Two Researcher Position in the Hickson Group at the DNRF Center for Chromosome Stability

Two Researcher Position in the Hickson Group at the DNRF Center for Chromosome Stability (CCS), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM)
 

Two positions as Researchers are available in the Center for Chromosome Stability (CCS) (www.ccs.ku.dk) in the group headed by Prof. Ian Hickson. The posts are available from 1st April 2025. Highly motivated and committed candidates with an interest in chromosome mechanics and biology are encouraged to apply.
 

The Center for Chromosome Stability
The CCS is a Center of Excellence funded by the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF) and its mission is to advance our understanding of how chromosomal instability causes human disease. The CCS is embedded at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (https://icmm.ku.dk/english/). The working language in the CCS is English.
 

Our group and research
The Hickson group (https://icmm.ku.dk/english/research-groups/hickson-group/) aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that cells use to maintain genome stability, using a combination of biochemical, biophysical and cell biology approaches. The research in the Hickson group is generously supported by the Danish National Research Foundation.

Project descriptions

Project 1: The successful candidate will analyse the decatenation of entangled DNA substrates using purified proteins and optical tweezers.

Project 2: The successful candidate will analyse the role of mechanical stress within the human cell cytoskeleton as a sensor for detecting changes in nuclear ploidy.

Start date:                                               1st April 2025
Duration:                                                 18 months
Weekly working hours:                      37

The Department
The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine focuses on basic cellular and molecular biological processes, their regulation and their significance for cell function, interaction and organisation in tissues. The Department offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate teaching programs spanning cell biology, genetics and basic human biology, including chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, as well as anatomy.

You can read more about the department at https://icmm.ku.dk/english/.

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants

• Applicants should hold a PhD degree in biochemistry, cell biology, biophysics, protein chemistry or a related discipline, preferably with a background in DNA replication or repair, mitosis, cell cycle or another area of chromosome biology.
• At least four years of postdoctoral experience is also required.
• Significant expertise in two or more of the following techniques are required: optical manipulation of DNA molecules, protein expression and purification, Crispr-mediated genome editing, live cell imaging and analysis of the apoptotic cell machinery.
• Primary papers published in high-ranking scientific journals, with at least one being as first author.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and fluency in written and spoken English.

Place of employment
The place of employment is the Center for Chromosome Stability (CCS), Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM), Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and access to state-of-the-art equipment.

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 18 months. The start date is 1 April 2025 or after agreement

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 begins at DKK 38,500 / approx. EUR 5,100 plus pension.

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

For International applicants, please read more about the working conditions: International Staff Mobility. Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark for the last 10 years.

Questions
For specific information about the position, please contact Ian Hickson by email: iandh@sund.ku.dk.

For further general questions about the position, please contact Elin Oelgaard by email: ee@sund.ku.dk.

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills, publication list and other skills relevant for the position.
3. PhD and Master diplomas and transcript of records.
    

Application deadline: January 5, 2025, 23.59 p.m. 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.

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 themself.

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.

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences comprises approximately 7,850 students, 1,700 PhD students and 4,800 employees. The Faculty advances the field of health sciences through its core activities: research, teaching, knowledge sharing and communication. With basic research fields ranging from molecular studies to studies of society, the Faculty contributes to a healthy future through its graduates, research findings and inventions benefitting patients and the community.

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