PhD fellowship in Microglassification of proteins at Department of Pharmacy

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

We are offering a three-year PhD fellowship in microglassification of pharmaceutical proteins commencing 15th of March 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Project description

Protein drugs have allowed for a safer and more effective treatment of various severe diseases, such as diabetes and cancer. However, proteins generally need to be administered by injection, and due to their instability in solution are often prepared in a dried formulation that requires rehydration before administration. In this project we plan to investigate a novel method, termed microglassification, to prepare dried protein particles with desired properties. Using microfluidics, the various factors that govern particle characteristics like size and protein structural integrity will be investigated in detail, allowing a rational design of these particles for specific purposes. For example, these protein particles may be used in injectable suspensions, for pulmonary delivery, or in solid dosage formulations for oral delivery. The impact of various excipients on particle properties will be investigated, with a special focus on protein structural integrity. In vitro properties of these particles can then be studied, with a possible follow-up of in vivo studies to determine their performance in a real-life setting.

This interdisciplinary project thus involves particle design, protein biophysics and advanced analytical characterization, physical chemistry, and may ultimately include in vivo efficacy studies.

Principal supervisor
Associate Professor Marco van de Weert, Department of Pharmacy

Start
15th of March, 2025

Duration
3 years as a PhD student

Our group and research

The Drug Delivery and Biophysics of Biopharmaceuticals group comprises four senior scientists, more than 15 junior researchers, as well as several undergraduate and visiting students at Department of Pharmacy. We focus on the design and development of optimal drug delivery systems with a focus on biopharmaceuticals, specifically peptides and proteins, used for treatment of various diseases. Our research spans from biophysical analysis to biological membrane interactions in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo and design of advanced drug delivery systems, to assessment of the efficacy in cell culture models and animals. We aim to gain and explore detailed, fundamental, and mechanistic understanding of the challenges associated with biopharmaceuticals when administered via injectable and non-injectable routes.

Our department

The mission of Department of Pharmacy is to advance the pharmaceutical sciences by performing drug-related research and research-based teaching in topics including pharmaceutical technology and formulation, drug delivery, advanced drug analysis, and clinical and social pharmacy.

Information about the Department can be found at https://pharmacy.ku.dk/

Job description
Your 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 a stay at another research team, preferably abroad
• 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 applicants

Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. pharmaceutical sciences, physical chemistry, engineering, or the like. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

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 protein biophysics and pharmaceutical technology
• Language skills

Preferred qualifications

Beyond the requirements listed above, we are looking for a highly self-motivated individual with experience in and/or knowledge of drug delivery of biopharmaceuticals, protein structural analysis, microfluidics, and/or physical chemistry. The candidate must be able to work independently but will interact with a multidisciplinary project group involved in many aspects of studying and evaluating protein drug delivery. Extensive training in the relevant disciplines will be provided.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and a range of biophysical methods to study protein structure and instability, as well as microfluidics expertise and small-animal facilities.

Terms of employment

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years.

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 Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.

The PhD student is expected to be affiliated to the graduate programme in pharmaceutical sciences, Drug Research Academy.

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. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 30,716 DKK/Roughly 4,095 EUR (April 2024 level) plus pension.

Application procedure

Your application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking “Apply now” below and must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

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

3. 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: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/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 used.

4. Publication list (if relevant)

5. Other information to consider: References and recommendations (if possible)

The deadline for applications is 5 December 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 abovementioned requirements.

The further process

After 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.

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 4 (January 20-24, 2025).

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

Questions

For further information, applicants may contact the principal supervisor Marco van de Weert, e-mail: marco.vandeweert@sund.ku.dk, phone: +45 3533 6186 or PhD coordinator Marianne W. Jørgensen, e-mail: marianne.joergensen@sund.ku.dk, phone: +45 3533 6449.

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

For more information on working and living in Denmark visit http://ism.ku.dk (International staff mobility) and https://www.workindenmark.dk

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