Job description
Proteins are versatile and highly potent drug candidates and account for a rapidly growing number of new drugs in development. Specialized analytical tools are needed to characterize these large and complex biomolecules. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) has become an established analytical technique that can provide unique insights into the conformation, dynamics and interactions of proteins in solution. In a collaboration between the Protein Analysis Group and the Microscale Analytical Systems Group, we will develop microfluidic solutions to improve the HDX-MS method.
The overall aim of both PhD projects is to build on existing work in the group and develop and apply microfluidic components and couple these to mass spectrometry to realize an improved workflow for HDX-MS. The developed microfluidic HDX-MS solutions will be used to investigate several complex protein systems of therapeutic interest.
The two PhD candidates will work in the Protein Analysis Group under the supervision of Professor MSO Kasper Rand (primary supervisor), in close collaboration with the Microscale Analytical Systems Group (co-supervisors Prof. Jorg Kutter or Associate Professor Nickolaj Petersen). The two PhD fellowships are funded through a grant from the European Research Councils (ERC Consolidator Grant).
The key tasks as a PhD student are:
- Carry through an independent research project under supervision (see above)
- Complete PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS points
- Participate in active research environments including a stay at another research team
- Obtain experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
- Teach and disseminate your knowledge
- Write a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project