27 ott - Montà
Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen
h3PhD fellowship in antibody?drug conjugate (ADC) engineering: internalization and lysosomal delivery /h3 /brpBiotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) / Finsen Laboratory, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen /p /brpA 3-year PhD fellowship is available in the research group of Associate Professor Lars Henning Engelholm.
Expected start: 15 January ****, or as soon as possible thereafter.
/p /brh3The project /h3 /brpAntibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) depend on efficient internalization and lysosomal processing to release their cytotoxic payload.
Inefficient trafficking limits potency and restricts current ADCs to targets with very high receptor density.
The PhD project will engineer and test next?generation ADCs with improved internalization and lysosomal routing.
This includes bispecific constructs that combine our established ADC targets (uPAR, MMP14, uPARAP and the Mannose Receptor) with receptors that drive lysosomal delivery, such as IGF2R.
Lead candidates will be evaluated in cancer cell models and in vivo, including models of sarcoma and glioblastoma.
/p /brpThe project is part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Distinguished Innovator project "Breaking Barriers: Engineering ADCs for Efficient BBB Transport and Lysosomal Targeting", in collaboration with Professor Matthias Herth (Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, UCPH) and Professor Katrine Qvortrup (Department of Chemistry, DTU).
/p /brh3Main tasks /h3 /brul /brliProduction, purification and validation of recombinant and bispecific antibodies /li /brliConjugation of antibodies to cytotoxic payloads and characterization of the resulting ADCs /li /brliCell?based assays: antibody uptake and internalization, flow cytometry,
drug screening and cytotoxicity/cell viability assays /li /brliIn vivo efficacy studies of ADC candidates in tumor models /li /brliWriting scientific publications and presenting at international conferences /li /br /ul /brh3Job Description /h3 /brul /brliCarrying through an independent research project under supervision.
/li /brliCompleting PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
/li /brliParticipating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
/li /brliObtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project /li /brliTeaching and disseminating your knowledge.
/li /brliWriting a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project /li /br /ul /brh3PhD Programme Description /h3 /brpThe PhD programme is a three?year full?time research education within the framework of the 5+3 scheme, intended for candidates holding a relevant academic degree within the project's subject area (e.g., (relevant degrees)).
/p /brh3Qualifications /h3 /brul /brliAn MSc degree (120 ECTS, or equivalent) in pharmaceutical biotechnology, biotechnology or a closely related field, with an excellent academic record /li /brliAn MSc thesis or equivalent research project on antibody?drug conjugates or antibody?based cancer therapeutics /li /brliDocumented hands?on experience with production, validation and payload conjugation of recombinant antibodies /li /brliExperience with cytotoxicity, cell viability and drug screening assays in mammalian cancer cell lines /li /brliExperience with flow cytometry /li /brliExperience with laboratory animal work /li /brliExperience from an international research laboratory and excellent written and spoken English /li /br /ul /brpExperience with functional genomics (e.g. CRISPR?Cas9 screening)
and with sarcoma models is an advantage.
/p /brh3Place of employment /h3 /brpThe place of employment is BRIC, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.
/p /brh3Terms of employment /h3 /brpThe average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.
/p /brpThe position is a fixed?term position limited to a period of 3 years.
The start date is 15 January **** or after agreement.
/p /brpThe employment is conditioned upon the applicant's successful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.
/p /brpThe PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme *****) and the Faculty's rules on achieving the degree.
/p /brpSalary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 31,800 DKK/Roughly 4,200 EUR (August **** level) plus pension.
/p /brpYou can read more about salary levels in the state sector (in Danish).
/p /brh3Questions /h3 /brpFor specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact Associate Professor Lars Henning Engelholm, /p /brpGeneral information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School's website: /p /brpThe University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.
/p /brh3Application deadline /h3 /brp6 November :59pm CET /p /brh3Contact /h3 /brpLars Henning Milman Engelholm /p /brpE-mail: /p #J-*****-Ljbffr