Opening for PhD in "Microbiology" @ University of Copenhagen, Denmark

PhD scholarship in Microbiology at the Department of Biology

A 3 year position is available from October 1, 2012 at the Section for Microbiology lead by Professor Soren J. Sorensen, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, to work with an international research team with well-equipped laboratories in Copenhagen.

• This PhD will investigate the relevance of the human microbiome in early life and its effect on the development of lifestyle or chronic diseases such as asthma, eczema or allergies.
• Detailed studies of the human microbiome have, until recently, been impaired by our inability to culture the majority of these microbes and the lack of culture independent adequately sensitive molecular techniques applicable to large numbers of samples.
• The recent revolution in sequencing technologies has finally provided the technological platform for detailed culture independent studies of complex microbial communities.
• Application of 2nd generation high-throughput sequencing will be used to investigate the relationship between the microbial community in the maternal vagina and the microbiome in new born babies.
• This position presents an opportunity to study a unique birth cohort of pregnant women and their new born babies in whom a strong association has been identified between bacterial colonization and disease later in life.
• The study will be used to identify the relevance of factors such as the maternal biome or antibiotic use as a model for targeting, and for prevention, of human lifestyle diseases.
• The applicant is invited to employ molecular techniques such as qPCR and sequencing 454 and Illumina second generation sequencing techniques to examine the human microbiome and its relevance to lifestyle diseases.

Qualifications : 

• We are looking for an expert microbiologist with specializing in Bioinformatics and NGS data analysis or one of the sections core competences.
• MSc in, microbiology, molecular biology or similar relevant discipline
• Experience with high throughput sequencing including pyrosequencing or Ilumina sequencing will be advantageous
• Experience of standardised sampling methods and nucleic acid isolation
• Documented experience with molecular tools including Q-PCR
• Fluency in English
• Able to engage in teamwork within the group and our collaborators