[Denmark] PhD scholarship in algal analytical natural product chemistry
Application Deadline : 30 March 2012
A PhD position in analytical natural product chemistry is available at Center for Microbial Biotechnology (CMB) at Department of Systems Biology at the Technical University of Denmark.
The department represents the largest concentration of academic, biotechnological research in Denmark. The department is involved in research and teaching in the areas of bioinformatics, systems biology, biotechnology, molecular biology, medical microbiology, fermentation technology, metagenomics, enzyme protein and natural product chemistry.
The department has approximately 150 scientific staff and around 80 technical/ administrative personnel. In addition to bachelor, master and PhD educations, collaborative research and innovation together with national and international universities and industries is given high priority at the department.
The PhD project will be associated to the analytical natural product chemistry group at CMB and will be part of the newly started strategic project HABFISH (Harmful algal blooms and fish kills). The PhD project will be performed in close collaboration with several other PhD and Post Doc projects and in particular with ongoing activities at the Marine Biology Section at University of Copenhagen, Helsingør.
The PhD project will involve all aspects of modern analytical natural product chemistry towards identification of fish killing toxins; i) development of methods for extraction of both intra- and extracellular natural products from a range of microalgae found to cause algal blooms in Danish waters; ii) Chemical profiling and dereplication using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to state-of-the-art high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS); iii) development of semi-preparative methods for bio-guided isolation of pure algal toxins, and iv) structural characterization of novel compounds by NMR spectroscopy.
The PhD project is scheduled to start 1st of May or as soon after as possible.
Qualifications
Candidates should have a master’s degree in chemical engineering, with a strong profile in organic chemistry/spectroscopy, or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master’s degree in engineering. Only candidates that can documentate previous experience in structural characterization of natural products by high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques will be taken into consideration for the position.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see theDTU PhD Guide.
Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from associate professor Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen, +45 4525 2632 or Kristian Fog Nielsen, +45 4525 2602 .
You can read more about Department of Systems Biology on www.bio.dtu.dk
Application
We must have your online application by 30 March 2012. Please open the link "apply for this job online", fill in the application form and attach the following documents;
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A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
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Curriculum vitae
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Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
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Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)
Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master’s degree, but cannot begin before having received it.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
