A PhD position in ATMP development at reNEW Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen is looking for a PhD candidate to join the Jensen group starting 1 November 2024 or upon agreement. You will be part of an interdisciplinary team involved in the development of a cutting-edge stem cell therapy for treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW
reNEW is an international consortium of three leading research institutions; the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, and Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. The Mission of reNEW is to bring together research excellence to harness the therapeutic potential in stem cell medicine. For this, researchers within reNEW address fundamental questions in stem cell and developmental biology and aim to translate research findings to products that will help patients with incurable disorders such as congenital kidney disorders, chronic ulcerative disorders, neurological disorders, and diabetes.

Information on the department can be found at: https://renew.ku.dk

Our research
In the Jensen group, we wish to understand how adult intestinal stem cells are specified during development, how their behaviour is regulated during steady state homeostasis, and how they dynamically change during tissue regeneration (e.g. Yui et al., 2018, Cell Stem Cell; Guiu et al., 2019, Nature; Schweiger et al., 2022, Gastroenterology; Pikkupeura et al., 2023, Science Advances; Hansen et al., 2023, Science Advances; Maciag et al., 2024, Stem Cell Reports). This has provided us with insights which we are now exploiting to develop new therapies for patients with disorders such as ulcerative colitis. We are a highly interdisciplinary and international team with established collaborators at the major hospitals in the Copenhagen region. This provides the ideal environment for bridging fundamental research with clinical developments.

Job description
We are seeking an enthusiastic and outstanding candidate with a background in cellular and molecular biology. Our team has over the last decade had a focus on organoid technologies and worked intensively on optimising methods and procedures for culturing epithelial cells from small biopsies from human patients, as well as mechanisms for expansion and transplantation into injury models. Based on encouraging proof of concept data, we are now ready to move our research towards a clinical trial of a stem cell therapy for treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis. You will support the exciting journey towards a clinical trial by developing relevant methods and procedures.

Key activities include:

• Adapting our current cell culture conditions to be GMP compatible.
• Develop standard operating procedures for culturing intestinal epithelial organoids.
• Support the transition from the laboratory to a GMP facility.
• Establish transplantation methods suitable for patients.
• Evaluate safety and efficacy of the cellular products.
• Establish quality control and release criteria measurement of the cellular product.

Qualifications

• You should have a Master's degree in Life Sciences and experience from a relevant field such as stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine.
• You have a strong background in cellular and molecular biology and a FELASA EU function ABD license is seen as a strong advantage.
• Previous experience with culturing human intestinal organoids is strongly preferred.
• Experience with suspension cultures and tissue dissociation will be advantageous.
• Fluency in English is essential. Fluency in Danish is an advantage.
• A solution-oriented, organizational and positive mindset is required. The ability to work in a highly collaborative international environment both independently and as part of the team is essential.

We offer

• A stimulating, challenging and multifaceted research environment.
• A supportive team to work and collaborate with.
• Possibilities for continued education and training.
• Attractive employment conditions.
• Centrally located workplace.

Terms of salary, work, and employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The employment 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 during the one-year employment as a research assistant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) 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 Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Questions
For further information please contact Kim B. Jensen; e-mail [email protected]; https://renew.ku.dk/research/reseach-groups/jensen-group/

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:

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
• Curriculum vitae incl. education, experience, previous employments, language skills and other relevant skills
• References letters
• List of publications
• Copy of diplomas/degree certificate(s)

Deadline for applications: 18 September, 2024 23:59 CET
The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.

Assessment procedure
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.

The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

You find information about the recruitment process at: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark. It is among the largest universities in Scandinavia and is one of the highest ranking in Europe. The University´s eight faculties include Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Science, Social Sciences and Theology. www.ku.dk

We want to reflect the surrounding society and encourage all qualified persons, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.

Info
Ansøgningsfrist: 18-09-2024

Ansættelsesdato: 01-11-2024

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: reNEW NNF Center for Stem Cell Medicine