PhD Fellowship in Nuclear Organization in Breast Cancer

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 26 500 students and 7 200 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences overall objective is to promote basic medical knowledge in order to understand normal processes, provide insight into mechanisms that cause illness, and promote good health. The Institute is responsible for teaching in basic medical sciences for the programmes of professional study in medicine and the Master's programme in clinical nutrition. The Institute has more than 300 employees and is located in Domus Medica.

About the position 

A 3-year PhD Fellowship in nuclear organization in breast cancer is available at the Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, in the project group of Dr. Aurelie Bellanger, hosted by the laboratory of Prof. Philippe Collas. The position is funded by the Norwegian Cancer Society. 

About our research and the project

We are investigating the roles of structural proteins of the cell nucleus, nuclear lamins, in breast cancer, focusing on the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). 

The project aims to uncover the role of nuclear lamin isoforms in EMT and acquisition of breast cancer phenotypes, and their potential prognostic value. The project involves cancer cell culture, various molecular and cell biology techniques, chromatin analysis methods, and microscopy imaging.

We use a broad range of molecular, cell biology and biochemical methods, various cell culture models, sequencing-based chromatin techniques (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq) and microscopy. Research infrastructure includes a well-equipped laboratory and access to core facilities including flow cytometry, FACS, confocal microscopy, high-throughput sequencing and proteomics. 

The selected candidate will be able to interact with a cross-disciplinary team of cell biologists and bioinformaticians and will be expected to draw on the group’s expertise in breast cancer research, cell and molecular biology, epigenetics, advanced microscopy, high-throughput genomics and bioinformatics. 

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree (120 ECTS) within cell and molecular biology, minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Knowledge of a Scandinavian language is beneficial but not required.
• Documented experience in mammalian cell culture.

• Documented experience in most of the following techniques: DNA/protein electrophoresis, immunological techniques such as immunofluorescence and Western blotting, PCR, RT-(q)PCR, DNA cloning, viral transduction. 

In addition, the following experience will be an advantage:

• Fluorescence microscopy, chromatin immunoprecipitation.
• Experience in bioinformatics such as sequence data analysis (RNAseq, ChIP-seq) 

Personal skills

• Enthusiasm and motivation for lab work
• Perseverance and problem-solving abilities
• Organization skills
• Collaboration and strong communication skills

We need different perspectives in our work 

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

We hope you will apply for the position with us. 

We offer 

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• A pleasant and stimulating work environment.
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities. 
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 to 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Application

Your application should include:

• Application letter including a section on motivations for wanting this PhD position
• CV summarizing education, positions and relevant work experience 
• List of publications (please do NOT append the publications)
• Copies of educational certificates and transcript records. Foreign applicants must attach an explanation of the grading system in their university.
• List of 3 references stating relation to the candidate, with contact information
• Application material should be in English

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation should be in english.

General information

Short listed applicants will be contacted for an on-site or online interview, including a research seminar. 

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

To be employed as a PhD Research Fellow, admission to a doctoral program is required, or there must be a binding agreement for admission. Normally, one must apply for admission to a Ph.D. program within 3 months after the start of the research project leading to the Ph.D. degree.

Apply to this role

Questions about the position

• Dr. Aurelie Bellanger (Researcher), a.n.p.bellanger@medisin.uio.no
• Prof. Philippe Collas (Professor), philippe.collas@medisin.uio.no