Job description

A one-year full time position for a Researcher (SKO1109) is available at the Department of Medical Genetics on the project entitled The genetic make-up of Breast cancer, which is financed by the Norwegian Cancer Society.

The project is anchored in the research group of OncoGenomics led by Professor Vessela Kristensen. For more details about the group, please visit this web site

More about the position

The objective of the project is to study how genetic variation affects occurrence of somatic alterations, gene expression patterns and genome wide copy number alterations in human tumors. Understanding inherited genetic variability and how it affects crucial biological pathways is likely to lead to new successful prevention and treatment strategies.

The Researcher is expected to take active part in the research cooperation within the group. The successful candidate will be encouraged to present their research regularly both in the department and at international scientific conferences.

Qualification requirements

• PhD in molecular biology, molecular medicine or equivalent
• Expertise within biomarker discovery in breast cancer, melanoma and kidney cancer
• Broad microarray profiling experience: mRNA, miRNA, proteins
• cell line work : culturing and harvesting cells and exosomes
• Experience with isolating and characterizing exosomes from plasma/cell lines and extraction of RNA/proteins from exosomes
• Experience with RT-PCR and qPCR for mRNA and miRNA
• Isolation of miRNA/DNA/proteins from tissue and blood
• ELISA for protein detection /quantification
• Slicing of tissue using microtome
• Bioinformatical analysis using R, J-express, bionavigator and other analysis programs for microarrays and NGS
• Demonstrated experience in scientific writing, scientific presentations, and preferably in supervising students.
• The candidate must be fluent in written and spoken English.

Personal skills

We are looking for highly motivated, hard-working and organized candidates. The successful candidate should have a genuine interest in pursuing an academic career.

Therefore, the candidate needs:

• Strong scientific capacity and analytical skills as well as the ability to handle large, shared projects in multidisciplinary teams.
• Capability to work both independently and as a team player
• Willingness to learn new skills as the laboratory grows and techniques evolve
• Personal suitability for the position as well as genuine motivation for the project.

We offer

• Salary NOK 532.300 – 640.200 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Researcher SKO1109
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Vibrant international academic environment

How to apply

The application must include:

• Application letter, including a ½ page motivation statement and research interests.
• CV (summarizing education, positions, academic work-scientific publications and
• other relevant activity)
• Copies of educational certificates and letters of recommendation

List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee. Note: Applicants are advised not to attach the original publications, only to provide a list.

Names and contact details of 2-3 referees (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number).

The application with the required attachments should preferably constitute as few files as possible, preferably 1-2 files.

The application with attachments is to be delivered in our electronic recruiting system Jobbnorge. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language

Formal regulations

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

• Researcher Vessela Kristensen, e-mail:v.n.kristensen@medisin.uio.no

HR Adviser Karoline Berg-Eriksen e-mail:karoline.berg-eriksen@medisin.uio.no (for questions regarding the application process)

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