PhD fellowship in in vitro methods for the study of zoonotic influenza viruses

We are offering a PhD fellowship on In vitro methods for the study of zoonotic influenza viruses commencing 1 September 2023.

Our group and research
The research group carries out research and teaching in the areas of enzootic and zoonotic viral infections in animals. The research focus on influenza infections in animals, focusing on zoonotic aspects of swine flu virus in the frame of a project FluZooMark (www.fluzoomark.com ) financed by Novo Nordisk Foundation, but do also carry out research on other viral infections in pigs and other production animals. The group consist of a professor, six post docs, five PhD. students, as well as two laboratory technicians. We are always very busy, but have a good working environment with lots of fun, cake club and flexible work assignments.

Project description
The aim of this PhD project is to establish in vitro methods for the study of basic aspects of influenza A virus especially regarding the determinants of species specific markers. The main focus of the project is to identify factors that are important for the ability of influenza A virus in animals to cross the host barrier and infect humans. You will establish cell based methods based on primary cells, stem cells, recombinant cell lines, and organoid systems. You will work closely together with other PhD students and post docs at KU, DTU, SSI and at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, USA. A research stay of minimum three months in USA is a mandatory part of the project. The project will be carried out in close cooperation with the other project partners and some of the laboratory activities will be performed at SSI in Copenhagen.

Principal supervisor is Professor Lars Erik Larsen, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, lael@sund.ku.dk, Direct Phone +45 40998434. Co-supervisor is Head of section Ramona Trebbien, SSI.

Start: 1 September 2023

Duration: 3 years

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

• 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 in another country
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teach and disseminate your knowledge
• Write a PhD thesis and scientific articles on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project e.g. MSc degree in veterinary medicine or similar. Interest- and experience in in vitro models are an advantage. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

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 virology and in vitro models
• English in writing and orally

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories with access to state-of-the art equipment to successfully complete the PhD tasks.

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 1 September 2023.

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.

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 28,896 DKK/Roughly 3,877 EUR (April 2023 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:  9 June 2023 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 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.

The hiring committee consists of the following members:
Professor Lars Erik Larsen (UCPH)
Professor Anders Miki Bojesen (UCPH)
Head of Section Ramona Trebbien (SSI)
Professor Graham John Belsham (UCPH)

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.

Interviews are expected to be held in late June/early July.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.