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RE-ADVERTISEMENT: Postdoc in numerical modelling of muscle cells cultivation

Employer
Aarhus University (AU)
Location
Aarhus, Midtjylland (DK)
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
17 Jul 2023

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Discipline
Computing, Engineering, Life Science, Mathematics, Physics
Job Type
Postdoctoral
Employment - Hours
Full time
Duration
Fixed term
Qualification
PhD
Sector
Academia
The Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG), Aarhus University seeks a postdoc to work in mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of muscle cells cultivation. The position begins on 1 December 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is initially for two years, though, it is renewable for two more years contingent on performance and availability of funding.

Starting date and period
The position is available from 1 December 2023 or as soon as possible.

Job description
Meat cultivation technologies have the potential to deliver high quality food with a very low environmental impact. However, existing technologies are very immature and are under an active development. In general, food related cell cultivation is characterized by high process complexity that greatly resonates with sustainability requirements. Therefore, the theoretical and computational studies, where the mathematical modelling plays a primary role, can help to address the complex biophysical and biochemical challenges of meat cell cultivation.

Overall, the project is aimed to develop an integrated modelling framework dedicated to computational studies, digital experimentation and data integration within the area of cellular food production, with emphasis on muscle cell cultivation. The framework will allow re-allocation of some part of expensive and tedious empirical work, such as specific in vitro cultivation, fermentation and scaling-up experiments, etc., into a virtual (digital) facility via computer-based simulations.

The specific aim of the postdoc project is developing and implementing a mathematical model imitating myotubes formation from bovine satellite cells. The project will be focused on processing and regulation mechanisms of cells proliferation and differentiation within a dynamic cultivation environment. In addition, the developed model will be applied to solve the related cultured media optimization problems.

Tasks and responsibilities:

The postdoc will undergo, and be responsible for, the following tasks:

  • Develop the model(s) and provide its numerical and software implementation.
  • Test and validate the model(s) providing an experimental data integration.
  • Develop and implement an approach for solving a cultivation media optimisation problem using the developed model(s).
  • Summarize and publish the obtained results in relevant scientific journals.


Your profile


Academic qualifications:

Applicants should hold (or be expected to hold) a PhD degree in engineering, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, computational biology, or other related fields with a strong mathematical background.

The ideal candidate will:

  • Have the knowledge and experience, supported by the related scientific publication records, of developing and/or applying models.
  • Have some experience in software development, ideally, in relation to numerical methods implementation.
  • Knowledge in cell biology is an advantage but not an absolute requirement.
  • Have effective communication skills in written and spoken English, for the presentation of their research to various audiences – from experts to the general public.

Personal qualifications/social skills (relevant to the position):

  • Have good interpersonal skills, are ambitious, take ownership and are scientifically self-motivated and creative.
  • Can work both independently and in groups.
Possess good communication and interpersonal skills being friendly and helpful and able to contribute to a good work environment.

Who we are
The Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG) is a vibrant and exciting interdisciplinary center for research and education in quantitative genetics and quantitative genomics (http://www.qgg.au.dk/en). QGG is an international organization with 70 employees and visiting researchers from more than 15 countries. We perform basic and applied research within plant, livestock and human quantitative genetics. Our focus areas include quantitative genetics, artificial intelligence applied to agriculture and precision medicine, population genetics, and integrative genomics. QGG is located at the central campus in Aarhus and at the AU Flakkebjerg campus in newly renovated offices with well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories, equipment, and high-performing computing clusters.

What we offer
  • A welcoming and collaborative atmosphere with close working relationships in teams, professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.
  • Training and international experience in public-private partnerships.
  • Mentoring for career development.
  • High-performance computational resources.
  • A collaborative environment, in which the candidate will be able to share across research fields such as quantitative genetics, machine learning, bioinformatics, and population genetics and applications in agriculture.
  • The position provides excellent possibilities for publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Place of Work
The place of work is C. F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000, Aarhus (Denmark), and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.



Contact Information
For further information and scientific enquiries, please contact Centerleader and Professor Mogens Sandø Lund e-mail: mogens.lund@qgg.au.dk, Phone:+45 20751222 or Assistant Professor Viktor Milkevych e-mail: vimi@qgg.au.dk

Deadline
1 August 2023.

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified 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 each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. 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
Technical 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 Taxation 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 Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

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.

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.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it 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 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

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