PhD scholarship in the structures, functions and analysis of plant cell walls, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

requirements that vary across tissues and organs and that change according to external conditions. These same characteristics and the sheer abundance of cell wall biomass also generate a rich resource of polysaccharides that is widely used in the commercial sector. Bulk materials including timber paper and cloth, as well as fine chemicals, food ingredients and biofuel biomass all depend on the varied and particular features of cell wall components. However, the attributes that make cell walls vital for plant life and so valuable to industry also produce unique challenges for research. Unlike proteins and nucleotides, complex carbohydrates are not readily amenable to sequencing or synthesis. It is very frequently the case that proteins that interact with cell wall glycans, for example antibodies, enzymes, binding modules or ligands can often be produced rapidly and in multiple variant forms. The rate-limiting step for determining the binding or activity of these proteins is usually the lack of high throughput (HTP) screening technology that is specifically adapted for glycans. This is important because molecular probes and enzymes have vital roles to play in understanding the fundamental biology of cell walls, and for developing their industrial potential. Microarray technology has underpinned the development of multiplexed assays that have revolutionised the massively HTP analysis of nucleotides, proteins and increasing carbohydrates. We have developed carbohydrate microarrays for rapid cell wall analysis and have used this technology for profiling cell wall polysaccharide and also for the screening of cell wall directed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) , carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) and carbohydrate-active enzymes. This project will extend this work in the context of the multinational and multidisciplinary WallTraC EU consortium. The project will involve collaborative research with several WallTraC partners and will provide opportunities for extended training secondments in a variety of internationally renowned laboratories engaged in cell wall research. Particular focus areas will be the analysis of cotton fibre and the development of HTP methods for CBM, mAb and enzyme screening.

Principal supervisor
Professor William G.T. Willats
Willats@life.ku.dk
Direct Phone: (+45) 3533 3324
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology.

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow at LIFE are:

• Manage and carry through your research project
• Take PhD courses
• Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
• Participate in international congresses
• Stay at a research institution abroad for a few months
• Teach and disseminate your research.

• A master´s degree related to the subject area of the project
• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD programme
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• Language skills
• Interpersonal skills.

• Cover Letter, stating which PhD project you are applying for and detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project.
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts of records  
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any), peer reviewed and other
• Personal Recommendations   
• A maximum of 3 relevant scientific works which the applicant wishes to be included in the assessment.