Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc with expertise in genome engineering to redesign RNA-guided transposition systems. This is a 3-year position with start 1 December 2023, or after agreement. The successful candidate will work at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR) in the Structural Molecular Biology research group headed by Prof. Guillermo Montoya. The position is financed through the ERC Advanced Grant ERC_AdG_101096548 INTETOOLS.

More information on the CPR can be found at: https://www.cpr.ku.dk.

Our research
We are located at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (https://www.cpr.ku.dk/). The institute was established in 2007 at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, to promote basic and applied research. CPR spans broad areas of protein research, ranging from structural and mechanistic understanding of protein complexes to protein pathways. The Center is structured into five complementary research programs: Proteomics, Protein Structure and Function, Protein Signaling, Disease Systems Biology and Protein Memory, each of which is supported by dedicated technology platforms. The Montoya Group is part of the Protein Structure and Function at NNF CPR, a multidisciplinary and international research center with a highly collaborative research environment and cutting-edge core facilities, such as genomics, proteomics, protein imaging, protein production and characterization, big data management platforms.

Your Job
We are seeking highly motivated, creative, and collaborative individuals who are passionate and dedicated to using their expertise to make impactful contributions to the design of new genome engineering tools based on RNA-guided transposases. 

Responsibilities include:

• Engage in ground-breaking and innovative science
• Support and manage internal/external collaborations in one or more multidisciplinary projects to accelerate essential research activities
• Develop project-specific experimental strategies, techniques, and procedures
• Assist PI with training lab members, including scientists and technicians
• Contribute to writing and dissemination of research results
• Develop novel high-throughput methods to understand genome editors
• Engineer novel genome editors with human and prokaryotic cell-based directed evolution

Qualified applicants will have a PhD in life sciences or another relevant discipline, coupled with strong training in one or more of the following fields demonstrated by a successful track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Experience in:

• Molecular and cell biology, genome editing cell-based assays, cell culture
• Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analysis
• Sequencing bioinformatic analysis
• Genome editing (e.g., genetic engineering, CRISPR/Cas systems, etc)
• Microbial genetics and engineering
• A background in chromatin biology, DNA replication and repair and/or stem cell biology is an advantage. 
• Expertise in next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches and data analysis is a plus.
• Collaborative and inclusive mindset and curiosity-driven nature
• Good communication and organization skills
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Place of employment
The employment is at CPR (www.cpr.ku.dk) , a Novo Nordisk Foundation center of excellence established in 2007 and embedded in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, to promote basic and applied research on human proteins of medical relevance. The Center comprises modern laboratories, supercomputer resources and state-of-the- art facilities within protein science and genomics. CPR is an interdisciplinary international environment with English as the main language. We are located in central Copenhagen, a city with one of the highest qualities of life in the world and a vibrant and highly interactive research environment. The University of Copenhagen has a strong focus on balancing professional life with a family-friendly working environment https://www.ism.ku.dk/faq.

Terms of employment
The employment as postdoc is a full-time and fixed-term position for 3 years. Starting date is 1 December 2023 or after agreement.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 36,290 DKK/ approx. 4,870 EUR (April 2023 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign 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 Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information please contact Prof. Guillermo Montoya, email: guillermo.montoya@cpr.ku.dk. 

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

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 and names and contact details for 3 references.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.

Deadline for applications: 15 September 2023, 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 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 https://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 wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
 

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.