Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Miller Group at the DNRF Center for Chromosome Stability (CCS), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM)

A position as Postdoctoral Research Associate is available in the Center for Chromosome Stability (CCS) (https://ccs.ku.dk/ ) in a group headed by Assoc. Prof. Thomas Miller. The post is available from 1st June 2024, or after agreement.
Highly motivated and committed candidates with an interest in eukaryotic DNA replication, DNA damage repair, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) or single-molecule studies are encouraged to apply.
The post is fully funded, although the post-holder will be encouraged to seek a personal fellowship to support their research.

The Center for Chromosome Stability
The CCS is a Center of Excellence funded by the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF) and its mission is to advance our understanding of how chromosomal instability causes human disease. The CCS is embedded at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (https://icmm.ku.dk/english/ ). The working language in the CCS is English.

Our group and research
The Miller group (https://icmm.ku.dk/english/research-groups/miller-group/ ) aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that maintain eukaryotic genome stability during DNA replication using a combination of genetic, biochemical, single-molecule and structural techniques, including cryo-EM. The research in the Miller group is generously supported by a Novo Nordisk Foundation Hallas-Møller Emerging Investigator grant, the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF) and the Carlsberg Foundation. 

Project description
Genome instability is a hallmark of inherited human disorders and age-related diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer. Eukaryotic genomes are replicated by complex molecular machines called replisomes, which frequently encounter naturally occurring ‘obstacles’ that can prevent faithful DNA replication and induce genome instability. Covalent DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are one such obstacle and are estimated to occur at thousands of sites/genome/day in proliferating cells. Eukaryotic cells require multiple mechanisms to overcome DPCs, including replication-coupled proteolysis (‘DPC repair’). 

The Miller laboratory aims to determine the molecular mechanisms by which the replication machinery can overcome obstacles on eukaryotic chromosomes that might otherwise prevent replication fork progression. Multiple projects are currently available in the group and can be tailored to fit the experience and interests of the recruited individual. 

The recruited researcher will benefit from access to cutting-edge biochemistry, computational and single-molecule infrastructure at the Center for Chromosome Stability (incl. state-of-the-art C-Trap optical tweezers) and electron microscopy facilities at the Core Facility for Integrated Microscopy (CFIM; www.cfim.ku.dk), which houses Copenhagen’s node of the Danish Cryo-EM Facility. The projects will be overseen by Assoc. Prof. Thomas Miller. 

Start date:                                               1st June 2024 (or after agreement)
Duration:                                                 2 years

The Department 
The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine focuses on basic cellular and molecular biological processes, their regulation and their significance for cell function, interaction and organization in tissues. The Department offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate teaching programs spanning cell biology, genetics and basic human biology, including chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, as well as anatomy.

You can read more about the department at https://icmm.ku.dk/english/ . 

Key criteria for the assessment

• Applicants should hold a PhD degree in biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, protein chemistry or a related discipline.
• Applicants should have a strong background in at least one of the following areas: DNA replication or repair, protein biochemistry, electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, single-molecule studies or yeast genetics.
• A high level of proficiency in laboratory work.
• Evidence of an ability to publish in major international research journals.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently as part of a team.
• Well organized with attention to detail and excellent record keeping.
• Strong communication skills and fluency in written and spoken English.
• Enthusiasm, motivation, and capability to learn new methods.

Place of employment
The place of employment is the DNRF Center for Chromosome Stability, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.

As an institute, ICMM offers a creative and ambitious scientific environment, with many different nationalities presently represented and English as the working language. We strive to produce research results with high international impact, focusing on the functional cell, its genetic components, and molecular cellular mechanisms in a medical context.

Terms of employment
The employment is a full time (37 working hours per week in average) and fixed-term position for 2 years. Starting date is 1 June 2024 or after agreement. 

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 organization. Currently, the monthly salary starts at DKK 36,412 / approx. EUR 4,887 (October 2023-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.

For International applicants, please read more about the working conditions:International Staff Mobility .

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 

Application deadline: Sunday 10 March 2024, 23.59 p.m. 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.

Questions
For specific information about the position, please contact Thomas Miller by e-mail: [email protected] .

For further general questions about the position, please contact Elin Oelgaard by e-mail: [email protected] .

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.

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.

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.

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7,800 students and approx. 5,800 employees. The Faculty advances the field of health sciences through its core activities: research, teaching, knowledge sharing and communication. With basic research fields ranging from molecular studies to studies of society, the Faculty contributes to a healthy future through its graduates, research findings and inventions benefitting patients and the community.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

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.