BEMÆRK: Ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
Department of Biology
Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen
The Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory at the Department of Biology invites applicants for a PhD fellowship to the project “Transient structure in NCOA3 by accurate hydrogen exchange” funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.
Start date is expected to be 15 November 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
The nuclear receptor coactivator 3 (NCOA3) is a 1424 amino acid large transcriptional activator that interacts with several steroid hormone receptors. As NCOA3 is implicated in several cancer types, including breast and ovary cancers it is of high interest to understand the structural mechanism of how the activity of NCOA3 is regulated. Very little is, however, known about the structure of the full-length NCOA3. One reason for this is that we currently don’t have a proper experimental tool to study full-length NCOA3 – or other large intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). The intact protein is too dynamic for cryoEM and X-ray crystallography, and much too large for NMR spectroscopy.
One way to get structural information would be to use hydrogen-deuterium exchange measured by mass-spectrometry (HDX- MS). However, the current hydrogen exchange reference data do not have the quality needed to detect transient structures that are supposed to dominate in NCOA3.
Here we wish to make a superior reference dataset to unlock the unexploited potential of HX and probe transient structures in NCOA3 and other IDPs to understand the functional role of conformational dynamics.
Required qualifications
Applicants should hold an MSc degree in chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, nanotechnology or a closely related field. The candidate must have a strong background in protein science. Relevant expertise includes expression and purification of proteins, biophysical characterization of transient structures in proteins and NMR spectroscopy. In addition to the above, it is preferable that the candidate has experience in quantitative analyses of data. Candidates must have good interpersonal and communication skills. Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement.
Our labs
The project will be carried out at the interface of three research groups. The main affiliation will be with Kaare Teilum’s group at the Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory (SBiNLab), Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen. We host the cOpenNMR instrument center for biomolecular NMR spectroscopy and currently employs about 20 PhD students and Post Docs as well as a larger number of undergraduate students and guests. The research in the laboratory is highly interdisciplinary ranging from molecular cell biology over protein engineering to advanced biophysics and computational biology. A substantial part of the project will be performed in professor Frans Mulder’s lab at the Johannes Kepler Univeristy, Linz, Austria. Mulder’s lab also has a state of the art NMR facility and the lab are experts in developing new NMR experiments. A minor part of the project will be performed in professor Kasper D. Rand’s lab at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen. Rand’s lab has the latest MS equippemnt for HDX-MS.
Principal supervisor is Professor Kaare Teilum, Department of Biology, kaare.teilum@bio.ku.dk
The PhD programme
Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD 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. 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 PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.
Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD 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.
The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes
- Carry through an independent research project under supervision
- Complete PhD 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 PhD thesis on the basis of your project
- Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
- Relevant publications
- Relevant work experience
- Other relevant professional activities
- Curious mind-set with a strong interest in understanding molecular self-assembly
- Good language skills
Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include:
- Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
- Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
- Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another 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.
- Publication list (if possible)
- Reference letters (if available)
The deadline for applications is 7 August 2023, 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 shortlisted for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be shortlisted 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/.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 38.
Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD 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.
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Ballerup Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
KU - SCIENCE BIO - BRIC, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 København N
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 07-08-2023; - ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
Ved skriftlig henvendelse: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1307&ProjectId=159706&DepartmentId=18965&MediaId=4632&SkipAdvertisement=true
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/5876074
