Postdoc in Genetic Regulation of the Plasma Proteome and its Link to Cardiometabolic Disease in Greenlandic Inuit

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoc fellow to commence on February 1, 2025, or after agreement in the Hansen Group at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), University of Copenhagen.

The Postdoc fellowship is part of the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program.

About Us
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) is an academic research Center that pioneer’s groundbreaking research towards better cardiometabolic health. Through collaborative interdisciplinary research from single-cell genomics to whole-body systems, CBMR aims to transform the basic understanding of cardiometabolic health and accelerate its translation into prevention and treatment strategies. The Center’s uniquely multi- and interdisciplinary approach combines research in genetics, physiology and pharma­cology, to better understand the complex interplay of the many factors that drive cardiometabolic disease. You can learn more in the Executive Summary of CBMR's Strategy 2024–2028.

CBMR was established in 2010 at the Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences and has been in the Maersk Tower at PANUM since 2017. The around 260 employees create an international, highly collaborative research environment across disciplines.

Our Research
In the molecular understanding of metabolic diseases, a major gap exists between basic genetic and microbiome discoveries and their impact on physiology and the potential for clinical translation. The Hansen Group aims to bridge this gap by connecting genomic discoveries and epidemiology, with physiology and clinical application. To study the role of selected genetic variants in human metabolism, we perform physiology and intervention studies based on recruit-by-genotype principles. We also investigate families and populations with extreme metabolic phenotypes and perform physiology and intervention studies. Finally, we investigate targeted clinical management of carriers of selected high-impact variations in the human genome. The Hansen group offers an international and supportive work environment, where teamwork and diversity are considered key factors to our successful research within relevant research fields. You can read more about the Hansen Group here.

Job Description
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have laid the framework for understanding the impact of genetic variation on complex disease risk, predominantly identifying common variants with small effects. Studying isolated populations has the power to enhance the discovery of disease associated loci, due to the enrichment of certain rare variants with large effects. Circulating proteins provide deep insights into the current state of human health and can capture the influence of environment on disease pathogenesis. The Postdoc will work on a project, which will integrate high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS)-based plasma proteomics data with electronic health registry data, along with genetic information from 4,180 Greenlandic individuals to drive the discovery of novel clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets which may aid in the future prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

The mentorship team consists of three host laboratories at CBMR. The Hansen lab who has extensive experience in genetic analysis, including identification of pQTL's, the Deshmukh lab who have core expertise in MS-based proteomic studies, and the Kilpeläinen lab who offer insight into the functional interpretation of human genetic associations. In addition, there will be collaboration with the Albrechtsen Group and Moltke Group at Department of Biology on statistical and computational method, and with Steno Diabetes Center Greenland on Population studies in Greenland.

Your tasks will be to:

• Examine baseline and longitudinal associations between the MS-based plasma proteome and cardiometabolic disease outcomes using registry-based data.
• To perform a GWAS of the MS-based plasma proteome to identify protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs).
• Examine the overlap between pQTLs and cardiometabolic disease-associated risk variants using colocalization methods.
• Coordinate project related tasks.
• Contribute to scientific papers.

Profile
The Postdoc fellowship is aimed at early-career researchers with a background in data science or bioinformatics and familiar with integrative research approaches within the broad area of basic cardiometabolic research.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, statistical genomics or similar.
• Proficiency in a high-level programming language such as R or Python.
• Experience in applying statistical methods to proteomic and/or genomic data.
• Experience from working with large genomic datasets.
• Proven track record showing scientific productivity in peer reviewed journals.
• Strong coordination skills.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral.

Eligibility
The Postdoc fellowships within the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program are open for applicants that hold a PhD degree awarded from a university outside of Denmark. The program is also open for applicants with a Danish PhD degree who can document at least 12 months of full-time research experience from outside Denmark during or after the PhD studies. The PhD degree has to be obtained before February 1, 2025. You are not eligible to apply for the program if you have been employed in a postdoctoral position for more than one year at the University of Copenhagen prior to the commencement of the fellowship.

Terms of Employment
The employment as Postdoc is a full-time position for 3 years. Starting date is February 1, 2025, or after agreement.

Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated.

Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not tax liable to Denmark for the last 10 years.

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

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact research coordinator, Lise Ryborg at [email protected]. Questions regarding the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program must be directed to [email protected]. For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact HR at [email protected].

The University of Copenhagen International Staff Mobility office offers support and assistance to all international researchers on all issues related to moving to and settling in Denmark.

Application Procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English via the ‘Apply now’ link below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

• Cover letter expressing the motivation and previous research experience of the applicant (max. one page)
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of the PhD degree certificate and the master’s degree certificate. In case the PhD has not yet been completed, a written statement from the supervisor is acceptable, confirming it will be obtained before February 1, 2025.
• List of publications
• References (name and contact details of at least two references)

Application Deadline: September 20, 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. 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 can read about the recruitment process at www.employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process.

The applicant will be assessed according to Ministerial Order No. 242 of March 13, 2012, on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their personal backgrounds.