PhD position in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) GlyCanDrug: Testing and validation of inhibitors of cellular glycosylation for use in cancer therapy

Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

Acronym GlyCanDrug is a glycoscience-oriented European Training Network funded in the framework of HORIZON Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) grant agreement No 01119601.

About GlyCanDrug
Within GlyCanDrug, 10 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) will be equipped with a thorough multifaceted knowledge of the potential of glycoscience in the discovery of cancer precision therapeutics and the necessary transferable skills. GlyCanDrug will provide an international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary educational program, according with the EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training. This will put DCs in an advantageous position for job opportunities in both academia and industry.

DC10: We are seeking a highly motivated and intellectually curious PhD candidate to contribute to this project at Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, University of Copenhagen, which is world leading within the field of glycoengineering and glycomics. CCG has state-of-the-art facilities for mass spectrometry, mass photometry, flow cytometry, cell engineering, and glycan arrays, and group leaders hold diverse expertise in all areas of glycosciences. Our core valuables include glycoproteome data and bioinformatics tools, validated gene editing tools, glycoengineered cell libraries, and design matrices for the recombinant production of glycotherapeutics. CCG hosts an international seminar series, PhD courses in glycobiology and gene editing, and participates in ICMMs education program.

About the project
This PhD project will focus on the design and engineer optimal cell models for screening and validation of inhibitors for the sialyltransferases (ST)s and fucosyltransferases (FT)s isoenzymes. The DC will be trained in glycoengineering technologies using CRISPR/Cas9, cell-based glycan array screening method, as well as synthesis of glycomimetics and high-throughput screening of libraries of compounds through secondments.

Planned secondments:

1. The biotech company GlycoDisplay Aps, Copenhagen (Y-H. Chen supervisor) (Year 1, 10 months), cell engineering technologies.
2. University of Florence, Italy (UNIFI). (B. Richichi B supervisor) (Year 2, 1 month), learning the synthesis of glycomimetics.
3. University of Ljubljana (UL), Slovenia (M. Anderluh supervisor (Year 2, 3 months), virtual screening to discover inhibitors for selected GTs.

The candidate must have a master's degree in either biochemistry, molecular biology, (bio)medicine, biology, or similar.

The successful candidate will be employed as PhD student at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

Our research
Copenhagen Center for Glycomics (CCG) placed at the Health and Science Faculty at University of Copenhagen use genetic approaches to study the biology of complex glycans in health and disease. CCG has pioneered the cell-based glycan arrays that are comprised of large libraries of isogenic cells genetically engineered to have distinct glycosylation capacities and hence distinct display of glycans on the cell surface (PMID: 31227230, 33111073, 33617880, 34210959). The cell-based glycan arrays enable discovery and dissection of interactions with glycans in their natural environment as glycoconjugates on the cell surface. The technology is also valuable for cell-based screening and discovery of inhibitors of glycosylation (PMID: 36804936), which is the focus of the GlyCanDrug European Training Network the applicant will be involved in.

Principal supervisor: Professor, group leader Henrik Clausen, email [email protected]
Start date: November 2024
Duration: 3 years

The successful candidate will conduct independent research related to the topics above at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM). We expect the candidate to engage in an active research environment and take part in student guidance.

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants for the position
You have a master's degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, (bio)medicine, biology, or similar (equivalent to a Danish candidate 3+2 years).

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.

Other important criteria are

• Qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Molecular Biology, or related areas
• The grade point average achieved
• Good level of English proficiency (understood, spoken and written).
• Team spirit and proactive attitude.
• Experience in molecular biology, gene editing, and/or cell culture are advantages
• Previous scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals are not required but will be an advantage

Mobility rule
The researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her/their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Short stays as holidays and compulsory military service and/or Refugee Convention 1951 are disregarded.

Eligibility as Doctoral Candidate (DC)
The recruited DC must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the first day of the employment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

Place of employment
The place of employment is at Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. ICMM offers a creative and ambitious scientific environment, with many different nationalities represented. ICMM aims to produce research with high international impact focusing on the functional cell, its genetic components, and molecular cellular mechanisms in a medical context.

ICMM currently comprises five research programs, three high profile Research Centres as well as several international research groups. The scientists at ICMM are involved in high quality research based undergraduate and graduate teaching programs at the University of Copenhagen.

More information may be found at https://icmm.ku.dk/english/.

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD Fellow is full time and for 3 years. Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organization. Currently, the monthly salary starts at DKK 30,716 / approx. EUR 4,122 (April 2024 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact the hiring group leader mentioned above.

International applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility) or https://www.workindenmark.dk.

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all 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. 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.
4. Publication list (if any).

Deadline for applications: September 8, 2024, at 23.59 pm CEST.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the above-mentioned 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 which will consist of both internal (UCPH) and external members. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant can comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

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