PhD Research Fellowship in Quantitative Imaging and Cell Mechanics of Early Embryo Development
Deadline: 10.04.2026
Publisert
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 Clinical Medicine (Klinmed) is one of three institutes under the Faculty. Klinmed is responsible for the Faculty's educational and research activities at Oslo University Hospital and Akershus University Hospital. With about 900 employees spread over approximately 425 man-labour years, Klinmed is the university's largest institute. Our activities follow the clinical activity at the hospitals and are spread across a number of geographical areas.
About the position
A PhD fellowship is available at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo (UiO), in collaboration with Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital (OUS), within the interdisciplinary research project GENESIS – Gene–Epigenome–Active Matter Nexus in Early Embryogenesis, part of the UiO Life Science Convergence Environment. The physical place of work will be the new Life Science building Problemveien 25-29, Oslo.
Starting date no later than October 1.
The fellowship period is four years, including 25% of other career‑promoting work. This may consist of teaching and/or project-related tasks, such as contributing to the organization of consortium seminars, maintaining websites, laboratory assistance, or other activities that support the project.
GENESIS is a newly established Life Science Convergence Environment that brings active matter physics, cell biology, and machine learning to address the fundamental processes guiding the earliest stages of mammalian embryo development. Early embryogenesis is a critical stage in which collective cell dynamics, mechanical forces, and gene regulation interact to drive blastocyst formation, embryonic axis establishment, and cell fate specification.
This PhD project aims to experimentally map and quantify the mechanical and dynamical processes underlying early mouse and human embryogenesis, focusing on cellular motility, shape dynamics, cytoskeletal organization, and force generation. The position is embedded in a highly interdisciplinary team spanning advanced microscopy, gene regulation, active matter physics, and machine learning.
The position has a duration of 4 years.
The PhD candidate will...
Develop and apply advanced live-imaging workflows (e.g., light-sheet/spinning disk/confocal microscopy) to quantify:
relative cell motility, neighbor exchange, and tissue flow across developmental stages
3D cell shape changes, anisotropy, and polarization (apical–basal and planar)
cytoskeletal architecture (actomyosin, microtubules) and mitotic spindle organization
Map mechanical forces using visual mechanical stress inference (VMSI) and direct biophysical assays (e.g., micropipette aspiration, atomic force microscopy), and help establish robust protocols for force mapping in early embryos.
Perform spatially resolved proteomic imaging to link gene expression with mechanical and dynamical behaviors
Extract quantitative metrics (e.g., nematic order parameters, cell shape descriptors, stress proxies, tissue fluidity measures) and identify putative topological defects and alignment patterns
The project offers close interaction with experimental biology, theoretical physics, and computational modeling in a strongly interdisciplinary research environment. The candidate will also access and contribute to state‑of‑the‑art microscopy platforms at the Oslo Life Science Building.
What skills are important in this role?
The Institute of Clinical Medicine at UiO 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.
Qualification requirements
Master’s degree (or equivalent) in molecular/cell biology, biophysics, biomedical engineering, quantitative biology, or a closely related field
Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
Proficiency in computational data analysis
Strong background in system biology/molecular biology/cell biology
Grade requiremens
The norm is as follows:
The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
Desired qualifications
Experience with light-sheet microscopy, spinning disk/confocal, or high‑content live imaging
Experience with force measurement techniques (e.g., AFM, micropipette aspiration) or image-based stress inference methods
strong analytical ability and scientific curiosity
ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment
high level of motivation, responsibility, and persistence
clear and constructive scientific communication skills
Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.
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, 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 can offer you
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 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.
Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
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.
CV.
A complete list of publications.
Transcripts and certificates.
Contact information for 2-3 references.
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 must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
General information
The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.
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.
