Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen
The Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health (http://rth.dk) is a newly established center with a multidisciplinary research strategy in the area of non-coding RNAs. The center has an open PhD position in bioinformatics, with start March 1st, 2011 or soonest thereafter. The duration for the position is three years.
Job description
Within recent years, it has become evident that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play numerous important roles in the cell. Many ncRNAs contain a characteristic RNA structure, a hallmark that (albeit often at a high computational cost) can be exploited by in silico screens. These screens are in essence based on a search for RNA secondary structures. The goals of the Ph.D. project is to design methods to conduct in particular local structural alignments of RNA structures to be exploited for structure search in genomic sequence as well as structural clustering of the RNAs.
The project will be carried out in collaboration with people in the Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health.
Qualification requirements
The applicant should hold professional as well as personal skills and qualifications as stated below:
• A master degree in Bioinformatics, computational biology, biology or similar.
• Basic knowledge of biological sequences.
• Experience with algorithm development.
• Experience with Perl or Python (or similar)
• Experience with one (or more) of C, C++ or Java.
• It is an advantage (but not a requirement) to have general knowledge about RNA structure and folding, RNA gene search algorithms and algorithms for structural alignment or RNAs.
• The Ph.D. candidate should also possess good interpersonal skills.
Terms of employment
The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The posts are covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
The Ph.D. position requires the applicant to be approved for admission to the Ph.D. programme at LIFE when accepted for the position.
Questions
For further information about the post, please contact Center Director, Prof. Jan Gorodkin on tel. (+45) 3533 3578, gorodkin@rth.dk
General questions regarding Ph.D. programmes should be directed to the Course Administration c/o special advisor Michael Cleve Hansen, tel. + 45 3533 2056, or head clerk Lillian Zeuthen Bjørnseth on tel. +45 3533 2172. Further information on PhD programmes is available at www.life.ku.dk/English >Education > PhD Education > Regulations.
Application
The application MUST as a minimum include the following appendices 1-5 each clearly marked with the relevant appendix number:
Appendix 1: Cover letter, including an e-mail address for further communication.
Appendix 2: Curriculum vitae.
Appendix 3: Publications (if any).
Appendix 4: Complete transcript of university examinations.
Appendix 5: Contact information of two references.
Appendix 6 (optional): Other material the applicant might find relevant for the assessment.
Applications that do not include the required material may not be considered. The assessment committee may request further material from the applicant. Upon such request the applicant is obliged to send it to the committee.
Following processing of the application, all application material sent will be destroyed.
Receipt of the application will not be acknowledged, but the applicant will be kept continuously informed of the progress of the application.
The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation Executive Order no. 284 of 25 April 2008.
The application, marked 625/05172-310 should be sent to:
Center Coordinator Lotte Albret
Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health
Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Faculty of Life Sciences
University of Copenhagen
Grønnegårdsvej 3
1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
e-mail: lotte@rth.dk
The applications must be received latest by February 1st, 2011, at noon.Applications received after the closing time will not be considered.
The Faculty of Life Sciences is one of Europe’s leading university environments in the areas of food, health, plants, biotechnology, natural resources, the environment and related academic areas.
Our research and degree programmes are centred on knowledge and tools that can help secure a brighter future for humans, animals and plants.
Read more about The Faculty of Life Sciences at www.life.ku.dk