Researcher in ex vivo dietary microbiome interventions

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research
University of Copenhagen



We are looking for an experienced and motivated Researcher having extensive experience with ex vivo and in vitro microbiome culture and characterization to work in the Arumugam Group at The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR). The position is a 2-year position starting December 1, 2024, or after agreement.

Background
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) is an academic research Center that pioneers 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 located in the Maersk Tower at PANUM since 2017. The around 260 employees create an international, highly collaborative research environment across disciplines.

Our group and research
The Microbiome Systems Biology research group led by Associate Professor Manimozhiyan Arumugam investigates how health and diseases are influenced by our gut microbiome, how the gut microbiome interacts with the host and environmental factors, and how we can therapeutically modulate the gut microbiome to improve metabolic health. The group takes an interdisciplinary approach combining multi-omics microbiome data to study host-microbial cross-talk.

More information about the group can be found at https://cbmr.ku.dk/research/research-groups/arumugam-group/

Project description
The project aims to decipher how dietary components affect specific members of the human gut microbiome using high-throughput dietary interventions on ex-vivo human gut microbiomes.

Your job
Your tasks will include in-vitro culturing and characterizing complex microbial communities; designing and performing dietary/nutrient intervention on these communities; and performing molecular microbiology characterizations. You will work closely together with lab technicians, bioinformaticians and researchers at multiple levels. We expect you to operate and run fed-batch anaerobic fermenters, perform sample collections and extraction of nucleic acids and metabolites. Further to this, you will be responsible for coordinating the running of multi-omics (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, meta-proteomics and metabolomics) and data analysis with technicians and bionformaticians. You will also participate in collaborative projects with other research groups at the Center that involves in vitro culturing of gut microbiota. Lastly, you will be expected to actively contribute to creating novel ideas, writing research publications and grant applications, supervising students, and presenting the results at seminars and conferences.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Researcher with the following competencies and qualifications:

Essential criteria:

• PhD in microbiology, molecular biology or a similar field
• Minimum of three years’ of postdoc experience.
• Strong project management and coordination skills.
• Solid experience in operating large volume anaerobic chambers.
• Solid experience in operating fed-batch fermenters (e.g. SHIME, TIM-2) and maintaining continuous cultures of fecal microbial communities.
• Strong experience in generating and interpreting metabolomic data from in vitro microbial communities.
• Strong collaborative skills; ability to share knowledge and expertise, and provide support to a multidisciplinary team.
• Proven track record showing scientific productivity in peer reviewed journals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Strong interest in learning more about the life science area, particularly metabolic disorders.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience in culturomics approaches.
• Experience in setting up defined synthetic microbial communities in vitro.
• Experience in identifying high-value compounds from microbial world.
• Insight in the area of health, life science and nutrition research.

Place of employment
The place of employment is the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Maersk Tower, 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 Researcher is a full time and fixed-term position for 2 years. Starting date is December 1, 2024, or after agreement.

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). 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 lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities” of June 28, 2013.

Questions
For further information please contact Associate Professor Mani Arumugam at [email protected]. For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact SUND HR CBMR at [email protected].

International applicants may find these links useful www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility) and 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, 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.

4. List of publications

Application deadline: September 29, 23.59pm 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 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 wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.