PhD fellowship in Chemical Biology

Job title: PhD fellowship in Chemical Biology

Company: Københavns Universitet


Job description: We are looking for 3-year PhD student in Chemical Biology. The fellowship is available from September 1st, 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.Our researchIn the Strømgaard lab, we combine tools from chemistry and biology, and apply these in studies of therapeutic peptides and proteins. Our aims are to develop modulators for protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and to provide molecular-level insight herein. We are interested in PPIs that are therapeutically relevant, in particular between integral membrane proteins and their intracellular protein partners, also known as receptor complexes.Job descriptionThe position is part of a Lundbeck Foundation Collaborative Project ( ) which aims to explore a recently discovered and exciting new biological phenomenon, the formation of biomolecular condensates by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), and how this emerging field can lead to entirely novel concepts to treat brain diseases. The candidate will investigate LLPS of postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins with a focus on their role in neurological disorders. The project runs in close collaboration with Mingjie Zhang (Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China). Ultimately, the developed probes will lead to modulation of biomolecular condensates at the PSD balancing diseased states of neuronal excitation and inhibition.Career development within research and education is part of the positions. The candidate can gain relevant teaching experience (10% of the time), which will support the development of a relevant teaching track record and portfolio.Targeting aberrant biomolecular condensates in the PSDThe five key proteins present in the PSD (PSD-95, SynGAP, Homer, Shank and GKAP) are important for normal brain function, and dysfunction of these proteins has vast implications for a wide range of brain diseases. In this project the fellow will explore the development of peptide-based compounds targeting aberrant biomolecular condensates of the PSD, as a novel approached to tackle neurological disorders.Supervisor: Professor Kristian Strømgaard, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology.StartSeptember 1st, 2025, or soon thereafterDuration3 years as a PhD studentOur departmentDepartment of Drug Design and Pharmacology is committed to research-based teaching and interdisciplinary research that supports the development and understanding of chemical and pharmacological properties of drugs and drug targets. We work as part of a dynamic academic community of research, education and innovation within the Pharmaceutical Sciences bridging Health Sciences and Life Sciences.Information about the Department can be found atJob descriptionYour key tasks as a PhD student at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points
• Participating in active research environments, including taking active part in research- and educational organizational initiatives under Center for Medicinal Chemistry
• A stay at another research environment
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching of undergraduate students in pharmaceutical sciences
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicantsApplicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. chemistry, chemical engineering or pharmacy. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).Required qualificationsAs an applicant you must have:

• qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree in medicinal or peptide chemistry, or a similar discipline prior to the starting date
• Fluency in English and excellent communication skills

Preferred qualificationsWe are looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong background in medicinal and/or peptide chemistry. The applicant should also have strong theoretical education in medicinal and peptide chemistry. Hands-on experience with peptide synthesis and peptide arrays will be seen as favorable.Other important criteria are:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant work experience
• Previous publications
• The grade point average achieved
• Other professional activities
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in peptide chemistry and chemical biology
• Language skills

Place of employmentThe place of employment is at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure for synthesis, compound characterization, and biochemical assays.Terms of employmentThe 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 to the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences.The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the on achieving the degree.The PhD student is expected to be affiliated to the graduate programme in pharmaceutical sciences, .Salary, pension, and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.The PhD fellowship is financed by the Lundbeck foundationApplication procedureYour application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking “Apply now” below and must include the following documents in PDF format:2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: . Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. Applicants with a Master´s degree from abroad should also enclose a short description of the grading scale used4. Publication list (if possible)5. Other information to consider: References and recommendations (if possible)The deadline for applications is 30 May, 2025, 23.59pm CETWe 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 processAfter the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorised 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 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 as soon as possible after the application deadline.You can read about the recruitment process atQuestionsFor further information, applicants may contact the principal supervisor Kristian Strømgaard, e-mail: , phone: +45 3533 6566 or PhD coordinator Marianne W. Jørgensen, e-mail: , phone: +45 3533 6449.For more information on working and living in Denmark visit (International staff mobility) andThe 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.

Expected salary:

Location: Danmark

Job date: Sun, 18 May 2025 06:38:06 GMT

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