PhD fellowship in Investigating Psoriasis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Interactions at the LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center (SIC)

A PhD fellowship is available at the xx group at The LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center (SIC – www.sic.ku.dk). Before entering the fellowship, the successful candidate will be having an initial employment as research assistant for 1 year scheduled to start 15 December 2024 or as soon as possible hereafter.

 

About the Center
The ‘LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center’ paves the way to a better understanding and treatment of the skin diseases that plague a quarter of the world's population.

Based on a grant from the LEO Foundation of more than 50 million EUR over 10 years the center will bring together leading Danish and international researchers in immunology and skin disease to provide new knowledge to enable better diagnostics and more effective treatments for a wide range of skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.

The ‘LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center’ will identify key questions relating to disease heterogeneity, new pathological mechanisms, and novel therapies of inflammatory skin diseases.

With the ultimate aim of helping people with skin diseases in the best possible way, the center launches a focused effort employing cutting edge technologies to advance biological insights and translate basic discoveries to ‘proof of principle’ and finally to patients.

The center is located on the 12th floor of the Maersk Tower at the University of Copenhagen. The center collaborates closely with Danish and international research environments and hospitals.

 

Our groups and research

The Skin Inflammation and Cancer group led by Prof Anders Woetmann www.sic.xx). Our group focuses on understanding the interaction between immune cells, skin cells, and the microbiota to uncover the drivers of disease progression and treatment resistance. As skin inflammation worsens, it compromises the barrier, allowing microbial colonization, which in turn exacerbates inflammation.

We collaborate across disciplines, utilizing advanced techniques like single-cell sequencing, flow cytometry, 3D models, and clinical trials. Our work spans from molecular to patient-level research, partnering with local and international academic and industrial experts to explore disease mechanisms and therapies comprehensively.

 

The PhD project

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join a project exploring the link between Psoriasis (PS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Our research focuses on immune responses in the gut and skin, investigating whether PS patients may have subclinical gut inflammation and shared inflammatory pathways. Using techniques like multi-color flow cytometry, and single-cell RNA sequencing, you'll explore T cell migration and clonality between the skin and gut. This is a unique chance to contribute to innovative translational research.

This position offers a unique opportunity to be involved in groundbreaking immunological research with a translational focus, leveraging patient samples and advanced molecular techniques.

 

Principal supervisor is Anders Woetmann, Professor, The LEO skin immunology research centre, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, E-mail: awoetmann@sund.ku.dk, Direct phone number: +45 28570484

Start:            15 December 2024

Duration:     1 year as research assistant + 3 years as a PhD student

 

Qualifications and key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Candidates for the fellowship must hold an MSc degree (or equivalent) within a relevant discipline and have strong programming experience. The successful candidates will have strong qualifications or experience within several of the following areas:

• Immunology Expertise: Strong understanding of immune responses, particularly in the context of inflammatory diseases like Psoriasis and IBD.
• Multi-color Flow Cytometry: Proficiency in using flow cytometry for immune cell analysis and characterization.
• Data Analysis: Ability to interpret complex data from molecular and genetic experiments.
• Translational Research Experience: Familiarity with working on patient samples and bridging basic science to clinical applications.

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications, relevant work experience, other professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in basic immunology, IBD and skin diseases.
• Strong English skill is required

 

The research group is highly multidisciplinary and international. Members are expected to collaborate both within the group, within the center, nationally, and internationally; strong networking and team player skills are therefore valued.

 

Job description and tasks
During the first year as research assistant, the candidate will have to formulate a PhD project and apply for enrolment as PhD fellow.

During the enrolment and employment as PhD student your tasks will be:

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
• Participate in active 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

 

Place of employment

The place of employment is at SIC, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, located in central Copenhagen. SIC offers creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories. Seminars with high-profile international speakers and regular internal research seminars are organized at the Center. The selected candidate should expect some travel activity.

 

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 15 December 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 during an initial first year employment as a research assistant.

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 30,700 DKK/Roughly 4,100 EUR (April 2024 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: 

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: 8 October 2024, 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 abovementioned 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 notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. The assessment is according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

 

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/

 

Interviews are expected to be held in week 44-45.

 

SIC and the University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

 

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7500 students, 1500 PhD students and 3200 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.