211-2046/25-2H PhD fellowship in Molecular Biology and Epigenetic

PhD fellowship in Molecular Biology and Epigenetics
PhD Project on the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic stability at replication forks
Department of Biology
Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen
The section of Functional Genomics invites applicants for a PhD fellowship on the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic stability at replication forks. The project is part of a research project investigating how parental histones are segregated at DNA replication forks for epigenetic modifications to be faithfully passed on from mother to daughter cells. It is financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Start date is expected to be 1st May 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
The project builds on our recent discovery that the replisome-associated factor Mrc1 (in fission yeast) and its homologue Claspin (in mammals) help distribute parental histones between leading and lagging strands during DNA replication. This preserves the epigenetic memory encoded in the post-translational modification of histones (Cell 187:5029-5047, 2024). The project will ask whether Mrc1 and Claspin also exert regulatory roles on chromatin replication and whether they might coordinate DNA and chromatin replication to protect chromatin structure under DNA replication stress. Potential mechanisms are suggested by current knowledge of how Mrc1 and Claspin regulate DNA replication. A major goal will be to reveal replisome components and aspects of chromatin replication that are necessary for epigenetic inheritance, with broad implications in health and disease.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for excellent candidates within the fields of biology, biochemistry, genetics or molecular biomedicine. Skills in molecular biology, genomics, fluorescence microscopy, protein science or the handling of fission yeast would be desirable. Motivation, enthusiasm and commitment will be factored in the evaluation in addition to academic excellence.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?
Our group has had a long-lasting interest in chromatin structure and epigenetic inheritance. We use genetics, genomics and fluorescence microscopy to investigate how heterochromatic histone modifications propagate along chromosomes and how this is affected by transcription and replication and by the 3D organization of the cell nucleus. A fruitful approach we recently implemented in fission yeast has been to monitor cell populations in transition states over periods of time, from a few days to a few weeks, at the single-cell level. As much as possible, we aim at obtaining quantitative data suitable for mathematical modelling of epigenetic states; modelling is performed in collaboration with Physicists at the Niels Bohr Institute.

The BioCenter where we are located offers excellent work conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. The project will be in collaboration with Pr. Hisao Masai, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Research, Japan, and with Pr. Anja Groth, University of Copenhagen and Danish Cancer Society, both offering excellent opportunities for changes of environment and project development.

Principal supervisor is Associate Pr. Genevieve Thon, Department of Biology, [email protected], +45 35330198.
The PhD Programe
Qualifications needed
Depending on your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.

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Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme
Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Biology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biomedecine. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme
Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme
If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Biology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biomedecine.

Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remain), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of at least 150 working hours per year.
A PhD grant portion is DKK 6,243.

When you have obtainedtheMSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)
• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in Molecular Cell Biology
• Good language skills

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Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

• Motivated letter of application including motivation for applying to this specific PhD project (max. one page).
• Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
• Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another 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.
• Publication list (if possible)
• Reference letters (if available)

The further process
After the deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You will be notified of whether you were selected for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website:
https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

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.

Info
Ansøgningsfrist: 09-02-2025

Ansættelsesdato: 01-05-2025

Afdeling/Sted: Department of Biology