PhD Fellowship in Structure and Function of G Protein-Coupled Receptors

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

University of Copenhagen 

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Structure and Function of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) commencing 1 April 2021 or as soon as possible.

Our group and research

The project will be carried out in the Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMI) at the University of Copenhagen. BMI is an interdisciplinary department with research groups focused on topics spanning from basic to translational science. The Gustavsson group is one of multiple groups at the Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology studying G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are cell membrane spanning proteins that are involved in numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes and account for over 30% of targets for currently approved drugs. Finding new ways to target GPCRs is a major focus of academic research groups and companies worldwide. The focus of the group is on understanding the molecular level structure and dynamics of GPCRs and couple that knowledge to biological function.

Project description

The project aims to characterize and understand novel mechanisms of GPCR regulation. The successful candidate will primarily use signalling and pharmacological assays to study GPCRs at a molecular level. The project will also involve exposure to structural biological and biophysical experiments. 

Principal supervisor is Assistant Professor Martin Gustavsson, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology martin@sund.ku.dk

Start:                Date 1 April 2021

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
• 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

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. biochemistry, molecular biomedicine, structural biology, protein chemistry, pharmacology.

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications and work experience relevant to the PhD project
• Other professional activities
• Language skills
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in protein structure and function
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and receptor pharmacology
• Experience with protein expression and purification from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic systems is an advantage

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment.

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.

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 begins around 27.590 DKK /approx. 3.707 EUR (April 2020-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, publications and other skills relevant for the position

3. Master of Science diploma and transcript of records. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor will do

Application deadline:  24 January 2021, 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.

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.

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

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.