Postdoc in radiochemistry at Cluster for Molecular Imaging

We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced, and dynamic postdoc to start on March 6, 2025. The position is for two years.

Our group and research
Cluster for Molecular Imaging (CMI) is an interdisciplinary research group affiliated with both Rigshospitalet and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. CMI was established in 2004 by Prof. Andreas Kjær to pursue translational molecular imaging research. The research is driven by patient needs and includes all steps from molecule to man, with a strong focus on transferring new methods into clinical practice. The research covers several disease areas, including immune-oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammatory diseases. The group has so far translated 5 PET tracers into the clinic.

CMI has access to all necessary facilities for molecular imaging, including preclinical and clinical imaging facilities, cyclotrons, and radiochemistry. It also has laboratories for molecular biology, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and a cell laboratory.

The group currently consists of 40 researchers covering various disciplines, including medicine, pharmacy, chemistry, engineering, and physics.

Your job
The aim of this position is to lead research projects related to radiochemistry. Responsibilities include managing the ordering of radioactive materials and radiolabeling the tracers required by the group. In addition to this, you will also manage your own projects, which require flexibility and adaptability to potential changes.

Your projects will encompass a range of activities, including radiolabeling, in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo studies. At times, you will be responsible for performing all steps of the research process, from developing tracers and animal models to growing tumors in cell culture and injecting them into animals, radiolabeling tracers, injecting tracers into animals, performing PET/SPECT/MRI scans, and biodistribution analyses.

Furthermore, you will oversee radiochemistry safety protocols, meaning you will be on call and must be ready to respond to accidents.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Key skills:

• You have a PhD in radiochemistry, with a minimum 6 years’ experience working with radioactivity. We specifically seek experience in radiolabeling with copper-64, gallium-68, and fluorine-18.
• You must have completed courses in Radioactive Isotopes and Ionizing Radiation, Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, and the FELASA ABD animal course (minimum).
• We expect you to have a broad knowledge of peptides and binding methods such as Bio–Layer Interferometry and Surface Plasmon Resonance.
• You must have knowledge of culturing cells/tissue for tumor implantation.
• Significant experience handling animals and utilizing preclinical PET/CT, PET/MRI, and SPECT/CT scanners is expected. This includes skills in catheter implementation in both rat and mouse tails and preferred experience in inoculating tumors from cells or tumor tissue into mice. Understanding rodent anatomy is required to perform surgery and conduct biodistribution studies.

Other essential competencies:

• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Prior successful postdoctoral research, including project planning and execution. Experience with the supervision of PhD students is preferred.
• Independent and motivated working style.
• Excellent English skills, written and spoken.

We expect you to have a strong passion for cancer research and the development of innovative tracers for diagnosis and treatment. You find working with animal models fascinating and are eager to learn and develop new methods that have the potential to be implemented in clinical settings.

We are looking forward to welcoming you as part of our team where researchers interact both professionally and socially.

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment in state-of-the-art laboratories.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 2 years. The starting date is the 6th of March 2025.

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 38,500 DKK/approx. 5,100 EUR (April 2024 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 Anne Mette F Hag; [email protected]; www.sund.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:

• Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
• CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
• 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.
• List of publications.

Deadline for applications: [19 December 2024], 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.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 3-4

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.

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.

Kontakt
Anne Mette Fisker Hag
E-mail: [email protected]

Info
Ansøgningsfrist: 19-12-2024

Ansættelsesdato: 06-03-2025

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: Department of Biomedical Sciences