PhD fellowship in Biocomplexity and Biophysics

PhD Project in Biophysics of DNA repair and Genome Integrity Maintenance
Niels Bohr Institute
Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen

The Niels Bohr Institute, Section for Biocomplexity and Biophysics, invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Biophysics of DNA repair and Genome Integrity Maintenance. The project is part of the research project “Genome integrity maintenance by liquid-liquid phase separation and oscillations”, which is financed by the Carlsberg Foundation.

Start date is 1 March 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
With the proposed project, we will study the role of liquid-liquid phase separation in facilitating DNA repair processes in the cell nucleus as a model to establish a fundamental biological understanding of how biomolecular droplets allow the cell to orchestrate its biochemical processes. We will achieve this through a cross-disciplinary effort that combines molecular genetics and state-of-the-art microscopy with biophysical modelling and computational simulations. The model approach will be inspired from statistical physics and the theory of phase transitions and droplet formation. By the introduction of active chemical reactions, we will study the physics of droplet formation and maintenance in time and space.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of physics, computational biology or similar. The successful candidate will have excellent skills in mathematics, statistical physics, numerical techniques and a basic knowledge of cellular biology. The candidate should hopefully be extremely enthusiastic about scientific research and be very imaginative with the ability to work independently and in a team.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?
Our group studies biological systems with methods from physics in order to obtain a fundamental understanding of the complex phenomena that can emerge. Our theoretical approach combines analytical calculations with computational simulations. The members of the group provide a balanced mixture of postdocs, PhD students, and undergraduate students. We conduct curiosity-driven basic research. We have strong collaborations with scientific groups in Harvard, Bangalore, Paris, and Taiwan and the successful candidate is encouraged to visit several international collaborators.

The group is a part of The Niels Bohr Institute, Section for Biocomplexity and Biophysics, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. The Section provides a strong, international environment for research in the field of Systems Biology located at Jagtvej 155, 2200 Copenhagen N. The Section currently employs 7 principal investigators, 1 technician, 10 postdocs, 20 PhD students as well as a number of undergraduate students.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include state-of-the-art laboratories and core facilities.

The project is a collaboration with Professor Michael Lisby, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.

Principal supervisor is Professor Mogens Høgh Jensen at the Niels Bohr Institute, [email protected], Direct Phone: +45 35325371.

The PhD programme

Qualifications needed
To be eligible for the PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Biophysics or similar. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the PhD programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks of PhD students

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in Biocomplexity and Biophysics
• Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application including your motivation for applying for this specific PhD project (approx. 2 pages)
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another 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.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 6 January 2025, 23:59 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 deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 4 (20-24 January 2025).

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

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