PhD fellowship in Sediment DNA at the Department of Forensic Medicine

at  Kbenhavns Universitet

We are offering a PhD fellowship in sediment DNA commencing 1 March 2025 or as soon as possible hereafter.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Research on human DNA recovered from sediments is a rapidly developing field. This area has implications for both forensic and ancient DNA research, where recovered DNA could be used for human identifications or to understand past environments and people. However, there is still a lack of understanding of how DNA is preserved in sediments, how to maximize its recovery, and how to adapt computational methods to this metagenomic data. This project will utilize bronze age sediments from England in order to study DNA preservation and recovery from different geological conditions. Methodological findings from this study will then be applied to sediments from various bronze age sites to study human population dynamics and agricultural practices. In addition, there will be the opportunity to apply these methods to human identification scenarios. This project will be performed at the Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine and will include collaborations with the Section for GeoGenetics, The Globe Institute.
Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Jeppe Dyrberg Andersen, Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine.
Primary co-supervisor: Assistant Professor, Elena I. Zavala, Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine and Section of GeoGenetics, The Globe Institute, E-mail: ezavala9@gmail.com
Start: 1 Marts 2025
Duration: 3 years as a PhD student

JOB DESCRIPTION

Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND 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 a stay at another research team.
• 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
• Participate in the undergraduate teaching of students in forensic genetics.
• Participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings.
• Stay at an external research institution

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in biochemistry, molecular biology, or geochemistry and interest in ancient DNA. Previous experience in DNA extraction, library preparation and sequencing is preferred. Previous experience in bioinformatics and genetics is preferred.

FORMAL REQUIREMENTS

The successful applicant will be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the Faculty
of Health and Medical Sciences according to the rules stipulated in the Ministerial order on the PhD
programme at the universities (PhD order) from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Higher Education
and the guidelines for the PhD programme at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.
The PhD student is expected to be affiliated to the Graduate programme for Oral Sciences, Forensic Medicine and Bioanthropology (RIO).

• 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 a stay at another research team.
• 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
• Participate in the undergraduate teaching of students in forensic genetics.
• Participate in national and international congresses and scientific meetings.
• Stay at an external research institutio