The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 26 500 students and 7 200 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.
The Department of Pharmacy has 130 employees. We have an active research and innovation environment based on independent research in pharmaceutical topics. The Department of Pharmacy is responsible for the popular master's degree program in pharmacy and has 350 competent and committed students. Pharmaceutical related research and education forms the base of all activities at the Department of Pharmacy. The science of pharmacy lies in the interface between the natural sciences, pharmaceutical technology, health related topics and social sciences. This interdisciplinarity is reflected both in our study programmes and in our research.
In the planned life science building at the University of Oslo, closer collaboration with health enterprises, local government and the business sector will enhance quality and relevance in research and education of the future labour force. The building will be the heart of the first innovation district in Norway – Oslo Science City. The Department of Pharmacy will move into the new Life Science building in 2026.
About the position
As part of the HARPNET Doctoral Training Network we invite applications for a position as PhD Research Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry available at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo.
Starting date no later than April 1, 2027.
The fellowship period is three years.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
Place of work is Department of Pharmacy, the Life Science Building, Blindern, Oslo
About the network HARPNET is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network that prepares 15 doctoral candidates to transform how chronic inflammatory diseases are understood and treated. HARPNET’s scientific programme is integrated across three scientific work packages, where data, technologies and biological models will be shared across projects through joint supervision, network activities and academic and industrial secondments. The position is allocated to work-package 3 Developing therapeutic and translational solutions within the HARPNET network.
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our team at the Uni-versity of Oslo for the project:
DC12 - Small-molecule promoters of inflammation resolution
This project aims to develop low-molecular-weight resolution promoters targeting GPR101 as potential therapies for rheumatoid arthritis. Computational experiments will guide compound design, synthesis, and biological evaluation, including the assessment of bioactivity, mechanisms of action, medicinal chemistry properties, and metabolism.
The work will be conducted in close collaboration with research groups across the network working on resolution biology and drug discovery based on resolution pharmacology. The position also include internships with both academic and industrial partners, and the doctoral candidate must participate in these activities.
Methods will include synthetic medicinal chemistry, chromatography, spectroscopic and analytical techniques (HPLC, LC-MS, and GC), as well as computational tools. An integral part of the work will be the integration of biological data with medicinal chemistry principles to identify the most promising molecular candidates.
How to apply
Technical information:
Position location: Oslo, Norway Application deadline: October 1st, 2026 Interviews: Online during the period October 19th – November 6th and in presence Friday 4th December 2026 Project start date: April 1st, 2027 Duration: 3 years
Please follow this link to apply for this position and for more detailed instructions on the application: https://harpnet.eu/recruitment/
Apply for position DC12; we recommend applying for multiple positions within the network.
What skills are important in this role?
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.
Required qualifications:
Master’s degree or equivalent in synthetic medicinal chemistry or synthetic organic chemistry. Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
Documented solid experience in synthetic organic chemistry
Documented solid experience in chromatography, spectroscopy and analyses of low molecular organic compounds
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
Desired qualifications:
Documented relevant experience in lipid chemistry
Documented relevant experience in medicinal chemistry oriented computational tools
University of Oslo is subject to the Security Act, which governs the organisation's protection of security-sensitive objects and knowledge, in addition to other relevant legislation concerning access to and handling of sensitive information. Based on this, it is a requirement that successful applicants are security-eligible. We may use background checks as part of our recruitment process.
What are we looking for in you?
Personal skills:
We are an international team of researchers from diverse scientific and cultural backgrounds, and we seek a candidate with these personal skills:
Good language and communication skills
Good collaboration skills
The ability to work in interdisciplinary teams
The ability to work independently on complex projects, from planning to presenting results
The ability to work precisely in a structured manner and swiftly adapts to new tasks
Positive attitude and the ability to handle hectic periods
Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.
The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews.
General eligibility criteria for the HARPNET network
Candidates must not have been awarded a doctorate previously
Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes
Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - 610 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund
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.
General information
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 can't, you will hear from us.
