Postdoc in Virology at Department of Veterinary- and Animal Sciences

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoctoral researcher for a three-year position, to commence on 1 August 2024.

You will be responsible for research on vector-borne flaviviruses, and will be part of the research group for Veterinary and Zoonotic Virology (VEZ-VIR). There will also be close collaboration with the veterinary virology group within the Department of Virus & Microbiological Special Diagnostics at the Statens Serum Institut (SSI). This department includes the national reference laboratory functions for a range of notifiable viral diseases. The research work focuses on the development of new diagnostic platforms, detection and characterization of viruses/variants, virus transmission and virus/host interactions.

Information on the Departments can be found at:

https://ivh.ku.dk/ and https://www.ssi.dk/sygdomme-beredskab-og-forskning/forskning/v/virologi-og-mikrobiologisk-specialdiagnostik

Our research
The group carries out research and teaching in the areas of exotic, enzootic and zoonotic viral infections in animals. This post is part of a new initiative to work on the biology of insect-borne flaviviruses (e.g. West Nile virus). These RNA viruses can replicate in insect, avian and mammalian hosts. Infection by these flaviviruses can cause disease and mortality in birds and also in a range of different “dead-end” mammalian hosts including horses, sheep, cats and rodents. Such viruses are spreading across Europe. Currently, there is limited understanding of the basis of host specificity for these viruses, and a lack of tools to follow the adaptation of the virus. In addition, current serological assays for these viruses are hampered by cross-reactivities between them.

The group consists of two professors, two assistant professors, eight postdocs, five PhD Students, three laboratory technicians and a bunch of master and bachelor students… with almost equal gender balance. We are always very busy, but have a good, international working environment with lots of humour, cake club and flexible work assignments.

Your job
You will focus on developing and using systems to analyze virus replication in cells from different host species and will seek to identify virus and host determinants of virus replication in these distinct hosts. This will include examining virus adaptations within infected cells. It is expected that the work will also contribute towards the development of virus-specific antigen detection systems in conjunction with a separate PhD project. There will be close cooperation with veterinary virologists at the Statens Serum Institut (SSI).

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

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in Virology or similar
• You have a detailed knowledge of molecular virology, including analysis of virus replication and virus protein expression
• You have an active interest in development of methods for the study of virus infection and adaptation
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent written and spoken English skills are required

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience with the use of reverse genetic systems for RNA viruses
• Experience in experimental infections studies in cell culture
• Danish skills would also be advantageous

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The workplace is mainly at Frederiksberg Campus but some studies may be performed at SSI. When working in the high containment labs at SSI then quarantine restrictions come into force. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and infrastructure.

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

The employment as postdoctoral researcher is a fixed-term position for three years. Starting date is 1 August 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 organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,500 DKK/approx. 5,160 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 during the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information please contact Professor Graham J. Belsham, e-mail: [email protected] ; www.sund.ku.dk ;or Dr Thomas Bruun Rasmussen (Senior Researcher) at SSI, e-mail: [email protected]

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: 7 May 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 week 22-23.

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
Graham John Belsham
E-mail: [email protected]

Info
Ansøgningsfrist: 07-05-2024

Ansættelsesdato: 01-08-2024

Arbejdstid: Fuldtid

Afdeling/Sted: Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences