PhD student position in the Genome Integrity Group at the Danish Cancer Institute (DCI)

The Genome Integrity group, headed by Prof. Jiri Bartek, is looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic PhD student to join the Danish Cancer Institute (DCI)

About us
The Danish Cancer Society has its own research institute, consisting of 23 research groups and several core facilities, with around 250 researchers dedicated to basic, translational and epidemiological cancer research, at an internationally highly competitive level. The Genome Integrity Group headed by Professor Jiri Bartek focuses on mechanistic understanding of genome stability, cell cycle control, DNA damage response and deregulation of these fundamental processes in cancer development, including discovery of tumour cell-selective stress-tolerance mechanisms that provide cancer cell vulnerabilities targetable by innovative treatments. While this open project will focus on brain tumours and the role of the Human Cytomegalovirus in glioblastoma pathogenesis, the group has broad expertise in diverse human cancer types and fields of cell and molecular biology, signalling, biochemistry, bioinformatics, metabolomics, biomarkers and new treatments, including drug repurposing. We have discovered several important cell cycle and genome integrity checkpoint pathways and pioneered concepts such as the role of replication stress, G1/S control and DNA damage response in cancer development, often published in recognised journals such as Nature, Science or Cell. We have a broad international collaborative network, and the selected candidate(s) will benefit from visits at our collaborating laboratories in Sweden and Finland. For more information, please visit our website.

About the position
The successful candidate will carry out a project focused on the investigation of glioblastoma pathogenesis, particularly the mechanistic basis of the emerging causal role (particularly with regard to impact on genome integrity, DNA replication/cell cycle and cell metabolism) played by the Human Cytomegalovirus in brain cancer development. The project will combine the use of cell and molecular biology, signalling, diverse omics approaches, including metabolomics, proteomics, DNA and RNA sequencing, high-content microscopy, gene manipulation, virology and cell culture, and possibly animal models. The candidate is expected to closely collaborate with other members of the team and with our collaborators on this project at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and University of Turku, participate in scientific conferences, help supervise students and be involved in writing publications.

About you
We are looking for a highly driven, motivated and enthusiastic candidate with the following qualifications:

• A master’s degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology or similar.
• Experience at the bench with basic laboratory methods in molecular/cell biology and biochemistry.
• Experience with metabolomics, signalling pathways, microscopy, brain cancer research and work with viruses is an advantage.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• High level of motivation, commitment and creativity.
• The ability to work in a collaborative, international environment, both independently and as part of a team.

We offer
We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and high-profile international research environment. The recently renovated laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments. Core facilities at the institute are available to all employees,, including level P2 laboratory for work with viruses, bioimaging, lipidomics/metabolomics, flow cytometry/cell sorting, bioinformatics, CRISPR/gene editing and chemical-biology high-throughput screening facilities, nucleic acid sequencing, histology laboratory and animal house facility.

You will join a dynamic working atmosphere with bi-weekly seminars, hands-on workshops, talks by international speakers, a young researchers association, as well as strong administrative and technical support. We offer several benefits for the personnel, such as a health-conscious canteen, a daily selection of free fruit, and a sports and art association. Working hours are of course smoke-free. The everyday working language at the institute is English.

As a PhD student, you will be enrolled at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

We offer a fully-funded 3-year PhD contract. The position is fulltime (37 hours a week with lunchbreak included), and salary will be provided according to the current agreement between the Danish Cancer Society and the relevant trade union.

Additional information
More information can be obtained directly from the group leader Jiri Bartek, jb@cancer.dk.

Application and closing date for applications
The deadline for application is 12th May 2025. The selected candidates will be invited for an interview during May/June 2025. The position is available from July/August 2025 or later in 2025, as agreed during the interview phase.

The application should be written in English and must be submitted electronically via the link 'Apply for position'.

Your application should contain:

• A motivated letter of application (max. 1 page)
• A curriculum vitae
• A copy of the MSc diploma
• 2 references/letters of recommendation from previous working places/supervisors

Department:

Lokation: Hovedstaden

Application deadline: 12 May 2025