About the position / About the job

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow available at Department of Pharmacy, Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences.

Starting date no later than October 1, 2025.

The appointment is a full-time position and is for a period of three years (10% of which is devoted to required duties, usually in the form of teaching activities).

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

Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences is one of three sections at Department of Pharmacy. The section consists of several strong research groups with expertise in basic pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, clinical pharmacy, and pharmaceutical microbiology. The section offers an inspiring and dynamic academic environment, ideal for ambitious, young research talents. In 2026 Department of Pharmacy will move into the new Life Science building, with access to top modern facilities and equipment.

More about the position / Project description

The position will be part of the Neurobiology & Toxicology group Neurobiology & Toxicology - Department of Pharmacy in close collaboration with other research groups at the University of Oslo, and national and international research institutions. The applicant will work with molecular neurodevelopmental outcomes after exposure to medications or pollutants during pregnancy. We use the developing chicken embryo model and primary cultures from the chicken brain, as well as cell lines such as PC12, NTERA-2, and SHSY-5Y during differentiation in 2D or 3D culture. We are also interested in brain organoids as models for studies of developmental neurotoxicity. Relevant medications to study are antiepileptics, antidepressants, and analgesic drugs. The projects are managed in a team with Master’s and PhD students.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

Qualifications 

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.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in pharmacology or neurobiology. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment. 
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

Desired qualifications

• Knowledge of relevant animal models, such as the chicken embryo model, including Felasa C/CAREiN certificate and/or neuronal cell cultures (2D and/or 3D) is advantageous.
• Experience with relevant molecular biology methodology such as plate reading, cell sorting, microscopy, is advantageous.
• Knowledge of relevant medications and/or brain development is beneficial.
• Experience with Master student supervision is advantageous.

What are we looking for in you? 

• Personal characteristics such as creativity, independence, being a team player will be valuable.

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.

We can offer you 

• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral development programmes
• 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 Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 579 700 to 657 300, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

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.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

Application

Your application should include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity) 
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records 
• Letters of recommendation
• 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. 

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months ( thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)

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.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian).

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

Apply for position

Questions about the position

• Ragnhild Paulsen (Professor), +47 22844936, r.e.h.paulsen@farmasi.uio.no
• For questions regarding Jobbnorge, Torunn Standal Guttormsen (Senior HR Adviser), +47 22854272, t.s.guttormsen@mn.uio.no