Athlete´s heart is a physiological phenomenon described in both human and equine athletes where the heart undergoes structural and functional changes due to exercise. Although this is considered beneficial, human studies have shown that exercise-induced cardiac changes can be associated with various pathological cardiac conditions, which increase the risk of the athlete collapsing or dying during or after exercise.

High performance horses are also at risk of developing cardiac failure while performing at maximum capacity and a number of horses have collapsed and even died during competition or high-intensity training. The pathophysiological changes during high intensity exercise on cardiac function in horses are unknown but similar to the situation in human, cardiovascular changes such as fibrosis and hypertrophy leading to cardiac arrhythmias has been proposed to account for a major part of the equine collapse or deaths.

This project will focus on understanding of cardiac response to exercise by using of molecular, biochemical and pathological techniques. Also clinical examinations of experimental as well as privately owned horses will be a part of the study, therefore applicants with a veterinary degree (DVM) is required.

Principal supervisor
Title Associate Professor
Name Rikke Buhl
E-mail rib@life.ku.dk
Direct Phone: (+45) 35 33 29 94
Department of Large Animal Sciences
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 relevant, international congresses
* Stay at a research institution abroad for a few months
* Teach within the area large animal medicine and surgery, and disseminate your research

Key criteria for the assessment of candidates

* A DVM degree from an EAEVE or AVMA accredited veterinary school is essential
* High grade point average achieved
* Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD programme
* Previous publications
* Relevant work experience
* Other professional activities
* Language skills
* Interpersonal skills
* Marks obtained during the first year of study on the master programme (only relevant for applicants applying for a 4-year scholarship)

Formal requirements
The positions are available for a 3-year period for applicants holding a DVM degree or for a 4-year period for applicants who are already enrolled or are accepted to be enrolled at the Faculty´s DVM programme.
At the time of commencement, applicants for the 4-year period must have approximately one year of study remaining before graduating from their DVM programme.

The successful applicant of the PhD scholarship must pass an enrolment in the LIFE Graduate School before the Faculty can finish the letter of employment.
Graduate School of Faculty of Life Sciences, LIFE strives to give our students the best international career prospects within our main research areas.

Terms of employment
The position will be filled according to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The post is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Application Procedure
All applicants must use the formal PhD application form, F1, the specified annexes, excl. annex 3, are to be included in the application.

Applicants whose principal language of instruction during their DVM programme was not Scandinavian or English must enclose IELTS or TOEFL test scores.

The application should be submitted in one signed printed copy and one complete PDF file on a CD-ROM or USB memory stick (i.e. forms F1 and all enclosures gathered in a single PDF file).

It is not possible to submit the application via e-mail.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation Executive Order no 284 of 25. April 2008

The application, marked 625/05386-275 should be sent to: Department of Large Animal Sciences, Hoejbakkegaard Allé 5, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark.

The application must be received no later than 30 September 2010 at 12.00 pm (noon). Applications received later than this will not be considered.

Further Scholarship Information and Application

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