Job description

Applications are invited for a 3 year position in a Research Fellowship as a PhD Candidate in the Experimental Cancer Immunotherapy Group lead by Johanna Olweus, MD, PhD, at Dept. of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet. The PhD position is available at the University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine.

The organization and the research focus

Olweus is Head of the Dept. of Cancer Immunology at Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet and leads a research group in the department, and holds a position as Professor at the University of Oslo (UiO). The main focus of the research group of Olweus is to develop novel T-cell receptor-based cancer immunotherapies and new technologies for target and TCR identification, and to couple clinical immunotherapy trials with penetrating mechanistic analyses. To this end, Olweus was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant 2020-25. The research is performed in an interdisciplinary and translational program. The enthusiastic research team of 22 persons is highly international and conducts research in close collaboration with world-leading international collaborators at institutions such as Netherlands Cancer Institute and Karolinska Institutet.

More about the position

The fellowship period is 3 years. The projects in the group of Olweus involve development of new T-cell based immunotherapies, including identification of therapeutic T-cell receptors combined with extensive validation using mouse tumour models. A wide spectrum of methodologies will be used, such as various cellular biology techniques, cell culture and flow cytometry.

The research fellow must take part in the Faculty of Medicine’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the fellowship period.

The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

To be admitted to the PhD programmes at the University of Oslo, an applicant must have a five year master's degree or equivalent studies that have been recognised by the faculty as forming a sufficient basis for admission.

The applicant must, in collaboration with her/his supervisor, within 2 months after employment, have worked out a complete project description to be attached to the application for admission to the doctoral program. For more information, please see our web site Doctoral degree: PhD in medicine and health sciences - Faculty of Medicine

Qualification requirements and personal skills

• The candidate should have a Master´s degree in translational medicine/immunology, FELASA B certificate in laboratory animal science and at least 1 year of relevant hands-on laboratory experience. 
• Candidates with a background in cancer immunology as well as hands-on experience with mouse models and/or cellular immunological techniques, including e.g. cell culture, flow cytometry, retroviral transductions/transfections and immunofluorescence microscopy of tumour tissues will be prioritized. 
• The candidate should be highly motivated and dedicated, and proficient in written and spoken English, and possess excellent team working and communications skills.

We offer

• A dynamic and stimulating scientific environment in a young, enthusiastic and motivated team of biologists and MDs. The Institute of Cancer Research is at the international forefront and houses top modern and excellent lab facilities with a wide range of core facilities (animal, light and electron microscopy, flow cytometry, genomics and bioinformatics, MR), with additional core facilities (mass spec etc) at the Rikshospitalet and UiO sites. 
• We can offer a competitive salary NOK 532 200 - NOK 594 500 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow, (position code 1017). 
• Oslo offers fantastic opportunities for outdoors activities, and is ranked as one of the best cities in the world to live in. 
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement.

How to apply

The application must include

• cover letter statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• a complete list of publications and academic works
• list of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

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 appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

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

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

• Professor Johanna Olweus, phone: +47 900 54 934, email: johanna.olweus@medisin.uio.no

For questions regarding the online application form please contact Senior HR Adviser Thoril Kristiansen, phone: +47 22 84 46 99, email: thoril.kristiansen@medisin.uio.no

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