PhD fellows in Biological Sciences
Department of Biology
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen
The Department of Biology, Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen is offering up to two PhD scholarships within the Biological Sciences commencing 1 November 2018 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Description of the scientific environment
The Department of Biology is among the largest Departments at the University of Copenhagen. It employs 475 academic and technical staff and hosts research programmes and teaching curricula that cover all major biological sub-disciplines. University rankings typically place the field of biology/biochemistry at the University of Copenhagen first in Denmark and among the top 30 universities internationally.
In addition to a PhD-programme, three BSc study programmes (biology, biochemistry, molecular biomedicine) and four MSc study programmes (biology, biochemistry, molecular biomedicine, bioinformatics) engage close to 2000 students. The successful candidates will join the lively group of 150 PhD students studying at the Department of Biology and participate in the many exciting events and activities organised by the PhD student network and the Department, including the annual PhD day, the biannual BIO conference, weekly research seminars, and career fairs.
In addition to a PhD-programme, three BSc study programmes (biology, biochemistry, molecular biomedicine) and four MSc study programmes (biology, biochemistry, molecular biomedicine, bioinformatics) engage close to 2000 students. The successful candidates will join the lively group of 150 PhD students studying at the Department of Biology and participate in the many exciting events and activities organised by the PhD student network and the Department, including the annual PhD day, the biannual BIO conference, weekly research seminars, and career fairs.
Job description
The positions are available for a 3 or 5-year (Integrated MSc and PhD Scheme) period and your key tasks as a PhD student at SCIENCE are to:
- Define, plan and carry through your research project
- Attend PhD courses
- Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
- Teach and disseminate your research
- Stay at an external research institution for a few months, preferably abroad
- For the 5-year PhD programme: conduct duty work for the department (typically small tasks related to teaching or research; see below for details)
Formal requirements
Applicants should hold a BSc or MSc degree in biology, molecular biomedicine, biochemistry, bioinformatics or closely related field with excellent results. Candidates with a BSc degree will enroll into the 5-year PhD programme while candidates with a MSc degree will enroll into the 3-year PhD programme. The assessment of your qualifications will also be based on previous publications (if any) and relevant work experience
We are seeking highly motivated and ambitious individuals with good interpersonal and communication skills. Fluency in spoken and written English is a strong requirement. The scholarship is open to both Danish and international applicants.
The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
Terms of employment - 3-year PhD programme
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
The starting salary is currently at a minimum DKK 317.459 including annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 43.852). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.
Terms of employment - 5-year Integrated MSc and PhD Scheme
The positions are available for candidates who are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Biology. The duration of the integrated programme depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”.
In the period up to the completion of the MSc programme (up to three years), the student is entitled to so-called PhD grant portions. The grant portions are financed by the grant donor but not by the Danish State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme Agency (as is the case for the ordinary study grant portions on the BSc and MSc programmes). They are called PhD grant portions because this kind of remuneration is regulated and described in the Executive Order on the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme in Denmark (SU‐bekendtgørelsen), and because the value of a PhD grant portion corresponds to the value of an ordinary Danish study grant portion. Students are awarded 48 PhD grant portions during the period of their MSc and PhD studies. 48 PhD grant portions at DKK 5,839 each, corresponding to DKK 280,272.
As a supplement to the PhD grant portions, the student may, in accordance with the collective agreement of the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC), be offered 'duty work'. In the period up to the completion of the MSc programme, students performing 'duty work' are paid by the hour. UCPH has decided to offer students on integrated MSc and PhD schemes 150 hours of 'duty work' per year during Part A of the programme (until two years of the combined programme of study remain). 'Duty work' during Part A if it has a duration of three years: 450 hours at a rate of DKK 202.64 (+ 12.5% holiday pay), corresponding to DKK 102,586.50.
In the period after the completion of the MSc programme, the student is employed as a PhD scholar and is remunerated in accordance with the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The scheme is arranged in such a way that students graduate from the MSc programme at a time when there are two years left of the integrated programme. For this reason, the salary must be paid for a period of two years in accordance with the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The amounts specified include a supplement locally agreed upon as well as pension contributions: Salary as a PhD scholar: 24 months at a rate of DKK 28,955.15 (including pension contributions and supplement), corresponding to DKK 694,923.
Application procedure
The application must be written in English and should include:
- A cover letter (1 page) describing your background, personal qualities, research interests and motivation for applying for a PhD scholarship and a career in research
- Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc or MSc)
- Acceptance letter for the relevant MSc Programme at SCIENCE, if applying with a BSc degree
- Letter of recommendation from previous academic supervisor
- Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any), work experience, experience from abroad etc.
- Full contact details (Name, address, telephone & email) of 1-2 professional referees
Deadline for applications is September 1st 2018 at 23:59 GMT +2
Applications can only be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW.
After expiry of the deadline for applications, the Recruitment Committee, consisting of the Deputy Head of Department for Research and four faculty members, prepares a short-list of up to 10 highly qualified candidates to be invited to a personal interview where they will have the opportunity to present their past research experience and motivation for a career in research. The final selection of the successful candidates will be made by the Head of Department on basis of the recommendations of the Recruitment Committee.
The main criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant, which is evaluated based on the grade point average from previous education, recommendation letter(s) from previous supervisor(s), the motivation letter, publication co-authorship(s), and international experience.
Successful candidates will be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of Science, and with the assistance of the Deputy Head of Department for Research select a supervisor from one of the 10 sections at the Department of Biology:
Biomolecular Sciences
Cell and Neurobiology
Cell Biology and Physiology
Computational and RNA Biology
Ecology and Evolution
Freshwater Biology
Functional Genomics
Marine Biology
Microbiology
Terrestrial Ecology
Together with the supervisor, the candidate will prepare a research plan for the PhD project.
Further information
For specific information about the PhD scholarships, please contact the Deputy Head of Department for Research, Professor Michael Lisby (Email: mlisby@bio.ku.dk; Phone: +45 35322120).
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=147526