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The Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as PhD fellow. The position is limited to a period of 3 years (full-time studies) with expected starting date September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The PhD stipend is announced in open competition, by announcing two interdisciplinary PhD projects for which one successful candidate will be selected. The Department has a strategic focus on strengthening the interdisciplinary research collaboration between our main areas and the outlined projects are selected to support promising new interdisciplinary research topics at the Department.

A. Developing Innovative Peptide-DNA Nanoprobes for Organelle Chemotyping in Cancer and Orphan Diseases Molecular and Medical Biology / Chemistry / Environmental Science (Supervisors: Pratik Shah, Frederik Diness - collaboration with Simon Herzog)

The exploration of cancer, diabetes, and many orphan diseases characterized by organelle dysfunction demands a refined understanding of the intricate chemical environment within cellular compartments. While omics technologies have significantly contributed to deciphering the molecular landscape of human diseases, their utility is limited in probing the nuanced chemical states of organelles in diseases. To address this knowledge gap, there is a pressing need for interdisciplinary approaches to develop specialized probes capable of quantitatively measuring the dynamic changes in the chemical milieu of organelles to illuminate the pathophysiology of diseases. Here, the project aims to integrate DNA nanotechnology with peptide chemistry to develop innovative nanoprobes that can be targeted to specific cellular organelles to quantitatively determine the dynamic chemical changes in the subcellular organelles. The candidate should have experience in one or more of the following disciplines: analytical chemistry, chemical biology, cell biology, confocal microscopy, and/or organic chemistry. Experiences with peptide chemistry, DNA nanotechnology or cancer biology will be an advantage, but not a prerequisite.

B. Soil contaminants as drivers of emerging antibiotic resistance in natural environments. Environmental Science/ Chemistry / Molecular and Medical Biology (Supervisors: Carla Cruz Paredes, Biljana Mojsoska, Karen Krogfelt)

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a global threat to the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. Soil, considered a major reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes, can facilitate the development, and spread of antibiotic resistance. Recently, it was suggested that the presence of contaminants such as metals in soil can co-select for antibiotic resistance, posing a risk for its proliferation. This phenomenon may hinder efforts to reverse antibiotic
resistance, even with measures to prevent the release of antibiotics into the environment.
In this project the potential for the emergence of antibiotic resistance in soils and the mechanisms behind will be studied combining chemical analyses of soils, soil incubation experiments, microbial community analyses and proteomics. The ideal candidate must have a solid background in environmental biology and analytical chemistry. Experience with soil chemistry, soil microbiology or proteomics will be an advantage.

The Doctoral School
The successful candidates will be enrolled in the Doctoral School of Science and Environment in accordance with the rules issued by the Ministry of Technology and Science and additional regulations issued by Roskilde University. The PhD students will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish confederation of Professional Associations). The Doctoral School of Science and Environment is an international graduate school that covers a broad range of research topics within the areas of science and environment.

Read more here https://ruc.dk/doctoral-school-science-and-environment

Department of Science and Environment is one of four departments at Roskilde University. The Department conducts basic and applied research within chemistry, physics, medical biology, molecular biology, environmental sciences and mathematics. Bachelor programs are offered within these areas, as are interdisciplinary Master programs. The Department’s laboratories are equipped with modern infra-structure and shared state-of-the art instrumentation. This includes recently acquired NMR, mass spectrometry (LC- and GC-MS, including high-resolution measurements and proteomics), and microscopy (AFM, confocal and fluorescence) instruments, microscope with cold stage, rate freezer and climate cabinets, GMO class 2 labs, flow cytometry, NGS, Q-PCR facilities together with calorimetry (ITC and DSC), chromatography (HPLC), and scattering (DLS, SAXS) instruments. For environmental science research is TOC, AAS
FTIR, ICP MS, GC MS, HPLC, CHNS elemental analyzer, Ion chromatograph, FIA and electronic particle counters i.e., Coulter counters also available. As a PhD fellow, you will be associated with the research groups and get access to instrumentation of your main and co-supervisors.

Read more here https://ruc.dk/en/department-science-and-environment

Responsibilities and tasks
The PhD position is an educational position and the main tasks are in accordance with chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions (https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/education/files/engelsk-ph-d-bekendtgorelse.pdf)

Qualifications
You must hold a master’s degree or equivalent within the relevant fields as indicated above, and in addition fulfil the required qualifications indicated as part of the specific project.

You are required to have good communication skills and, to be a visible, involved participant in the Department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the Department.

Assessment
In the assessment regarding employment consideration will be given to:

In the assessment, regarding enrollment consideration will also be given to the following criteria:
  • Educational skills and any further professional qualifications
  • Grades at Master’s programme or equivalent
  • Your description of the Ph.D. project – Here you describe in which direction you would like to work and how your qualifications fit into the project (a maximum of two pages).
    • Quality and relevance of the project description
    • Quality and relevance of the methodical and theoretical choices
  • Consistency and coherence between the problem and the choice of method and theory
  • If the PhD project seem realistic and feasible
  • Ability to complete the PhD project
  • Relevance of the project to the profile of the Doctoral School

A PhD position will be offered to the candidate fulfilling the requirements and expectations to the highest degree.

Questions
For further information about the positions, please contact Dean Susanne Sørensen on tel (+45) 4674 2111 or susa@ruc.dk or Head of Doctoral School Henriette Selck on tel (+45) 46742983 or selck@ruc.dk.

Terms of employment
The employment is on full time with 37 hours a week and you will refer to Dean Susanne Sørensen.

The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application procedure

After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.

Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.

The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.

Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application

To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/

Only applications in English are accepted.

Applications must include:

1. Cover letter clearly indicating which of the projects are being addressed
2. CV
3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent
4. Your description of the Ph.D. project – Here you describe in which direction you would like to work and how your qualifications fit into the project (approximately two pages at maximum).
5. Your time schedule of the PhD project
6. Letters of recommendation
7. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications

Please submit your application no later than 1 June 2025.

Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex

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