PhD fellowship in Organic Chemsitry

PhD Project in carbohydrate and supramolecular chemsitry

The department of chemistry invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in supramolecular protecting groups for carbohydrate synthesis. The project is part of the research project European Network on the Supramolecular Chemistry of Carbohydrates (ENSCC) – a Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Doctorate Network (DN)funded by the European Commission (Grant agreement no: 101119492).

Start date is expected to be 1 September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
In this project, we will use macrocycles, provided by members of the ENSCC network, for selective temporary protection of hydroxy groups on various carbohydrates. The substrates will be common carbohydrates with a minimum of protective groups. The temporally non-covalent “protection/activation” by the interaction with the macrocycle will allow for selective chemical derivatization of specific hydroxy groups, giving site-selective modifications. This could, as examples, be the installment of protective groups like esters, glycosylations or oxidation reactions. Initial studies will be performed using already available macrocycles, but in time, new types of macrocycles will be developed based on the results obtained. Some initial screening of host-guest interactions will be performed at UCPH and followed up by members of the ENSCC network.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of organic synthesis, with a background in carbohydrate and/or supramolecular chemistry. Experience with both synthesis and analytical chemistry is a plus. Good spoken and written English are also required.

Specifically, the candidate will work on:

• Synthesis of partly protected carbohydrates, that will be used as model compounds to study recognition and selective functionalization using supramolecular hosts provided by the ENSCC network.
• Synthesize new supramolecular molecules to interact with specific carbohydrates.
• Study the interactions and reaction outcomes by NMR spectroscopy as the main technique.
• Collaborate with researchers in the ENSCC network and participate actively in events.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The group is a part of the section of organic chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer an international, creative and stimulating workinging enviroment. The principal supervisor will be Associate Professor Christian Marcus Pedersen.

The PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. organic chemistry. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programmes

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme
• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in carbohydrate and supramolecular chemistry.
• Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure

 Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
4. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
5. Publication list (if possible)
6. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline
The deadline for applications is 15 April 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.