mardi 8 janvier 2013

Three in vivo pharmacology PhD fellowships at The LIFEPHARM Centre


Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen is offering three PhD fellowships commencing 1 April 2013 or soon thereafter. The application deadline is 11 February 2013. 

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and Novo Nordisk A/S established  a research centre in 2010 - The LIFEPHARM Centre  (http://www.lifepharm.dk/) - with a total budget of DKK 78 million covering 
activities until the end of 2018. 

The present positions are part of the Centre?s activities. The purpose of the research centre is to strengthen the research in experimental pharmacology and toxicology and to increase the output of candidates and PhDs with a strong in vivo pharmacological profile. 

It is expected that the future PhD fellows will be enrolled in the Graduate  Programme for In Vivo Pharmacology and Experimental Animals (IVP) at  SUND and participate actively in this network. The IVP Graduate Programme was established in 2006 as a collaboration between the Faculties of Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, University of Aarhus, and industrial partners; Novo Nordisk A/S, LEO Pharma and H. Lundbeck A/S. www.invivofarm.dk 

For more information on LIFEPHARM or IVP please contact: 
Professor Jens Lykkesfeldt 
Director of LIFEPHARM 
Head of Danish In Vivo Pharmacology Program 
jopl@sund.ku.dk
Phone: (+45) 35 33 31 63) 

Project No. 1: Cognitive and emotional consequences of obesity in  rats
Project description
As obesity and the various mentally-based comorbidities are an increasing problem in our society, more knowledge is needed to understand, prevent and treat obesity and the possible predisposing environmental factors. This project will establish advanced and sensitive cognitive tests in a rat model, which will provide valuable tools for analysing the behavioural and physiological consequences of obesity. Using these tests, this project aims at demonstrating the link between diet-induced obesity (DIO) and relating physiology/clinical chemistry and negative psychological states, subtle cognitive impairment, "low-grade depression-like behaviour and changes in the profile of the gut microbiota. 
Principal supervisor
Associate Professor Dorte Bratbo Sørensen 
E-mail: brat@sund.ku.dk
Direct Phone: (+45) 35 33 27 24 
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences 
University of Copenhagen 

Required qualifications
 MSc in human biology, veterinary medicine or other equivalent degree with a solid in vivo experimental profile.  
 A special interest in topics such as applied ethology and animal behavioural models in neuroscience.  
 An interest for animal models for life style diseases such as obesity and diabetes type 2 would be preferable. 

Preferred qualifications  
 Documented experience within experimental animal work.  
 Category C license to carry out animal experiments.  
 Fluency in English and excellent communication skills. 


Project No 2: The specificity of regulator cells in relation to Type 1 diabetes 

Project description
It is known that regulator cells of the immune system protect against type 1 diabetes in animal models. In this project it is hypothesized that regulator cells of the gut elicit this protection through a specificity towards specific tolorogens, and the aim of this project is to characterize the specificity of these cells. Mouse models prone to development of type 1 diabetes are treated with inducing or protecting factors and regulatory cells are isolated and characterized. In the last part of the project it will be attempted to induce protection with a selected tolorogen. The project is a collaboration between Novo Nordisk (Seattle), the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet (National University Hospital), and the successful candidate will perform work at all three institutions. 

Principal supervisor 
Professor Axel Kornerup Hansen 
E-mail: akh@sund.ku.dk
Direct Phone: (+45) 35 33 27 26 
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences 
University of Copenhagen 

Required qualifications  
 MSc in a biological science, veterinary medicine, medicine or other equivalent degree with a special interest in topics such as immunology, nutrition and animal research  
 Documented experience within experimental animal work.  Category C license to carry out animal experiments.  
 Basic education or experience within gut components such as microbiota and nutrients  
 Experience with immunological and microbiological methods.  

Preferred qualifications  
 Fluency in English and excellent communication skills.  
 Experience with mouse models in immunological research  
 Experience with diabetes research  
 Experience from previous stays at research or teaching institutions outside Denmark 


Project No. 3: Characterization of real time in-vivo coagulation and clot formation by florescence microscopy in haemophilia treatments 

Project description
The ability of blood to stop a bleeding is essential to life. Upon injury, a haemostatic clot is immediately formed at the site of vascular injury. This is a highly dynamic process by which platelets adhere, aggregate and form tight complexes of activated cells. The purpose of this project is to characterize the dynamics and mechanisms of clot formation in haemostatic competent animals as well as under different haemophilia treatment regimens in congenital haemophilic rodents and to gather pharmacodynamic information on relevant coagulation components. The properties will be linked to functional endpoints in a spontaneous bleeding model. The project is carried out in collaboration with Novo Nordisk. 

Principal supervisor
Professor Jens Lykkesfeldt 
E-mail: jopl@sund.ku.dk 
Direct Phone: (+45) 35 33 31 63 
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences 
University of Copenhagen

Required qualifications  
 MSc in a biological science, veterinary medicine, medicine or other equivalent degree with a special interest in topics such as pharmacology and animal research  
 Documented experience within experimental animal work.  

Preferred qualifications  
 Category C license to carry out animal experiments.  
 Fluency in English and excellent communication skills.  
 Experience with microsurgery.  
 Experience within experimental pharmacology. 


General Job description 
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at SUND are to:  
 Manage and carry through your research project  
 Take PhD courses  
 Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis  
 Participate in international congresses  
 Stay at a research institution abroad  
 Teach and disseminate your research 

Key criteria for the assessment of candidates  
 The grade point average achieved  
 Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD programme  
 Previous publications  
 Relevant work experience  
 Other professional activities  
 Language skills 

The successful candidate is also required to be enterprising and to possess good interpersonal skills. 

Formal requirements  
The positions are available for a 3-year period for applicants holding a relevant master´s degree. 
It is a perquisite that the PhD candidate is enrolled as PhD student at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen according to the rules stipulated in "Bekendtgørelse nr. 18 af 14. januar 2008 om ph.d.-graden."

Terms of employment 
Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations. The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (2007). 

Questions 
For further information contact Jens Lykkesfeldt, jopl@sund.ku.dkForeign applicants may find the following links useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility) and www.workingconditions.ku.dk

Application Procedure 
Applications - in English - must include: 
 Cover Letter, stating which PhD project you are applying for and detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project.  
 CV  
 Diploma and detailed transcripts of records.  
 Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any), peer reviewed and other.  
 Personal recommendations.  
 A maximum of 3 relevant scientific works which the applicant wishes to have included in the assessment. 

The application 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 encourages all interested in this post to apply. 
Please submit the application with the required attachments by clicking on "Apply online" above the project for which you are applying. Only online applications will be accepted. The closing date for applications is 23.59pm, 20 August 2012. 
The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 5000 students, 1000 PhD students and 1800 employees. The Faculty advances the field of health sciences through its core activities: research, teaching, knowledge sharing and communication. With basic research fields ranging from molecular studies to studies of society, the Faculty contributes to a healthy future through its graduates, research findings and inventions benefitting patients and the community. 
Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark. With 37,000 students and 9,000 employees, it is among the largest universities in Scandinavia and one of the highest ranking in Europe. The University consists of six faculties, which cover Health and Medical Sciences, Humanities, Law, Science, Social Sciences and Theology. 
Deadline: 11-02-2012
Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark. With 37,000 students and 9,000 employees, it is among the largest universities in Scandinavia and one of the highest ranking in Europe. The University consists of six faculties, which cover Health and Medical Sciences, Humanities, Law, Science, Social Sciences and Theology. 
Frist: 11-02-2013 
Arbejdsgiver: Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet