Postdoc fellowship in virus-host interactions

The University seeks to appoint a Postdoc to the Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM) to work in Associate Professor Troels Scheel’s group at CO-HEP to commence as soon as possible. The position is for 2 years with the possibility of extension.

Information on the Department can be found at: www.isim.ku.dk

Our group and research

As a Postdoc, you will be working on the molecular and cell biology of RNA virus infections. You will join the group of Associate Professor Troels Scheel, who leads a research team of around 10 scientists. Our group is part of Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), led by Professor Jens Bukh, with around 50 researchers and affiliated with Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), University of Copenhagen, and with Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital. Your primary work location will be at the university. Our work environment is ambitious, dynamic and international.

Project description

Viruses are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, and thorough understanding of basic virology is critical for the development of vaccines and antivirals. Viruses make extensive use of cellular factors, and studies of virus-host interactions uncovered molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and yielded therapeutic targets. Furthermore, virology provided numerous tools and basic discoveries in cellular biology. The over-arching theme of our research is on how viruses exploit cellular factors in unconventional ways to their own advantage, and with a special focus on RNA.

We study a broad range of RNA viruses, including hepatitis viruses, flaviviruses (e.g., yellow fever, tick-borne encephalitis), pestiviruses and influenza virus. Focus areas include non-canonical capping and modification of viral RNA, which can protect against innate immune sensing (Sherwood, Riveral-RangelNature 2023), RNA-binding proteins and miRNA interactions, which is critical for certain viruses (Mullari, Fossat Nat Comms 2023, FossatCell Rep 2023, KokkonosNAR 2020), and animal models for HCV using the recently discovered HCV-related hepaciviruses, which could provide important insights on pathology and immune responses (WolfisbergHepatology 2022).

Your project on virus-host interactions will be defined together with Dr. Scheel, and could involve methodology such as virus cultivation, molecular biology assays, functional characterization, translation and replication reporter assays, RNA-cap assays, crosslinking immune-precipitation (CLIP), RNA-seq and related methods. You will be expected to actively participate in method development and development of the project. A high level of motivation, ambition and involvement will be expected.

Principal supervisor isAssociate Professor Troels K. H. Scheel, Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, [email protected]

Troels Scheel was appointed Associate Professor at University of Copenhagen in 2016 after completing his postdoc at Charles Rice’ laboratory at The Rockefeller University in 2015 (Nobel Prize 2020). Dr. Scheel was awarded Starting (2018) and Consolidator (2023) grants from the European Research Council (ERC), and starting grants from the Danish Council for Independent Research (2016) and Carlsberg Foundation (2021).

For more information on research and recent projects:

https://isim.ku.dk/research/cohep/?pure=en/persons/221047

https://isim.ku.dk/research/cohep/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=troels+scheel&sort=date

Required qualifications

The successful applicant should have:

• A PhD in virology, in RNA, molecular, cellular or systems biology, or related fields. Applicants expecting to obtain the PhD degree in the near future are also encouraged to apply.
• Experience with the above-mentioned fields.
• Interest in RNA viruses, molecular biology and novel deep sequencing methods.
• Research qualifications including experience with cell culture and molecular biology. Experience with virology, microbiology or immunology is an advantage but not a requirement.
• First author publication(s) in high quality internationally recognized journals.

The postdoc is also required to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills. The working language is English, and good English speaking, reading and writing skills are therefore required. You will be expected to drive your research with independence and initiative, but also to interact well with the group in a dedicated but pleasant work atmosphere.

Terms of employment
The employment as postdoc is a full time (37 hours per week) and fixed-term position for 2 years with possibility of extension. Starting date is as soon as possible.

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 35,000 DKK/approx. 4,700 EUR (October 2021 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 Troels K. H. Scheel, [email protected]

Copenhagen is a modern and international city with a high living standard. 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:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. two pages).

2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. 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 must be enclosed.

4. List of publications.

5. Letter(s) of recommendation (optional but recommended)

Application deadline:  14 January 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 above-mentioned 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 February or early March.

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

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.