PhD fellowship in Molecular Lipid Metabolism

We are offering a PhD fellowship at The Department of Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Lipid Metabolism Group, at the University of Copenhagen invites applications for a 3-year PhD fellowship position starting on 15 January, 2025 or soon thereafter. We are looking for a motivated and dynamic researcher with a strong interest in molecular metabolism.



We offer you

• An exciting and stimulating research project set in a creative, scientifically strong, and international academic environment.
• An open and inclusive work and research environment with dedicated colleagues.
• Room for personal and professional development.

Our group and research

In the Molecular Lipid Metabolism Group, we strive to identify molecular mechanism involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism in relation to physical activity, nutrition and its role in health and disease.

The research is performed from “molecule to human” and uses molecular biology techniques, cell models, genetically modified animals as well as healthy individuals and patients. The vision is that physiological observations in humans under various stimuli can be explained by describing the underlying molecular mechanisms and vice versa can mechanistic basic science in the lab lead to new insights that can be translated to humans and solve challenges in society.

Specifically, we focus on the lipid metabolism and how lipids are absorbed, taken up in tissues and and handled in tissues like muscle, adipose tissue and liver. We use exercise and diet interventions to study the regulatory mechanisms of the lipid metabolism.



Project description

The project aims to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the health beneficial effects of intake of short-chain fatty acids.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) refer to fatty acids (FAs) consisting of 4-6 carbon atoms. SCFAs are less abundant than long-chain FAs (LCFA)s in the diet and body. A few studies have suggested potential health beneficial effects of dietary intake of SCFA, however, despite these described beneficial metabolic effects of SCFAs, the mechanisms behind these benefits are unknown.
The objective of this project is therefore to uncover the acute and chronic physiological and metabolic effects of SCFA intake as well as revealing the molecular mechanisms underpinning potential benefits of SCFAs. To accomplish this, you will use a combination of human clinical experimentation and loss-of-function mouse models. The results of the project will reveal the mechanisms of how SCFAs improve metabolic health, knowledge which can be used in the treatment of metabolic diseases.

We are looking for a competent candidate with a flair for human and mouse experiments. One that will be able to master many skills in the laboratory using whole animals as well as driving human experimentation.



Principal supervisor is Associate Professor, Andreas Mæchel Fritzen, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Email: [email protected], Direct Phone: 42633359.

Start: 15 January 2024

Duration: 3 years as a PhD student



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

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.

• Attend and complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Actively participating in research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Disseminate your research through scientific manuscripts aimed at high-impact journals and presentations at national or international meetings.
• Teach undergraduate or graduate students in the Autzen Group and in courses offered by the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
• Conclude your PhD studies by writing and defending your PhD thesis.

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 Biology, Biochemistry, and Human Physiology. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

Other important criteria are:

• Qualifications corresponding to a Danish MSc degree with good results.
• Completed courses or research experience in physiology, biochemistry, metabolism, pharmacology and/or nutrition.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly grasp and employ new methods and tools.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• High level of motivation, responsibility, and ability to work in a structured manner.
• An ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms of proteins.

As criteria for the assessment of your qualifications, emphasis will also be laid on publications, and relevant work or research experiences.

We are looking for a candidate with some hands-on experience in some of the following topics:

• Experience with performing invasive human metabolic studies
• Experience with dietary registration and nutritional studies in humans
• Knowledge about cardiac MRI
• Molecular biology techniques like RT-qPCR, western blotting etc.
• Mouse metabolic and dietary studies including experience with basal mouse metabolic phenotyping and preferable with accreditation to conduct research in animals (EU Function ABD/FELASA C or similar)
• Data management and reporting
• Basic statistics

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the 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 is an international and interdisciplinary workplace, offering a vibrant, creative, and innovative research environment.



Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. The start date is 15 January. 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.



Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor, Associate Professor Andreas Mæchel Fritzen, phone: 42633359, email: [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 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: 10 November 2024, 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.



Interviews are expected to be held in weeks 47-48.



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