PhD student at the Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases, Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet

PhD project in spatial transcriptomics of neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases

About Danish Reference Center for Prion Diseases (DRCPD)

DRCPD is a center for advanced diagnostics and research of human neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases. Our research efforts are focused on deciphering molecular pathobiology and providing early diagnostics for multiple neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases including sporadic, genetic and acquired Prion and Prion-like diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases

https://www.rigshospitalet.dk/english/departments/centre-of-diagnostic-investigation/danish-reference-center-for-prion-diseases/Pages/default.aspx

About Department of Pathology

The Department of Pathology at Rigshospitalet carries out highly specialized diagnostics through tissue and sample microscopy and molecular analyses. The diagnostics are part of the medical assessment of diagnosis, prognosis and choice of treatment course. The experimental and clinical research of the department is targeted at obtaining greater knowledge about disease mechanisms and at developing mainly molecular pathological methods for classification of diseases with a view to optimize patient treatment. The Department of Pathology also houses Bartholin Institute, a research unit with state-of-the-art core facilities.

https://www.rigshospitalet.dk/english/departments/centre-of-diagnostic-investigation/bartholin-institute/Pages/core-facilities.aspx

Background

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a transmissible, rapidly progressing and inevitably fatal neurodegenerative disease typically affecting individuals over 55 years old. Although it was once considered pathologically unique, today sCJD is referred to as a model disease for a wide range of neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases also called Prion-like diseases. Prion and Prion-like diseases are recognized as a global public health burden and a challenge, which is set to rise during the next few decades as a result of the aging population. Yet, current understanding of the disease underlying molecular complexity is incomplete and there are still no effective treatment options available.

Currently available evidence suggests the existence of multiple glial cell subpopulations exhibiting differential reactivity and distribution across the diseased brain. However, considering Prion and Prion-like diseases the molecular phenotypes and distribution of astrocyte and microglia subpopulations across and within different brain regions is undefined. Moreover, it is unknown if astrocytes and microglia in these diseases have altered misfolded proteins degradation process, and if it is influenced by cell’s location and environment. Furthermore, even though inflammation plays an essential role in disease-associated neurodegeneration, it is still not clear why some patients present stronger neuroinflammatory profile than others.

PhD project: Spatial transcriptomics of neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases

The idea of the PhD project is to investigate specific biological processes in specific brain locations and thus generate comprehensive profiles of different cell population and microenvironments defined by numerous molecular targets estimated using image-analysis, spatial and multiplex protein and RNA expression technologies and different types of archived human brain tissues. This PhD project is designed to yield large data sets that will substantially contribute to a better understanding of human Prion and Prion-like diseases’ specifics on the cellular and molecular levels and help identifying biological processes that could be targeted therapeutically and improve current treatment strategies.

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points
• Participating in active research environments, including taking active part in research- and educational organizational initiatives at the Department of pathology
• A stay at another research environment
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants

A candidate for this PhD project should have the following qualifications:

• MSc degree in medicine, molecular biology, biotechnology, or similar, before September 2023.
• Fluently speaking, reading, writing and presenting in English language.
• Interest in human neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases, pathology, image-analysis, molecular biology, bioinformatics.
• Excellent collaboration skills, ability to plan and perform tasks independently and ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience in large data statistical analyses is an advantage.
• Experience in laboratory work is an advantage.

The PhD fellow will be part of an interdisciplinary and ambitious project team with expertise within neuropathology, neurodegeneration, molecular biology, chemistry, spatial transcriptomics and proteomics. The candidate will be enrolled as PhD-student at the University of Copenhagen. The PhD-supervisor team consists of Ausrine Areskeviciute, PhD and Eva Løbner Lund, MD, PhD (Faculty supervisor).

Salary and employment

The position is full time and limited to 3 years. Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with the regional collective agreements. The starting date is September 1., 2023 (or the earliest available date, by mutual agreement).

Application and deadline

Your application must include the following:

• A letter of motivation
• Curriculum Vitae including references/recommendations and list of publications (if any)
• Diploma including grades

Please submit the application with the required attachments. Only online applications will be accepted. Application deadline is Wednesday, March 29., 2023, at 12.00.

More information

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Prion Laboratory manager, dr. Ausrine Areskeviciute, Phone: + 45 35454873 or mail: ausrine.areskeviciute@regionh.dk.

 

• Fakta

• Arbejdssted
  Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej
• Kontaktperson
  Ausrine Areskeviciute
• Adresse
  Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 København Ø
• Stillingstype
  Læge
• Speciale
  Patologisk anatomi & Cytologi
• Ansættelsesform
  Tidsbegrænset periode
• Ugentlig arbejdstid
  Fuld tid
• Ansættelsens start
  01-09-2023
• Regionens jobnr.
  248238
• Quick-nr.
  446154
• Indrykningsdato
  10-03-2023
• Ansøgningsfrist
  29-03-2023 (udløbet)

Jobbet er udløbet...