Postdoc in Cryo-EM of Viral Replication Systems at Biotech Research and Innovation Centre

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

University of Copenhagen

The research group of Eva Kummer is looking for an excellent and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with expertise in biochemical, biophysical, and structural characterization of nucleic acid binding proteins. Your project will investigate how human herpes viruses replicate their genome during lytic infection and how this process can be inhibited. The position is fully funded by a project grant from the Danish Leo Foundation and entails a combination of recombinant protein purification, functional assays, and single particle cryo-EM. The project profits from a substantial body of preliminary work in the group. The position is available from 1 April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. It will initially be limited to 2 years, but can be extended.

About us

Kummer group is part of the Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) at the University of Copenhagen and affiliated to the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (CPR), both of which are located within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, to promote basic and applied research. BRIC and CPR host research groups of different disciplines ranging from protein structure and function to systems biology, proteomics, and disease biology.

The primary methodological approaches of our laboratory are single particle cryo-electron microscopy and protein and nucleic acid biochemistry. Our group profits from generous funding by an NNF core grant, a Hallas Møller Emerging Investigator grant from Novo Nordisk Foundation, and a Project grant from Leo Foundation. We have access to state-of-the-art electron microscopy infrastructure at CFIM (Core Facility for Integrated Microscopy at the University of Copenhagen) including Glacios and Krios TEM, multiple vitrification devices, and a Helios Hydra PFIB-SEM. In addition, CPR and BRIC entertain core facilities including protein production, crystallography, biophysics, high performance computing, mass spectrometry, and genomics. Your primary place of work will be at BRIC. You will join a collaborative and international work environment.

Your job
We are seeking a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative colleague who is passionate and dedicated to make impactful contributions to understand how herpes viruses sustain and propagate their genetic information in the human population. Herpes viruses are one of the most widespread infections worldwide and almost everyone carries at least one type of herpes virus. However, it remains poorly understand how this highly successful virus propagates its genetic information.

Responsibilities include:

• Engage in ground-breaking and innovative science
• Develop project-specific experimental strategies, techniques, and procedures
• Assist PI with training lab members
• Contribute to writing and dissemination of research results

We are looking for an enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential qualifications:

You should have significant experience in cryo-electron microscopy (single particle or cryo-ET). In addition, proficiency in mammalian or insect cell culture techniques and protein purification is highly advantageous.

• PhD in biology, biochemistry or a related field.
• Profiency in recombinant protein expression and purification
• Substantial expertise in biochemical, biophysical and molecular biology techniques (for example ITC, SPR, MST, MP, MS, DSF, EMSA…)
• Prior experience in cryo-electron microscopy sample preparation, data acquisition and analysis are required.
• A strong background in protein biochemistry and mammalian cell culture techniques is desired.
• Strong team player skills are required.
• You should have an interest in supporting the supervision of BSc, and MSc students.
• Publications in high-quality journals and presentations at international conferences
• Ability to manage a research project and the associated resources

As a postdoctoral candidate, you will have the opportunity to work on an interesting and challenging project that will profit from your enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to implement new methodology. 

Questions?
For informal inquiries please contact the principal investigator via eva.kummer@bric.ku.dk.

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

About the PI
Eva Kummer has strong expertise in protein and RNA biochemistry as well as electron microscopy. After a PhD in biochemistry on mechanisms of protein quality control in bacteria and yeast, her postdoctoral research has focused on unraveling mammalian mitochondrial translation mechanisms. For this, she has combined in vitro reconstitution approaches with single-particle cryo-EM. Here current work focusses on the structural and functional characterization of the molecular mechanisms that drive replication in viruses or virus-like systems. Examples of her and her groups work include:

• Nguyen, Ritter, and Kummer. Structural insights into the role of GTPBP10 in the RNA maturation of the mitoribosome. Nat Comm 2023 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43599-z)
• Kummer et al. Structural basis of translation termination, rescue, and recycling in mammalian mitochondria. Mol Cell 2021 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2021.03.042)
• Kummer et al. Structural insights into mammalian mitochondrial translation elongation catalyzed by mtEFG1. EMBO J 2020 (https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020104820)
• Kummer et al. Unique features of mammalian mitochondrial translation initiation revealed by cryo-EM. Nature 2018 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0373-y)
• Kummer and Ban. Mechanisms and Regulation of protein synthesis in mitochondria. Nature Reviews Mol Cell Biol. 2021 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-021-00332-2)

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

The duration of the position is 2 years with the possibility of extension. The starting date is 1 April 2025 or as soon as possible hereafter.

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 38,575 DKK/approx. 5,143 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 the last 10 years.

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

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘APPLY NOW’ below or via this advertisement found on https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/.
For questions on the application procedure, please contact sund-hr-bric@sund.ku.dk. 
Your application should include the following documents:

• Cover letter describing your motivation and qualifications for the position
• Curriculum vitae with contact details for at least three references
• Complete publication list
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers

The applicants can submit these materials in the given fields in the online submission system. 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.

Deadline for application: 19 January 2025, 23:59 CET.

After the expiry of the application deadline, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an expert assessment committee. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and 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 www.employment.ku.dk.

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