3-year PhD Fellowship in GPCR Crystallography University of Copenhagen, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology

3-year PhD Fellowship in GPCR crystallography The UCPH Receptor Structural Biology Group (Kastrup group), Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, and the company SARomics Biostructures, Lund, Sweden; wishes to employ a joint PhD Fellow in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) crystallography. The project starts 1. February 2018 and lasts for 3 years. Groups You will first train 1.5 years jointly with all five PhD Fellows at the University of Copenhagen. Subsequently, the last 1.5 years will be spent together with the Computational Drug Design PhD student at SARomics. The employer SARomics is a leading provider in commercial services for structure-based drug/ligand design. Professor Jette Sandholm Kastrup, UCPH (http://drug.ku.dk/research/biostructural_research/) has a strong track record of producing receptor crystal structures (>100 such structures in the Protein Data Bank). She has a strong international network with leading medicinal chemists and pharmacologists. Furthermore, co-supervisor Louise Nikolajsen has GPCR-specific crystallisation expertise from 1.5-year research stay in the Professor Raymond Stevens lab, which has published the largest number of GPCR structures. She will act as practical co-supervisor during the whole lab period. Co-founder and Associate Professor/CEO Björn Walse, SARomics (http://www.saromics.com/About/About/ SaromicsManagement.html) has over 15 years of experience in leading target driven drug discovery projects. The ESR will utilise SARomics expertise and infrastructure, as well as the brand-new MAX IV synchrotron facility, in particular the state-of-the-art BioMAX beamline, which is particularly suited to the small, relatively weakly diffracting crystals typically produced by GPCRs. Project The PhD fellowships is one of five that are part of the EU-funded project SAFER (www.safer-itn.eu). This is an ambitious interdisciplinary European Industrial Doctorates (EID) programme under the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA-ITN-EID, Grant agreement: 765657), which offers positions with competitive salaries and family allowances. PhD students will obtain ample scientific, business and transferrable skills at excellent research environments meriting themselves for international academic or industrial careers. The ultimate scientific goal for the SAFER program is to gain molecular understanding and improve selectivity in treatments of CNS-related disorders. This will be done with a particular focus on the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor – the primary target for many pharmaceuticals and hallucinogens. SAFER will design and prepare ligands for the receptor, generate and cross-interpret pharmacology and crystallographic data, and construct computational mechanistic models and databases that can explain and guide further experiments. This is fundamental to understand the biological and therapeutic effects, and to develop safer drugs. Qualification requirements Mandatory requirements A MSc degree in structural biology, biochemistry or related area prior to the starting date Solid experience with protein expression and purification Demonstrated ability to independently learn new concepts and solve biological problems Excellent communication skills: fluency in English and experience in writing scientific texts The candidate must have less than 4 years of research experience and must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in Sweden for more than 12 months during the last 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment. Additional meriting qualifications Experience of, and skills in: G protein-coupled receptors Protein crystallography Analysis of molecular structures and interactions Experience with crystallographic software packages General job description Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at the Faculty are to: Manage and carry through your research project Take PhD courses and participate in meetings Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis Key criteria for the assessment of applicants Professional qualifications relevant to the project Relevant work experience Publications Other professional activities Language skills Good interpersonal skills Questions For further information about the post, please contact Professor Jette Sandholm Kastrup via jsk@sund.ku.dk or Dr. Björn Walse via bjorn.walse@saromics.com. Application The application, in English, must be submitted in the online application form. The application must include the following appendices: Appendix 1: curriculum vitae with documentation of education. Appendix 2: a complete list of publications and list of submitted appendices. Appendix 3: documentation of additional research qualifications. In addition to the material the applicant wishes to be included in the assessment, the Assessment Committee may include further material in their assessment of the applicant, such as reference letters. In such circumstances, it is the responsibility of the applicant, on request, to send the material to the Committee. After processing of the application, any application material sent will be destroyed. The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation Executive Order no 284 of 25. April 2008. University of Copenhagen and Denmark Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark. With 37,000 students and 9,000 employees, it is among the largest universities in Scandinavia and one of the highest ranking in Europe. The University consists of six faculties, which cover Health and Medical Sciences, Humanities, Law, Science, Social Sciences and Theology. Read more at www.sund.ku.dk and www.drug.ku.dk. Copenhagen is a modern capital with plenty of opportunities in culture, design, architecture, restaurants and a diverse nightlife. At the same time, the city offers beaches, beautiful parks and green nature areas, and the Copenhageners bike everywhere. The Danish society prioritises a good work-life balance, and the work culture is well adjusted for families with children. Read more at http://ism.ku.dk/. SARomics Biostructures and Sweden SARomics Biostructures is based in Lund, Sweden, conveniently located in the heart of Medicon Valley, one of Europe's strongest biotech clusters. The company was founded in 2006 and is now the No 1 provider of protein 3D structure determination and structure-based drug discovery services in Scandinavia with access to world leading X-ray facilities in the MAX IV laboratory. Read more at http://www.saromics.com/ Lund – The City of Ideas - is one of the oldest cities in Sweden dating back to 990. In addition to the 1,000 years of history Lund is a modern university city with a combination of businesses, students and researchers from around the world, which form the unique character of the city. In Lund, you find the charm of a small picturesque, cobble-stoned city, side-by side with big city attractions such as services, shopping, restaurants and cultural events. Lund has been voted the best place to live in Sweden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc7PO9hoSKU If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Medicinoxy Apply

3-year PhD Fellowship in GPCR crystallography

The UCPH Receptor Structural Biology Group (Kastrup group), Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, and the company SARomics Biostructures, Lund, Sweden; wishes to employ a joint PhD Fellow in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) crystallography. The project starts 1. February 2018 and lasts for 3 years.

Groups

You will first train 1.5 years jointly with all five PhD Fellows at the University of Copenhagen. Subsequently, the last 1.5 years will be spent together with the Computational Drug Design PhD student at SARomics. The employer SARomics is a leading provider in commercial services for structure-based drug/ligand design.

Professor Jette Sandholm Kastrup, UCPH (http://drug.ku.dk/research/biostructural_research/) has a strong track record of producing receptor crystal structures (>100 such structures in the Protein Data Bank). She has a strong international network with leading medicinal chemists and pharmacologists. Furthermore, co-supervisor Louise Nikolajsen has GPCR-specific crystallisation expertise from 1.5-year research stay in the Professor Raymond Stevens lab, which has published the largest number of GPCR structures. She will act as practical co-supervisor during the whole lab period.

Co-founder and Associate Professor/CEO Björn Walse, SARomics (http://www.saromics.com/About/About/

SaromicsManagement.html) has over 15 years of experience in leading target driven drug discovery projects. The ESR will utilise SARomics expertise and infrastructure, as well as the brand-new MAX IV synchrotron facility, in particular the state-of-the-art BioMAX beamline, which is particularly suited to the small, relatively weakly diffracting crystals typically produced by GPCRs.

Project

The PhD fellowships is one of five that are part of the EU-funded project SAFER (www.safer-itn.eu). This is an ambitious interdisciplinary European Industrial Doctorates (EID) programme under the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA-ITN-EID, Grant agreement: 765657), which offers positions with competitive salaries and family allowances. PhD students will obtain ample scientific, business and transferrable skills at excellent research environments meriting themselves for international academic or industrial careers.

The ultimate scientific goal for the SAFER program is to gain molecular understanding and improve selectivity in treatments of CNS-related disorders. This will be done with a particular focus on the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor – the primary target for many pharmaceuticals and hallucinogens. SAFER will design and prepare ligands for the receptor, generate and cross-interpret pharmacology and crystallographic data, and construct computational mechanistic models and databases that can explain and guide further experiments. This is fundamental to understand the biological and therapeutic effects, and to develop safer drugs.

Qualification requirements

Mandatory requirements

A MSc degree in structural biology, biochemistry or related area prior to the starting date
Solid experience with protein expression and purification
Demonstrated ability to independently learn new concepts and solve biological problems
Excellent communication skills: fluency in English and experience in writing scientific texts
The candidate must have less than 4 years of research experience and must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in Sweden for more than 12 months during the last 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment.

Additional meriting qualifications

Experience of, and skills in:

G protein-coupled receptors
Protein crystallography
Analysis of molecular structures and interactions
Experience with crystallographic software packages

General job description

Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at the Faculty are to:
Manage and carry through your research project
Take PhD courses and participate in meetings
Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants

Professional qualifications relevant to the project
Relevant work experience
Publications
Other professional activities
Language skills
Good interpersonal skills

Questions

For further information about the post, please contact Professor Jette Sandholm Kastrup via jsk@sund.ku.dk or Dr. Björn Walse via bjorn.walse@saromics.com.

Application

The application, in English, must be submitted in the online application form. The application must include the following appendices:

Appendix 1: curriculum vitae with documentation of education.

Appendix 2: a complete list of publications and list of submitted appendices.

Appendix 3: documentation of additional research qualifications.

In addition to the material the applicant wishes to be included in the assessment, the Assessment Committee may include further material in their assessment of the applicant, such as reference letters. In such circumstances, it is the responsibility of the applicant, on request, to send the material to the Committee. After processing of the application, any application material sent will be destroyed.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation Executive Order no 284 of 25. April 2008.

University of Copenhagen and Denmark

Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark. With 37,000 students and 9,000 employees, it is among the largest universities in Scandinavia and one of the highest ranking in Europe. The University consists of six faculties, which cover Health and Medical Sciences, Humanities, Law, Science, Social Sciences and Theology. Read more at www.sund.ku.dk and www.drug.ku.dk.

Copenhagen is a modern capital with plenty of opportunities in culture, design, architecture, restaurants and a diverse nightlife. At the same time, the city offers beaches, beautiful parks and green nature areas, and the Copenhageners bike everywhere. The Danish society prioritises a good work-life balance, and the work culture is well adjusted for families with children. Read more at http://ism.ku.dk/.

SARomics Biostructures and Sweden

SARomics Biostructures is based in Lund, Sweden, conveniently located in the heart of Medicon Valley, one of Europe's strongest biotech clusters. The company was founded in 2006 and is now the No 1 provider of protein 3D structure determination and structure-based drug discovery services in Scandinavia with access to world leading X-ray facilities in the MAX IV laboratory. Read more at http://www.saromics.com/

Lund – The City of Ideas - is one of the oldest cities in Sweden dating back to 990. In addition to the 1,000 years of history Lund is a modern university city with a combination of businesses, students and researchers from around the world, which form the unique character of the city. In Lund, you find the charm of a small picturesque, cobble-stoned city, side-by side with big city attractions such as services, shopping, restaurants and cultural events. Lund has been voted the best place to live in Sweden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc7PO9hoSKU

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Medicinoxy

Apply