Fixed-term

The University of Copenhagen is seeking a highly motivated and talented PhD fellow to commence November 15, 2026, or after agreement in the Clemmensen Group at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR), University of Copenhagen. The PhD fellowship is part of the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program. About UsThe Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) is an academic research Center that pioneers groundbreaking research towards better cardiometabolic health. Through collaborative interdisciplinary research from single-cell genomics to whole-body systems, CBMR aims to transform the basic understanding of cardiometabolic health and accelerate its translation into prevention and treatment strategies. The Center’s uniquely multi- and interdisciplinary approach combines research in genetics, physiology and pharma­cology, to better understand the complex interplay of the many factors that drive cardiometabolic disease. You can learn more in the Executive Summary of CBMR’s Strategy 2024–2028. CBMR was established in 2010 at the Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences and has been located in the Maersk Tower at Panum since 2017. The around 260 employees create an international, highly collaborative research environment across disciplines. Our ResearchThe Clemmensen Group studies the biological mechanisms that regulate energy homeostasis in health and disease. We use a broad range of preclinical models, including in vitro and in vivo systems, to investigate key components of energy balance control, such as appetite, energy expenditure and energy excretion, and their regulation at the cellular and molecular level. We are an international and interdisciplinary team that values collaboration, scientific rigor and a strong team spirit. Expectations for individual trainees are high, but so are the freedom, resources and support available to pursue ambitious scientific questions. Project Description The project focuses on understanding the causal mechanisms underlying the progression of obesity using rodent models and approaches from neuroscience, endocrinology and metabolic physiology. The work will be diverse and include rodent experiments, ex vivo analyses and bioinformatic approaches to investigate how biological systems regulating energy balance adapt during obesity development. Principal supervisor: Associate professor, Christoffer Clemmensen, chc@sund.ku.dk Start:  November 15, 2026 Duration: 1 year as Research Assistant followed by 3 years as PhD fellow contingent on a positive evaluation of the 1st year. Profile The PhD fellowship is aimed at early-career researchers with a basic science background or clinicians who aspire to a career in academic medicine. Required qualifications: Master’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biomedicine, or related sciences Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years). The grade point average achieved Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project Previous publications Relevant work experience Other professional activities A curious mindset with a strong interest in energy metabolism and rodent metabolic phenotyping Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral Eligibility The PhD fellowships within the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program are open for applicants that hold a Master’s degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years). The Master’s degree has to be obtained before November 15, 2026. You are not eligible to apply for the program if you have been employed in a Research Assistant position for more than two years at the University of Copenhagen prior to the commencement of the fellowship. Terms of Employment The employment consists of 1 year as a Research Assistant followed by 3 years as PhD fellow contingent on a positive evaluation of the 1st year. Starting date is November 15, 2026, or after agreement. The employment as PhD fellow 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. The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree. Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Questions For further information about the position, please contact Christoffer Clemmensen at chc@sund.ku.dk. Questions regarding the CBMR International PhD & Postdoc Program must be directed to Senior Advisor Sarah Christoffersen at sarah.christoffersen@sund.ku.dk. For questions regarding the recruitment procedure, please contact HR at hr-cbmr@adm.ku.dk. General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website. The University of Copenhagen International Staff Mobility office offers support and assistance to all international researchers on all issues related to moving to and settling in Denmark. Application Procedure Your online application must be submitted in English via the ‘Apply for position’ link below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format: Motivated letter of application (max. one page) CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant to the position Certified copy of original Master’s diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. List of publications References (name and contact details of at least two references) Application Deadline: August 10, 2026, 23.59pm CET We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements. The Further ProcessAfter the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed, each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself. You can read about the recruitment process at www.employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process. The applicant will be assessed according to Ministerial Order No. 242 of March 13, 2012, on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities. The University of Copenhagen wishes to

Overview Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical building block used to strengthen polycarbonate plastic products [1], that binds and activates the estrogen receptors (ESR1 and ESR2) [2,3]. Additionality, BPA can stimulate other nuclear hormone receptors [4-10]; and can interfere with endocannabinoid receptors CNR1 and CNR2 [11,12]. The primary source of BPA exposure in humans is dietary, as BPA has been extensively used in food packaging since the 1960s [13]. In the United States, BPA has been detected in 93% of 2,517 urine samples collected from both adults and children [1,14,15]. BPA continuous exposure causes adverse health effects [16-28]. The primary objective of this project will be to perform a systems level analysis of the effects of environmentally relevant doses of BPA on the transcriptome and epigenome of healthy primary human cells and model the data using the adverse outcomes pathway framework with the ultimate goal of developing a human body map of BPA exposure. This will include cells derived from key body tissues where BPA elicits adverse health effects, namely prostate, gut, liver, blood, brain and testes. This will be the first in vitro study that (1) examines the effects of low dose BPA exposure jointly on the healthy human cell transcriptomes and epigenomes using a systems level approach, and (2) defines the difference between low (5 nM) and higher doses (25 nM and 100 nM) of BPA on primary cells (PrECs), and (3) specifically examines the effects of BPA on the expression of genes encoding histone and DNA methylation modifying enzymes. All applicants must meet the academic entry requirements: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/biological-sciences-phd.html#entry References 1.Kang, J.H.; Kondo, F.; Katayama, Y. Human exposure to bisphenol a. Toxicology 2006, 226, 79-89. 2.Li, Y.; Burns, K.A.; Arao, Y.; Luh, C.J.; Korach, K.S. Differential estrogenic actions of endocrine-disrupting chemicals bisphenol a, bisphenol af, and zearalenone through estrogen receptor alpha and beta in vitro. Environ Health Perspect 2012, 120, 1029-1035. 3.Matthews, J.B.; Twomey, K.; Zacharewski, T.R. In vitro and in vivo interactions of bisphenol a and its metabolite, bisphenol a glucuronide, with estrogen receptors α and β. Chemical Research in Toxicology 2001, 14, 149-157. 4.Tohme, M.; Prud’homme, S.M.; Boulahtouf, A.; Samarut, E.; Brunet, F.; Bernard, L.; Bourguet, W.; Gibert, Y.; Balaguer, P.; Laudet, V. Estrogen-related receptor gamma is an in vivo receptor of bisphenol a. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 2014, 28, 3124-3133. 5.Sohoni, P.; Sumpter, J.P. Several environmental oestrogens are also anti-androgens. J Endocrinol 1998, 158, 327-339. 6.Zoeller, R.T. Environmental chemicals as thyroid hormone analogues: New studies indicate that thyroid hormone receptors are targets of industrial chemicals? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2005, 242, 10-15. 7.Bouskine, A.; Nebout, M.; Brucker-Davis, F.; Benahmed, M.; Fenichel, P. Low doses of bisphenol a promote human seminoma cell proliferation by activating pka and pkg via a membrane g-protein-coupled estrogen receptor. Environ Health Perspect 2009, 117, 1053-1058. 8.Sargis, R.M.; Johnson, D.N.; Choudhury, R.A.; Brady, M.J. Environmental endocrine disruptors promote adipogenesis in the 3t3-l1 cell line through glucocorticoid receptor activation. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2010, 18, 1283-1288. 9.Birceanu, O.; Mai, T.; Vijayan, M.M. Maternal transfer of bisphenol a impacts the ontogeny of cortisol stress response in rainbow trout. Aquatic Toxicology 2015, 168, 11-18. 10.Sui, Y.; Park, S.-H.; Helsley, R.N.; Sunkara, M.; Gonzalez, F.J.; Morris, A.J.; Zhou, C. Bisphenol a increases atherosclerosis in pregnane x receptor-humanized apoe deficient mice. Journal of the American Heart Association 2014, 3. 11.Forner-Piquer, I.; Mylonas, C.C.; Calduch-Giner, J.; Maradonna, F.; Gioacchini, G.; Allarà, M.; Piscitelli, F.; Di Marzo, V.; Pérez-Sánchez, J.; Carnevali, O. Endocrine disruptors in the diet of male sparus aurata: Modulation of the endocannabinoid system at the hepatic and central level by di-isononyl phthalate and bisphenol a. Environment International 2018, 119, 54-65. 12.Martella, A.; Silvestri, C.; Maradonna, F.; Gioacchini, G.; Allarà, M.; Radaelli, G.; Overby, D.R.; Di Marzo, V.; Carnevali, O. Bisphenol a induces fatty liver by an endocannabinoid-mediated positive feedback loop. Endocrinology 2016, 157, 1751-1763. 13.Rubin, B.S. Bisphenol a: An endocrine disruptor with widespread exposure and multiple effects. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology 2011, 127, 27-34. 14.Schug, T.T.; Janesick, A.; Blumberg, B.; Heindel, J.J. Endocrine disrupting chemicals and disease susceptibility. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2011, 127, 204-215. 15.Calafat, A.M.; Ye, X.; Wong, L.Y.; Reidy, J.A.; Needham, L.L. Exposure of the u.S. Population to bisphenol a and 4-tertiary-octylphenol: 2003–2004. Environ Health Perspect 2008, 116, 39-44. 16.Howdeshell, K.L.; Hotchkiss, A.K.; Thayer, K.A.; Vandenbergh, J.G.; vom Saal, F.S. Environmental toxins: Exposure to bisphenol a advances puberty. Nature 1999, 401, 763-764. 17.Cabaton, N.J.; Wadia, P.R.; Rubin, B.S.; Zalko, D.; Schaeberle, C.M.; Askenase, M.H.; Gadbois, J.L.; Tharp, A.P.; Whitt, G.S.; Sonnenschein, C.; Soto, A.M. Perinatal exposure to environmentally relevant levels of bisphenol a decreases fertility and fecundity in cd-1 mice. Environ Health Perspect 2011, 119, 547-552. 18.Salian, S.; Doshi, T.; Vanage, G. Neonatal exposure of male rats to bisphenol a impairs fertility and expression of sertoli cell junctional proteins in the testis. Toxicology 2009, 265, 56-67. 19.Vitku, J.; Heracek, J.; Sosvorova, L.; Hampl, R.; Chlupacova, T.; Hill, M.; Sobotka, V.; Bicikova, M.; Starka, L. Associations of bisphenol a and polychlorinated biphenyls with spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in two biological fluids from men attending an infertility clinic. Environ Int 2016, 89-90, 166-173. 20.Manikkam, M.; Tracey, R.; Guerrero-Bosagna, C.; Skinner, M.K. Plastics derived endocrine disruptors (bpa, dehp and dbp) induce epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity, reproductive disease and sperm epimutations. PLoS One 2013, 8, e55387. 21.Ahmed, S.; Atlas, E. Bisphenol s- and bisphenol a-induced adipogenesis of murine preadipocytes occurs through direct peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation. International journal of obesity (2005) 2016. 22.Grun, F.; Blumberg, B. Perturbed nuclear receptor signaling by environmental obesogens as emerging factors in the obesity crisis. Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders 2007, 8, 161-171. 23.Ohlstein, J.F.; Strong, A.L.; McLachlan, J.A.; Gimble, J.M.; Burow, M.E.; Bunnell, B.A. Bisphenol a enhances adipogenic differentiation of human adipose stromal/stem cells. Journal of molecular endocrinology 2014, 53, 345-353. 24.vom Saal, F.S.; Myers, J. Bisphenol a and risk of metabolic disorders. JAMA 2008, 300, 1353-1355. 25.Doherty, L.F.; Bromer, J.G.; Zhou, Y.; Aldad, T.S.; Taylor,

Overview Soybeans contain isoflavones which are a primary source of phytoestrogens in the human diet [1]. Based on epidemiological data from Japan, consumption of soy has been proposed to reduce the incidence of breast and prostate cancers [2, 3]. It is not clear if genistein, the major soy chemical, or other isoflavonoids or one or more metabolites of chemicals in soy or a combination are the active agents in soy. The contribution of soy metabolites to disease prevention, e.g. regarding human prostate cancer, remains to be elucidated. A fundamental gap exists in understanding the benefits and health risks associated with this important food source. This project will provide novel insights into transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations and allow a better understanding of how soy metabolites influence protective mechanisms that integrate genetic and epigenetic interactions pertinent to human disease. Primary human prostate epithelial and mesenchyme cells will be used as a model. Genistein, the major soy chemical, is considered to be a prime candidate for the beneficial effects of soy consumption [2, 3]. However, genistein and other soy chemicals are metabolized before entering the general circulation. Thus, it may be that a genistein metabolite or one or more metabolites of other chemicals in soy or a combination are the active protective agents in soy. This concern arises because it is possible for humans to achieve genistein levels that are over 10-fold higher through consumption of genistein tablets, which are widely available as a nutritional supplement in health food stores. The continued existence of this gap of knowledge represents an important medical problem because until it is filled understanding the long term risks associated with soy consumption will remain unknown. The primary goal is to examine gene expression patterns relevant to prostate cancer and investigate the global effects of soy metabolites on the prostate transcriptome. Data generated during this project will be analyzed in the context of publicly available prostate cancer data (e.g. TCGA). The project’s multidisciplinary approach provides an excellent opportunity for training in various aspects of molecular biology, prostate cancer and advanced environmental and risk assessment analysis. Moreover, it provides an exceptional opportunity for research training in Northern Ireland whereby the successful candidate will work collaboratively across disciplines to generate new insights that transcend traditional boundaries. The project will combine aspects of prostate cancer biology, plant biology, genetics, bioinformatics and systems biology. Consequently, subject-specific training will be offered in each of these areas. This will comprise a mix of appropriate postgraduate level training (e.g. molecular biology, bioinformatics, genetics, biogeochemistry, computer science) and ‘hands on’ training in the advanced systems level methods used. All applicants must meet the academic entry requirements: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/biological-sciences-phd.html#entry References Mitchell JH, Cawood E, Kinniburgh D, Provan A, Collins AR, Irvine DS (June 2001). “Effect of a phytoestrogen food supplement on reproductive health in normal males”. Clin. Sci. 100 (6): 613–8. doi:10.1042/CS20000212. PMID 11352776. Adlercreutz H, Mazur W (1997) Phyto-oestrogens and Western diseases. Anal Med 29, 95-120. Morrisey C, Watson RW (2003) Phytoestroens and prostate cancer. Curr Drug Targets 4, 231-241 Supervisor Professor Gary Hardiman Entrance requirements GraduateThe minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant subject from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School. International Students For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country. English Language Requirements Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years). International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes. For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs. If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree. Tuition Fees Northern Ireland (NI) 1 – £5,238 Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 – £5,238 England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 – £5,238 EU Other 3 – £28,000 International – £28,000 1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations. 2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations. 3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees. All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. All fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise. More information on postgraduate tuition fees. Biological Sciences costs Students may incur additional costs for small items of clothing and/or equipment necessary for lab or field work Additional course costs All Students Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen’s library. If students wish to purchase

Overview Parental care is extremely diverse among species: how care is provided, how long for parent(s) care, and who cares. Theoretical models also predicts that, once evolved, care alters life history evolution, is related to mating systems, and triggers parent-offspring conflict and sibling competition. However, we still lack in-depth understanding of how diversity of care forms relates to these processes. See: Furness A. & Capellini I. (2019). How diversity in parental care evolves: a phylogenetic comparative study in amphibians. Nature Communications, 10: 4709. West H. E. & Capellini I. (2016). Male care and life history traits in mammals. Nature Communications, 7: 11854. The project aims to understand how diversity in parental care strategies has evolved, influences life history evolution, and relates to mating systems. The questions will be addressed by compiling large datasets of species characteristics and analysing the data using state of the art phylogenetic comparative methods. The choice of model group is up to the student: mammals, amphibians, bony fishes, or cartilaginous fishes. All applicants must meet the academic entry requirements: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/biological-sciences-phd.html#entry Entrance requirements Graduate The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant subject from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School. International Students For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country. English Language Requirements Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years). International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes. For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs. If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree. Tuition Fees Northern Ireland (NI) 1- £5,238 Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 – £5,238 England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 – £5,238 EU Other 3 – £28,000 International – £28,000 1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations. 2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations. 3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees. All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. All fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise. More information on postgraduate tuition fees. Biological Sciences costs Students may incur additional costs for small items of clothing and/or equipment necessary for lab or field work Additional course costs All Students Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen’s library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information. Bench fees Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place. How do I fund my study? 1.PhD Opportunities Find PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area. 2.Funded Doctoral Training Programmes We offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development. 3.PhD loans The Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students. 4.International Scholarships Information on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students. How to Apply Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Overview One Health is an emerging paradigm that recognizes that the health and well-being of humans, animals and ecosystems are interconnected. The long term persistence of plastics has seen them accumulate in different ecosystems at increasing rates. This is particularly true in the marine environment where microplastics are persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemicals that biomagnify in food chains with potentially adverse consequences for environmental health and human food security. Another concern is that microplastics may act as vehicles for chemicals introduced during manufacturing. It is unknown whether microplastics contribute to the development of cancer in marine animals and, by extension, in humans. Most work to date is based on short term laboratory exposures, often with a single type of plastic and at elevated concentrations compared with what is seen in the environment. The goal of this PhD.project will be to exploit sentinel fish species native to Northern Ireland with a high body burden of microplastics and carry out transcriptome (RNA) and epigenetic (miRNA/methylation) experiments on gastro-intestinal and liver tissues. Systems level modeling on these data using the adverse outcomes framework and correlation analyses with end-point fish phenotypes and health assessments will provide novel insights into the adverse effects of microplastics. This project will be supervised by Professor Gary Hardiman and Dr Brian Green of Queen’s University School of Biological Sciences/Institute for Global Food Security. Specific skills/experience required by applicants: Molecular biology skills, experience working with high dimensional genomic data, such as sequencing data, gene expression, genotype, CNV, sequence and/or data from other high throughput biological technologies desired. Programming skills Python and/or R, although not essential, are desirable. All applicants must meet the academic entry requirements: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/biological-sciences-phd.html Entrance requirements GraduateThe minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant subject from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School. International Students For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country. English Language Requirements Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years). International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes. For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs. If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree. Tuition Fees Northern Ireland (NI) 1 – £5,238 Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 – £5,238 England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 – £5,238 EU Other 3 – £28,000 International – £28,000 1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations. 2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations. 3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees. All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. All fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise. More information on postgraduate tuition fees. Biological Sciences costs Students may incur additional costs for small items of clothing and/or equipment necessary for lab or field work Additional course costs All Students Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen’s library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information. Bench fees Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place. How do I fund my

 Prof Klaus Pors,  Dr Muhammad Wahajuddin,  Prof Rob Falconer Application Deadline: Applications accepted all year round Details A major challenge in cancer therapy is to develop therapeutic agents that selectively target tumour cells but are not harmful to normal tissue. A promising way to increase selectivity of cytotoxic molecules (payloads) is to tether these to antibodies that preferentially bind to antigens expressed on the surface of membranes of cancer cells. This new type of therapeutics termed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are being pursued for various oncology indications. Although 12 ADCs have been approved for clinical use, there is still much to learn about their stability, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) properties. Depending on the type of ADC used, various aspects of the ADCs are implicated and contributing to dose limiting toxicities. The primary ADC toxicity is likely linked to premature release of the payloads and/or the lack of understanding of how ADC uptake for delivery of cytotoxic payload occurs in non-targeted normal tissue. To overcome some of these drawbacks, this project is focused on the modulation of payload toxicity via synthetic pharmacophore manipulation and evaluation of the DMPK properties of ADCs. We are looking for an enthusiastic student interested in exploring how to develop ADCs with improved clinical efficacy. You will be trained in payload and linker design, cell culture techniques with focus on cell uptake and target engagement and in DMPK techniques using a variety of different cell-free based assays and 2D and 3D cancer models. Entry requirements Applicants should have at least 2:1 honours degree in Bioengineering, Chemical Biology, Pharmacy or a related degree. How to apply Formal applications should be submitted via the University of Bradford web site. Applicants should register an account, and search for ‘cancer therapeutics’ as the course with ‘Postgraduate Research’ as the course type, then complete the form and include the project title on the Research Proposal section. Applicants are not required to write their own research proposal for this project. Informal enquiries are also welcome. About the University of Bradford Bradford is a research-active University supporting the highest-quality research. We excel in applying our research to benefit our stakeholders by working with employers and organisations world-wide across the private, public, voluntary and community sectors and actively encourage and support our postgraduate researchers to engage in research and business development activities. Positive Action Statement At the University of Bradford our vision is a world of inclusion and equality of opportunity, where people want to, and can, make a difference. We place equality and diversity, inclusion, and a commitment to social mobility at the centre of our mission and ethos. In working to make a difference we are committed to addressing systemic inequality and disadvantages experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. Under sections 158-159 of the Equality Act 2010, positive action can be taken where protected group members are under-represented. At Bradford, our data show that people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic groups who are UK nationals are significantly under-represented at the postgraduate researcher level.  These are lawful measures designed to address systemic and structural issues which result in the under-representation of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students in PGR studies. Funding Notes This is a self-funded PhD project; applicants will be expected to pay their own fees or have a suitable source of third-party funding. A bench fee may also apply to this project, in addition to the tuition fees. UK students may be able to apply for a Doctoral Loan from Student Finance for financial support. Apply Now