Postdoc in Biochemistry

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 3 year position to start in the Galvagnion group “Protein-membrane interactions in health and disease” from 1 June 2025, or shortly after. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong expertise in biochemistry and ex-vivo sample characterisation as well as proteomics and big data analyses. The purpose of the postdoc is to perform proteomic analyses of post-mortem brain samples from patients with Parkinson’s Disease to identify protein changes associated with the disease as well as proteins that form toxic aggregates in the brain of patients. This project is founded by the Novo Nordisk foundation and involves a collaboration with the laboratory of Erwin Schoof at the Technical University of Denmark.

Information on the department can be found at: https://drug.ku.dk

Our research
Our research aims at understanding the role of dysfunctions in lipid homeostasis in the emergence of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. Our approach consists in identifying, using biological models, lipid changes associated with these diseases and/or their risk factors and in using biophysical methods to provide at the molecular level the mechanism by which these lipid changes can influence functional protein-membrane interactions and protein aggregation. The different biological models that we consider vary in their complexity and include patient derived cells and brain materials. Our interdisciplinary research involves an international collaborative network including neuroscientists, stem cell biologists, biochemists, protein biophysicists and experts in lipidomics and proteomics.

The main methods/techniques that we routinely use in the laboratory include molecular biology, recombinant protein production/purification; characterisation of protein, protein-membrane interactions and self/co-assembly using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, calorimetry, electron microscopy; lipids extraction and characterisation using mass spectrometry; cell culture (established and iPS cell lines), Immunocytochemistry, Western Blot, qPCR; organelle and ex-vivo material isolation.

More information on our research can be found here:

• Group website
• Google Scholar

Your job
We are looking for an outstanding and passionate scientist who has a strong background in biochemistry and ex-vivo material isolation and characterisation as well as expertise in the analyses of large omics datasets. This post-doctoral research project aims to identify metabolic pathways altered in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) using proteomic analyses of brain samples and their constituting protein-lipid aggregates. PD is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the deposition of protein inclusions called Lewy Bodies (LB). LBs are composed of proteins and lipids and their main constituent is α-synuclein (αS), a presynaptic protein proposed to be involved in synaptic plasticity via binding to synaptic vesicles. αS-membrane interactions can also lead to the aggregation of the protein and specific changes in lipid composition associated with PD are proposed to be responsible for the switch from functional to pathological αS-membrane interactions. Indeed, disruptions in the levels of specific lipids have been found to be associated with increased levels of total and pathological αS in patients derived samples. For example, mutations in the gene GBA, that encodes Glucosylceramidase (GCase), are the most important genetic risk factor for PD and are associated with increased levels of sphingolipids and αS.

Your task will involve the determination of the proteome and quantification of the levels of GCase and total, soluble, insoluble and pathological αS in post-mortem brain samples from PD and PD-GBA patients, where we have quantified PD-related lipid changes (Muñoz et al, BioRxiv). Mass Spectrometry-based proteomics will be one of your main workhorses, alongside other analytical methods such as microscopy, Western Blot, etc. Moreover, you will determine the proteomes of isolated αS aggregates to identify the proteins that co-assemble with αS.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in Biochemistry
• You are highly experienced in ex-vivo material isolation and their characterisation using biochemical methods such as Western-Blot, enzyme activity assays
• You have a strong expertise in the analyses of large omics data sets
• You have an active interest in neuroscience, protein aggregation and proteomics
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience in MS-based proteomics

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and a high-end proteomics facility via the collaboration with Erwin Schoof at the Technical University of Denmark.

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 starting date is 1 June 2025.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 33,500 DKK/approx. 4,400 EUR (April 2024 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

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

Questions
For further information please contact Céline Galvagnion-Büll; [email protected]; www.sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

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, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.

Deadline for applications: 9 March 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. 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 can read about the recruitment process at http://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 wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.