PhD fellowship in biophysical neuropharmacology at Department of Neuroscience

We are offering a PhD fellowship in biophysical neuropharmacology commencing 1 November 2025 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Our group and research
At the Laboratory for Membrane Protein Dynamics we explore the neurotransmitter transporters, in particular the ones responsible for the termination of the serotonergic and dopaminergic signals. These transporters are the main target for antidepressants and cocaine/amphetamines, respectively. We reveal their multifaceted nature, acting as molecular motors which harvest the energy to drive substrate transport from ion gradients. These remarkable entities exhibit properties from enzymes (transport kinetics), receptors (inhibitor binding) and channels (current properties). Our research is grounded in fundamental molecular pharmacology but has for the last decade adopted a suite of cutting-edge biophysical techniques.

We utilize a blend of structural biology (single particle cryo-EM), protein design (non-canonical amino acids), fluorescence (environmental sensitive dyes, FRET), ligand binding and transport assays (radioligand). Our work delves into unravelling the intricacies of protein dynamics governing transport protein function. The impact of substrates, ions, and inhibitors on this dynamic interplay forms the crux of our investigation.

We purify the transporters, incorporating them into structural (Nielsen et al. 2024 Nature) and functional (Nygaard et al. 2024 Nat Commun) studies using platforms like proteoliposomes (Schmidt et al. 2022 Nat Commun) or nanodiscs (Pugh et al. 2022 Cells).

 

Project description

The current project concerns the site-specific insertion of fluorescent non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into the human dopamine transporter (hDAT). To do this, we use genetic code expansion employing the amber stop codon for the insertion. Several suitable locations within the hDAT proteins must be explored. When successful, the hDAT mutant(s) will be expressed and purified from HEKexpi cells. The fluorescent readout from the ncAA can then report on the intrinsic conformational changes that will be induced in hDAT upon the binding of ions, inhibitors or during dopamine transport. These investigations have never been done before on hDAT. 

 

Principal supervisor is Professor Claus J. Løland, Department of Neuroscience, cllo@sund.ku.dk, Direct Phone: 28756407.

Start:                  1 November 2025

Duration:          3 years as a PhD student

 

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

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
• Participating 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

 

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. molecular biomedicine, human biology, neuroscience, biochemistry or related educations. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years, 120 ECTS).

In connection with the appointment to the post, special attention will be applied to applicants having some of the following professional and personal qualifications:

• Knowledge or experience with molecular biology (PCR, cloning)
• Knowledge or experience with purification and functional characterization of membrane proteins, preferentially eucaryotic proteins.
• Knowledge or experience with size exclusion chromatography (Cytiva/ÄKTA purifier)
• Experience with radioligand binding assays.
• Experience with expression and insertion of proteins into nano discs or proteoliposomes
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral

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 and self-driven mind-set with a strong interest in experimental biology
• Excellent language skills, both spoken and in writing

 

All highly motivated and ambitious candidates, regardless of their personal background and status, are encouraged to apply.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Neuroscience, 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 and an excellent research team. 

 

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years.

It 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 before the PhD period can be initiated.

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 Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 30,841 DKK/Roughly 4,130 EUR (April 2025 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:  August 31, 23.59 pm 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.

You find information about the recruitment process at: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicants 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 week 38 and 39.

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