PhD scholarship in Omics-guided Discovery and Characterisation of Enzymes Involved in Utilisation of Xyloglucans, Mannans, and Mannooligosaccharides by Probiotic and Commensal Bacteria
PhD scholarship in Omics-guided Discovery and Characterisation of Enzymes Involved in Utilisation of Xyloglucans, Mannans, and Mannooligosaccharides by Probiotic and Commensal Bacteria
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet
Lyngby-Taarbæk, 1 stilling
PhD position is available with the Enzyme and Protein Chemistry group at the department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in collaboration with the group of Professors Lin Wu and Siqi Liu at Beijing Institute of Genomics (BIG), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), in connection with the Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research. The PhD project will be conducted in Denmark and with a total of at least nine months stay at BIG in Beijing. Other participants are DTU National Food Institute, DTU Nanotech and DuPont Nutrition and Health, Kantvik, Finland.
You can read more about Enzyme and Protein Chemistry at http://www.bio.dtu.dk/english/Research/Research-groups/Enzyme-and-Prote…
Responsibilities and tasks
The potential to disclose molecular mechanisms of uptake and catabolism of carbohydrate food fibres by probiotic and commensal bacteria can pave the way for sustainable and value-adding utilisation of plant products and waste to stimulate bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract with gain for human health and well-being. Turning biological residual resources into new alternative high value products is especially important in Denmark and China.
The application of synbiotics (i.e. mixtures of probiotics and prebiotics) is advancing in the areas of human and animal nutrition and health and the PhD candidate will aim at identifying synbiotics composed of probiotic bacteria and xyloglucan or mannan-derived carbohydrates and discovery and characterisation of bacterial gene regulation and key bacterial proteins involved in the prebiotic conversion and in interaction with host cells. This will involve genome-mining, carbohydrate chemistry, screening for synbiotics’ growth, omics (proteomics and transcriptomics), cloning, recombinant protein production, biophysical characterisation of protein-carbohydrate interactions and cellular adhesion studies.
The successful candidate is a talented highly motivated and self-driven person who enjoys working with different techniques and disciplines in an international environment and who is excited about spending time also in a high profile research group in China. Fluency in English and good communication skills are required.
Qualifications
Candidates should have a master's degree in engineering or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree in engineering.
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 the DTU PhD Guide.
Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Prof. Birte Svensson assisted by project collaboration partners.
We offer
We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international environment focusing on education, research, public-sector consultancy and innovation, which contribute to enhancing the economy and improving social welfare. We strive for academic excellence, collegial respect and freedom tempered by responsibility. The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is a leading technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best universities in the world.
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.
The project will be conducted at DTU Lyngby Campus and at Beijing Institute of Genetics in China.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Birte Svensson, tel.: +45 4525 2740, bis@bio.dtu.dk
You can read more about the Department of Systems Biology on http://www.bio.dtu.dk
Please do not send applications to this e-mail address, instead apply online as described below.
Application
Please submit your online application no later than 30 May 2016.
Applications must be submitted as one pdf file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online," fill in the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one pdf file. The file must include:
- A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
- Curriculum vitae
- Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
- 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.
Department of Systems Biology represents a large concentration of academic biotechnological research in Denmark, including protein and enzyme chemistry, food biochemistry, bioinformatics, systems biology, molecular biology, fermentation technology, physiology and genetics of industrial microorganisms and medical microbiology. The department hosts senior and junior faculty members and post-doctoral fellows, PhD students and technical/administrative personnel, around 230 in total. In addition to bachelor, master and PhD education, collaborative research and innovation together with national and international universities and industries is given high priority at the department.
DTU is a technical university providing internationally leading research, education, innovation and public service. Our staff of 5,800 advance science and technology to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of society; and our 10,300 students are being educated to address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is an independent academic university collaborating globally with business, industry, government, and public agencies.
