Assistant Professor in RNA nanotechnology

The Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) invites applications for a 3-year Assistant Professorship in RNA nanotechnology. During this 3-year term the applicant will develop a research program based on rationally-designing RNA nanostructures for applications in synthetic biology and nanomedicine.

Starting Date and Period
The position is for 3 years and is available from January 1st 2021 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Job description
We are looking for an applicant who will develop a research program on RNA nanostructures, which involves computer-aided design of RNA nanostructures, production and characterization of RNA nanostructures by AFM and TEM, expression of RNA nanostructures, and experimental validation of functional properties in cells. The candidate is expected to collaborate with the research laboratories of Associate Professor Ebbe Sloth Andersen and Professor Jørgen Kjems at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center at Aarhus University. The successful applicant will also be responsible for general duties as assistant professor at Aarhus University, which includes attending the teacher training programme (link), teaching relevant courses, and mentoring of BSc, MSc and PhD students.

Key scientific qualification areas:

    • RNA biochemistry and nanotechnology
    • Computer programming and algorithm design
    • Biophysical characterization
    • Molecular recognition
    • In vitro selection design
    • Molecular biology methodologies

Your profile
The candidate should be an expert in RNA nanotechnology with extensive knowledge of RNA biochemistry, biophysics and molecular/cell biology. To develop RNA nanostructures the candidate should have experience in RNA folding and sequence design algorithms and be able to use programming languages such as Perl, R or Python. Experience with a variety of structural characterization methods, e.g. AFM and TEM, cloning, expression and functional characterization of RNA nanostructures in cells will be an advantage.

The applicants are expected to:

    • Hold a PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry or related fields.
    • Have a solid research background in RNA biochemisty.
    • Have extensive programming experience in Perl, Python or similar programming languages.
    • Write and speak English fluently.

It will be an advantage to:

    • Have a strong publication profile.
    • Have strong writing and verbal communication skills.
    • Have teaching experience and plans for developing teaching skills.
    • Have research leadership experience or other leadership qualifications.

Who we are
The laboratories of Associate Professor Ebbe Sloth Andersen (link) and Professor Jørgen Kjems (link) are located in the same hallway at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) (inano.au.dk) and shares equipment and facilities. The labs are colocated with the Center of Excellence “CELLPAT – Center for Cellular Signal Patterns” (link) directed by Jørgen Kjems. The research groups constitute a strong and inspiring research environment with expert researchers in a wide range topics and techniques with a focus on biomolecular nanotechnologies. The central meeting room in the hallway constitutes a core spot for meetings, adhoc scientific discussions and social events. The research environment is highly international and the work and social language is English.

The Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) (inano.au.dk) is a major research and education center based at the campus of Aarhus University. iNANO undertakes interdisciplinary research involving scientists from relevant areas in physics, chemistry, molecular biology, biology, engineering, and medicine. iNANO offers a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment with many industrial, national and international collaborators. The city of Aarhus is the second largest in Denmark located on the eastern coast of the peninsula of Jutland. Aarhus offers a rich cultural life with its many international students and cultural events. It is easily accessible from major European cities either by train or plane.

What we offer
The successful candidate is offered:

    • access to a well-developed research infrastructure
    • laboratory space, shared equipment
    • a research climate inviting lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
    • a working environment with teamwork, close working relations, network activities among young scientists and social activities
    • a workplace characterized by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance

Place of Work
The place of work is Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

Contact Information
Further information about the position may be obtained from / For further information please contact: Associate Professor, Ebbe Sloth Andersen, +45 41178619, esa@inano.au.dk.

Application procedure

Deadline:11 October 2020

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range Formalities and salary range
Natural Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University’s website.

Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

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