[Denmark]: PhD Scholarship in antibiotic resistance at DTU

A 3 year PhD position in bacteriology is available at the National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The place of work is Copenhagen, Denmark, Division of Veterinary Diagnostics and Research, where the candidate will be on staff of the Research Group for Bacteriology and Pathology. The candidate will also work at the Department for Veterinary Disease Biology at KU-LIFE. A residency at a foreign research institute will be planned as part of the project.

Job description

The aim of this PhD project is to evaluate how antibiotic resistance among intestinal bacteria is influenced by treatment strategies. The PhD-student will develop and utilise quantitative PCR test on genetic markers for antibiotic resistance and develop these methods for screening purposes in swine herds. The methods developed will be evaluated in model studies as well as in swine herds. In addition, assessment of antibiotic resistance using culture based methods will be used. The PhD-student will be part of a research project with several national and international partners that aims at minimizing the resistance development in the intestinal flora of pigs following antibiotic treatment. Molecular methods for assessment of antibiotic resistance are under development in another PhD-project and there will be a close cooperation between the two projects.

Qualifications
Applicants with the following qualifications are preferred:

• Candidates should have a master's degree in either veterinary medicine, biology or a comparable discipline
• Experience in bacteriology and molecular methods
• An interest in animal husbandry and antibiotic resistance
• Fluency in English
• Good social skills, innovative and interested in communicating research results

Approval and Enrolment

The scholarships for the PhD degree in Denmark are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU, Denmark. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.

Salary and appointment terms

The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students in Denmark. The period of employment is 3 years.

Further information
For further information please contact Senior Researcher Øystein Angen, phone +45 3588 6201, e-mail: oang@vet.dtu.dk

Do NOT send applications to this e-mail address, but use the electronic submission system - see below!

Application

We must have your online application by 20 March 2011. Please open the link "apply for this job online", fill in the application form and attach the following documents;

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
• Conversion of grade averages to Danish grades (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet for the conversion here)

Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master's degree, but cannot begin before having received it.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, inability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.