PhD fellowship in Clinical Translational Metabolism at the Department of Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Clinical Translational Metabolism commencing April 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible hereafter.

 

Our group and research
The position is available in the Clinical Translational Metabolism Group headed by Professor Signe Torekov. In our group, we aim at bridging between biomedical research and clinical practice and prevention in obesity. By conducting clinical experimental interventions that characterize and integrate the complex pathophysiology behind obesity, and by securing synergistic and fruitful collaborations, we strive to identify prevention, causalities and optimal treatment options for individuals living with obesity.

You will be part of a team conducting large clinical trials within investigations of prevention and treatment of obesity published in highly cited medical journals. You can read more about the Torekov Group and our current projects here: https://bmi.ku.dk/english/research/endocrinology-and-metabolism/clinical-translational-metabolism/

 

Project description

We are seeking a highly motivated and promising PhD candidate to join our research team. The Clinical Translational Metabolism group focuses on obesity, weight loss and sustaining a healthy weight throughout life as we want to contribute to the development and improvement of effective prevention and treatment strategies for obesity in both children, adolescents and adults. We aim to translate basic metabolism research into clinically relevant evidence, collaborating with both basic scientists and clinicians. Our research includes a variety of clinical and experimental methods to investigate the metabolic, psychosocial and behavioral mechanisms underlying obesity, weight loss and weight loss maintenance in humans. Our group has extensive experience in running clinical trials and integrates a variety of factors including appetite regulation, gut hormones, diet, physical activity, behavioral and social aspects.

Currently we are conducting a large randomized controlled clinical trial in young adults with childhood-onset obesity (The RESETTLE Study). This study investigates the effect of semaglutide as an add-on to hospital-based non-pharmacological obesity care and the impact of a structured exercise program in a post medication phase seeking to prevent weight-regain. We are also initiating a large clinical trial including 400 families living with obesity. This trial aims to improve treatment for children living with obesity by combining family involvement, pharmacological obesity treatment for the parents and AI technology to track family behaviors in real time to help improve physical activity levels, sleep and eating behavior in one intervention program. 

You can read more about The Clinical Translational Metabolism Group and our research at: Torekov Group – University of Copenhagen

As a PhD student in our group, you will be responsible for recruiting and conducting clinical trials on a daily basis. You will take an important part in all the scientific aspects related to our studies including contributing to the scientific research development, generating new scientific questions to investigate, perform statistical analysis, interpretation of results, writing manuscripts for publication and scientific applications, communicating our scientific results and engaging with collaborators.

 

Principal supervisor is Professor Signe Torekov

Start:                 1st of April 2025

Duration:          3 years as a PhD student

 

Job description

Your key task as a PhD fellow in the Clinical Translational Metabolism Group:                    

• Contact with participants in clinical trials
• Tasks associated with our clinical trials including meal tests, DXA-scans, handling of biological samples and questionnaires etc.
• Preparation of your own scientific project with data analysis and writing of manuscripts in collaboration with your colleagues in the research group.

Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at SUND are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.

• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

 

Profile

We are seeking an open-minded, enthusiastic candidate, who synergistically enjoy the scientific aspects and the clinical and practical aspects of research.

 

You:

• Are interested in clinical research, preferably in the subject of health and metabolism
• A team player with both an independent and collaborative mind-set
• Enjoywriting research articles
• Are interested in working with both young individuals and families

 

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in health science (e.g. Medical doctor, human biology or physiology or similar). Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (BSc 3 years + MSc 2 years)
• Basic understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of obesity-related disorders
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral; proficient in English and preferable in Danish as well
• Strong scientific, analytical and technical skills
• Experience with large-scale data analyses, including skills in statistical computational environments such as R and SAS is a distinct advantage, but not a requirement
• Experience with clinical research is a distinct advantage, but not a requirement
• Preferable experience with research conduction and writing scientific manuscripts

 

We are offering:

• An interdisciplinary and young team (including medical doctors, human physiologists, anthropologist, human biologists, bio analysts and bachelor’s and master’s degrees students from different education programs)
• Close supervision including training in statistics and writing scientific articles
• Participation and presentations at journal clubs, seminars and international conferences.
• Training in ultrasound-guided PVK placement and fat biopsy extraction, and more

 

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 a dynamic and international research environment.

 

Terms of employment
The employment as a PhD student is full time and a fixed-term position for 3 years. The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

Starting date is April 1st, 2025, or after agreement.

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 30,700 DKK/Roughly 4,100 EUR (April 2024 level) plus pension. Furthermore, depending on personal qualifications supplement can be negotiated.

 

Questions
For further questions about the job description and qualifications for the positions please contact Professor Signe Torekov, E-mail: [email protected] TEL: +45 22983827.  

For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact [email protected]

General information about PhD studies 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, abstracts, conferences, contact details for at least two references, 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/?set_language=en. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science

4. Research ideas within the context of the activities of the research group (see webpage) (max three pages)

 

Application deadline: 20 January 2025, 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 find information about the recruitment process at: http://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.

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

 

Contact

Signe Sørensen Torekov

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Application deadline: 20-01-2025

Start of employment: 01-04-2025

Working hours: Full time

Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences