Applications are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Nanoscience programme. The position is available from May 2025 or later.

Title:
Electrocatalytic approaches to high sensitivity PTM detection of cancer metastatic state and its therapy efficacy

Research area and project description:
A PhD position is offered within the HORIZON – MSCA –DN “STRIM: Scientific Training for Post-Translational Modification Detection in Cancer Screening.

The STRIM Training Network delivers comprehensive bioelectronic tools for cancer screening, tools that are fast, accurate, sensitive, and exploit advanced molecular receptors and nanobiotechnologies for detection of aberrant post-translational modifications (PTM) of proteins and nucleic acids as cutting-edge biofluid markers for early detection of cancers. Growing evidence suggests that PTM play important roles in human cancers and are likely to prove highly specific for cancer type. Focusing on both genomic and proteomic PTM biomarkers will be a game-changing strategy for improving early cancer detection rates, efficiency and population health. The STRIM is a consortium of world leaders in bioinformatics and biomarkers discovery, bioreceptor selection and design, nanofabrication and electrode production, biosensor development, cancer research, and health technology assessment from 6 universities, 2 companies, 3 medical research centers and 2 hospitals. STRIM announces 13 PhD positions. More information on this Project can be found here: cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101169504.

This project aims to develop and analytically and clinically validate bioelectronic assays on magnetic beads (MB) for accurate monitoring of therapy efficacy in patients with metastatic breast, prostate, gastric and colorectal cancers. The DC will develop electrochemical ELASA on MBs with novel electrocatalytic labels and apply them for liquid biopsy analysis of cancer patients’ samples for PTM of selected proteins. Assays will be integrated within the bioelectronic MB-based strip test device for PoC monitoring of the cancer treatment efficacy and characterizing the type of tumor and resistance to treatment.

Salary, holiday payment, pension contributions and the like include all employer and employee's taxes and contributions. Thus, figures are before taxes are paid, and taxes may differ depending on individual circumstances. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement, and salary is depending on seniority. Salary includes a non-pensionable PhD supplement. The allowances mentioned in the EU work programme (living allowance, mobility allowance and, if applicable, family allowance) will be part of the salary. Allowance rates can be found in the relevant EU Work Programme (under MSCA doctoral network - Applicable unit contributions), and country correction coefficient can be found in the same document.

Please upload a project description (½-4 pages). This document should describe your ideas and research plans for this specific project. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found.

Qualifications and specific competences:
We expect a Master´s degree (120 ECTS) in Chemistry (with specialization in Physical Chemistry, Electrochemistry) with excellent academic transcripts. Furthermore, the applicant should be able to perform team-oriented as well as independent work. Candidates must demonstrate full proficiency in spoken and written English; a B2 level certificate of English proficiency is required. Practical experiences in one or more of the following subjects are beneficial: Electrochemistry, Surface Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology.

Requirements:

Applicants must fulfill the usual MSCA eligibility and mobility rules.

• Applicants must at the date of recruitment be in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.
• The researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark from more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment (short stays, such as holidays, not taken into account).

EU eligibility requirements in Marie Curie Doctoral Networks:

• Supported researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
• Researchers supported must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, and for Joint Doctorates in at least two.
• Recruited researchers can be of any nationality and must comply with the following mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.
• Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent by the researcher as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention75 are not taken into account.
• Secondments are eligible for up to one third of the actual months spent implementing the research training activities under the action.
• In case of industrial doctorates, doctoral candidates must spend at least 50% of their fellowship duration in the non-academic sector.

Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is iNANO, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (www.inano.au.dk), was established in 2002 and at present is a major research and education center based at Aarhus University hosting 60 senior scientists, ~100 PostDocs and ~100 PhD students. The center combines expertise and faculty from Physics, Chemistry, Molecular biology and Medicine to carry out world class interdisciplinary research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. The center gives access to a broad range of infrastructure, tools and expertise including clean-room facilities. With a 5 year undergraduate nanotechnology programme and nanoscience graduate programme (www.inanoschool.au.dk) the center provides a full educational environment. In addition to the large base of basic research, the center has a large number of ongoing industrial projects and partnerships. 

Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact: Associate Professor Elena Ferapontova, elena.ferapontova@inano.au.dk or Professor Karina Dalsgaard Sørensen, kdso@clin.au.dk

How to apply:

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see the Application guide. Please read the Application guide thoroughly before applying.

When ready to apply, go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/ (Note, the online application system opens 1 December 2024)

1. Choose February 2025 Call with deadline 1 February 2025 at 23:59 CET.
2. You will be directed to the call and must choose the programme “Nanoscience”.
3. In the boxed named “Study”: In the dropdown menu, please choose: “Electrocatalytic approaches to high sensitivity PTM detection of cancer metastatic state and its therapy efficacy (EahsPT)”

Please note:

• The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
• The project will only be initiated if the graduate school/the faculty grants funding.

At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.