Postdoc in Blood brain barrier and receptor trafficking

The Department of Biomedicine at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Postdoc in the field of receptor trafficking in polarized cells as per 1 February 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 3 years.

The Department of Biomedicine prioritises diversity and a good work environment, as this is a prerequisite for groundbreaking research. In a diverse and international research environment, dedicated employees are looking to generate new knowledge within biomedical research areas such as infection and inflammation, membranes, neuroscience and personalised medicine. The Department of Biomedicine provides research-based teaching of the highest quality and is responsible for a large part of the medical degree programme. Academic staff contribute to the teaching. English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars. The department employs approx. 500 people from all over the world, and they make use of the department's modern laboratory-, core- and animal facilities. The Department of Biomedicine focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration with business and industry, and numerous researchers from the department have established companies to develop new medicinal treatments founded in professional scientific basic research. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

About the research project

The project will focus on polarized receptor trafficking in brain endothelial cells with the aim of improving drug delivery to the brain. Particular the bidirectional trafficking of antibodies targeting the Transferrin Receptor will be studied in high subcellular details using advanced in vitro blood brain barrier models. This will include mapping of trafficking in the endo-lysosomal system by applying super resolution imaging techniques, lysosomal degradation by use of radioactive antibody/traces and transcytosis efficiency studied by use of ELISA. These studies will be done using different antibody constructs to understand how avidity and affinity affect trafficking and transcytosis of potential therapeutic antibodies. During the last part of the project, in vivo studies will be performed using mice and/or rat models.

Your job responsibilities

As Postdoc in receptor trafficking in polarized cells your position is primarily research-based but may also involve teaching assignments. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with colleagues on your project, where you will receive supervision and guidance.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality, including publication.
• Work in collaborating labs outside Aarhus University.
• Working with primary BBB and iPSC derived BBB models.
• Performing advanced imaging at spinning disk confocal, high content microscopes and light sheet microscopes.
• To some extent also performing animal experiments.
• Different basic biochemical methods like Western blotting, immunostaining, ELISA etc.

You will report to the professor Morten S. Nielsen.

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at PhD level, in the area of cell biology and neuroscience. The preferred candidate have competences in one or more of following techniques; advance imaging, cell culturing and isolation of primary cells. Furthermore, understanding of complex software and programming skills are needed to complete the project. The candidate should accept that the work includes animal models, radioactive protein tracers and potential stay at other universities.

As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented and able to contribute to a good work environment.

We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English.

In order to be assessed as qualified for a Postdoc position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Morten S. Nielsen tel.: (+45) 28992387.

Your place of work will be the Department of Biomedicine, Hoegh Guldbergsgade 10, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

We expect to conduct interviews in December/start January.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime postdoc is between DKK 484.214,84 and DKK 538.720,20 depending on the years of working experience after achieved MSc degree. The base salary includes a position related supplement and pension (17.1 %). Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. Authorisation supplemement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - postdoc
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted (optional)
• Research plan can be uploaded (optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded (optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system (optional)

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

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.

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.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services here. Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Association and offers career development support. You can read more about these resources 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.