PhD fellowship in Comparative Pediatrics at Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Translational Pediatrics
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen

We are offering a PhD fellowship in Comparative Pediatrics commencing 1 November 2020 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Our group and research
We offer a highly international, diverse and interdisciplinary environment in the Section of Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition. We perform research and teaching related to development, nutrition and disease in human infant and farm animals. Our work extends from basic in vitro studies on cells and tissues (mechanisms and –omics technologies), over animal model studies (mainly in piglets), to intervention and cohort studies of infants at hospitals (growth, gut, brain, immunity, microbiota). The wide range of methodologies requires interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork among group members with widely different academic backgrounds (from basic biology to veterinary/human medicine).

Project description
The current position focus on health and development of preterm infants. We conduct clinical trials to investigate effects of supplemental milk products during periods of insufficient mother’s own milk to improve gut maturation and reduce development of gastrointestinal inflammation and infections, such as necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis. Further, we look at long-term outcomes of different feeding practices on cognitive functions and structural brain development in the preterm infants. Blood samples are collected and used to study changes transcriptome changes with feeding. Cohorts are collected to analyze across several studies. The analyses will be compared with analyses sampled from preterm pig cohorts to increase the translational value of pig studies. A main part of the project will be mechanistic insight in the development based on pig trials and various analyses of blood and fecal samples from pigs and infants. With this, we aim to improve infant health and survival and provide quality alternatives to infant formulas when mother’s milk is not available.  

Principal supervisor is Professor Per T. Sangild, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, E-mail: pts@sund.ku.dk, Direct phone: +4535332698.

Start: 1 November 2020
Duration: 3 years as a PhD student

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
• Participate in active research environments including a stay at another research team
• Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teach and disseminate your knowledge
• Write a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project
• Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
• Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a Master’s degree in human medicine.

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project as described above, hereunder experience with handling data from clinical trials and cohort studies and analytical insight into blood and tissue analyses
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in neonatal health and development
• Language skills

Place of employment
The place of employment is at Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and animal facilities and a close connection to national and international hospitals.

Terms of employment
The employment as PhD fellow is full time and for 3 years.

It is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2019) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary begins around 27,593.77 DKK /approx. 3.700 EUR (April 2020-level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
General information about PhD study at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Master of Science diploma and transcript of records. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor will do
4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline: 12 July 2020, 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.
The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.
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 of 19 December 2019 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Interviews are expected to be held in week 34-35.

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7500 students, 1500 PhD students and 3200 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. The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

• Fakta

• Arbejdssted
  Københavns Universitet
• Kontaktperson
  Per T. Sangild
• Adresse
  Grønnegårdsvej 15, 1870 Frederiksberg C
• Stillingstype
  Forsker
• Speciale
  Pædiatri
• Ansættelsesform
  Tidsbegrænset periode
• Ugentlig arbejdstid
  Fuld tid
• Ansættelsens start
  01-11-2020
• Quick-nr.
  392473
• Indrykningsdato
  29-05-2020
• Ansøgningsfrist
  12-07-2020 (udløbet)

Jobbet er udløbet...