We are offering a PhD fellowship in companion animal surgery commencing May 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible hereafter.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Oncologic surgery is key to management of many tumours in companion animals and humans. Visual inspection, palpation during surgery, and clinical knowledge are the primary factors for determining surgical margins and “dose” during oncologic surgery. Ensuring clean margins is thus associated with a degree of subjectivity which may risk underdosing and recurrence or overdosing and attendant morbidity.
The present PhD project will be focused on defining surgical dose in a minimally invasive setting, increasingly important in both veterinary and human surgery. The project is a collaboration with The Danish National Hospital. The phd student will be based at Section for Diagnostic Imaging, and Companion Animal Surgery and Clinical Specialities, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. The successful applicant should expect significant international secondment and collaboration with international veterinary colleagues.
Principal supervisor is Associate professor Michelle Møller Nielsen, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, email: mic@sund.ku.dk, Direct Phone: 0045-31147431. Local co-supervisor will be Professor James Miles, email: jami@sund.ku.dk.
Start: May 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter
Duration: 3 years

JOB DESCRIPTION

Your key tasks as a PhD student at the Faculty of Medical Sciences are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including international secondment.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

KEY CRITERIA FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF APPLICANTS

Applicants must have a master’s degree in veterinary medicine (DVM). The candidate must hold a Danish authorization to practice veterinary medicine in Denmark or be able to obtain this authorization upon admission. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

We are looking for applicants with competencies in the following areas:

• Documented clinical experience from a specialized companion animal clinic/ hospital and experience with after hours on call duty.
• Documented broad experience in diagnostics and therapy/surgery of surgical cases. Applicants who have completed a companion animal internship will be preferred.
• Interest in teaching, with strong pedagogical skills and preferably documented teaching experience

Other important criteria are:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project, including clinical experience with surgical oncology and/or minimally invasive surgery.
• Possible research experience within veterinary surgery, specifically with experience with endoscopic surgery will be preferred
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in developing skills in soft tissue surgery and minimally invasive techniques, as well as research into supporting technologies.
• Ability to communicate with pet owners in Danish/Scandinavian
• The candidate must have a strong overview, be able to independently plan their own tasks in collaboration with colleagues and students, and have experience in clinical practice workflow planning
• Additionally, the candidate should possess good communication skills, be proactive, have strong teamwork abilities, and be comfortable working as part of a team

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including international secondment.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your projec