Job Opportunities in Denmark

The Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN) invites applicants for a Ph D fellowship in oxygen-dependent enzymes and their pivotal role in conversion of biomass. This position is supported by the the Novo Nordisk Foundation and is part of the collaborative international “Oxy Mi ST” project, which seeks to uncover the “Oxygen Constraints on Microbial Secretomes during Plant Cell Wall Turnover”.

Start date is (expected to be) 1 November 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
The 'Oxy Mi ST' project is dedicated to advancing our understanding of carbon recycling in environments where oxygen is limited. The primary focus of the research will be to explore how variations in oxygen concentration affect the activity of microbial enzymes that are responsible for degradation of biomass. The Ph D candidate will play a crucial role in identifying and characterizing these enzymes, aiming to reveal new processes and whether these can be utilized for enhanced bioethanol production or CO2 capture

Nature is fundamentally about carbon recycling, and we have a pretty good understanding of the enzymes that make this happen at the surface where oxygen is easily available. It is more opaque when we dig in and oxygen becomes a sparse resource. Is it the same enzyme reactions but slower? Is it something new? Can we speed up the process and produce bioethanol, or slow it down to capture CO2?

Who are we looking for?

• A Master’s degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, food science, or a related field.
• Outstanding academic records.
• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written.
  

It will be considered an advantage if you have:

• Hands-on experience in one or more of: enzyme assays, protein purification, HPLC, calorimetry, or mass spectroscopy
• A strong foundation in analytical chemistry, molecular biology, or biophysical chemistry.
• Specific knowledge of redox enzymes such as oxidases, peroxygenases, or lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases
• Excellent collaboration and networking skills

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The Biopolymers and Redox Enzymes research group at the University of Copenhagen's Frederiksberg Campus is a collaborative community located near central Copenhagen. Our laboratories are specifically designed for studying oxygen-dependent biological samples and enzyme reactions, providing an optimal environment for the project. The group has recently undergone a reorgnization and currently comprises 2 associated professors, 3 postdocs, and 2 fellow Ph D students, with 2 additional Ph D positions available. We value collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange, creating an atmosphere where ideas can be freely shared and explored. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with renowned scientists from our partner institutions, Cambridge University (UK) and INRAE Marseille (France), as well as enhancing your research experience and professional network in a dynamic international setting

We encourage all interested candidates who meet the qualifications to apply. For more details about the fellowship or application process, see https://ign.ku.dk/english/oxymist/ or contact Søren Brander, sbd@ign.ku.dk . We look forward to your application and potentially welcoming you to our team.

The supervisor for the Ph D project is Søren Brander , sbd@ign.ku.dk

The Ph D programme

Depending of your level of education, you can undertake the Ph D programme as a three year full-time study within the framework of the regular Ph D programme (5+3 scheme), if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular Ph D programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. cand.scient or cand.polyt. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database .

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as Ph D fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a Ph D student at the Ph D School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the Ph D programme

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete Ph D courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a Ph D thesis on the basis of your project

Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include :

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 6 October 2024, 23:59 GMT +2 .

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 deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Questions
For specific information about the Ph D fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about Ph D study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the Ph D School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/ .

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