A 2.5-year postdoctoral fellowship on regulation and control of bacterial CRISPR-Cas immunity is available from May 1st 2021, or as soon as possible here after, at the Departments of Biology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Bacterial viruses (phages) outnumber bacteria 10 to 1 in pretty much any environment, and it is therefore not surprising that bacteria have evolved several mechanisms of phage immunity. CRISPR-Cas systems are immune systems of bacteria that are especially interesting because they are adaptive and, in this capacity, have huge potentials to be utilized for a wealth of biotechnological applications. Despite a large interest in CRISPR-Cas systems over the last decade, fundamental aspects are still poorly understood. We are looking to hire a postdoctoral fellow to research one of these aspects, namely how bacterial CRISPR-Cas immunity is regulated and controlled in response to environmental signals and extracellular factors. With this knowledge we wish to manipulate the immunity of non-GMO bacteria used in various green and sustainable biotechnologies to make them less vulnerable to environmental phages. The postdoc will primarily use a combination of molecular and single cell methods including genetic engineering and generation of fluorescence-based bio-reporters, FACS, CLSM, and transcriptomics.

The postdoc position is for 2.5 years and will be carried out at Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen. Here the fellow will engage in teamwork with the rest of the staff and external collaborators, both national and international. The postdoc’s duties will include research within the above mentioned field as well as teaching. The post may also include performance of other duties.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious researcher who is interested in CRISPR-Cas bacteriology and keen on working with molecular microbiology. Applicants with the following proficiencies will be regarded highly qualified and will be prioritized:

• Ph.D. (required) in microbiology, molecular microbiology, microbial biotechnology, or equivalent.
• Documented experience working with bacterium-phage CRISPR-Cas laboratory models.
• Hands on experience constructing promoter and protein fluorescent fusion reporters
• Using genetic engineering and synthetic biology approaches in bacteria
• Making RNA-seq libraries and analyzing bacterial transcriptomes
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

The University of Copenhagen wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Inquiries about the position can be made to Assistant Professor Jonas Stenløkke Madsen, jsmadsen@bio.ku.dk

Terms of employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

The starting salary is currently up to DKK 437.843 including annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 74.871). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Application:

The application must contain:

• Curriculum vitae
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers

Procedures

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

The deadline for the application is 31 January, 23:59 GMT +1.

Applications received after the deadline, or with insufficient documentation or otherwise not complying with the above requirements, may not be considered.

If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH in this links: http://ism.ku.dk, https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/frontpage.htm and https://www.workindenmark.dk/.

Further information on the Department is linked at https://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/.

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.