should hold professional as well as personal skills and qualifications as stated below:
• A completed master degree in bioinformatics, computer science or in a similar area
• General background knowledge of biological areas of genome structure and transcriptomes
• Algorithmic insight
• Solid experience with transcriptome analysis including RNA-seq analysis
• Strong experience with script languages such as Perl or Python (or similar)
• Strong experience with the Linux/Unix environment, command lines and shell scripting
• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent in English both in writing and speech
Candidates fulfilling one or more of the following qualifications will be prioritised:
• Strong experience in at least one of the following programming languages: C, C++ or Java
• Experience with transcriptomic data from neurodegenerative diseases
• Experience with RNA folding analysis
Key criteria for the assessment of candidates
• The grade point average achieved in relevant University degrees
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD programme
• Previous publications (if any)
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• Language skills
Formal requirements
The position is available for a 3-year period for applicants holding a relevant master´s degree.
Employment as a PhD fellow will be conditional on successful enrolment in the PhD programme according to the rules stipulated in “Bekendtgørelse nr. 18 af 14. januar 2008 om ph.d.-graden.“
Terms of employment
Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary begins around 25.579 DKK (approx. EUR 3.434) plus pension. The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (2013).
Place of employment
RTH is mainly located on the Frederiksberg Campus, however as part of the Brainstem project research stays with project partners will be a part of the PhD. Our research environment is highly international and stimulating. We frequently organise seminars, workshops, PhD summer schools with international speakers and have retreats with our international collaborators.
Questions
For further information about the scientific content of the position, please contact Professor Jan Gorodkin, email: gorodkin@rth.dk, phone +45 353 34704, +45 353 33578 (direct). For any administrative queries please contact Administrative Officer, Marie-Louise Rosenlund, email: mlr@sund.ku.dk, phone +45 353 32898.
Foreign applicants may find the following links useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility) and www.workingconditions.ku.dk.
General information about PhD programmes at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available on the Graduate School’s website: http://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/.
Application procedure
The application must be submitted in English, by clicking on “Apply online” below, and must include the following:
• Cover letter detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project
• CV
• Diploma and detailed transcripts of records
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any), peer reviewed and other
• Personal recommendations (if any)
• A maximum of 3 relevant scientific works which the applicant wishes to be included in the assessment (if any)
The deadline for applications is 22 May 2017.
Any applications received after this time or incomplete will not be considered.
Receipts of the applications will be acknowledged, and the applicant will be kept continuously informed of the progress of the application.
The further process
Shortlist: After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorised recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an expert assessment committee. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and 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 http://employment.ku.dk.
Assessment: The selected applications will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities and the University of Copenhagen’s guidelines 2013. The Assessment Committee makes a non-prioritised assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.
Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
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