About the position

A three-year Postdoctoral Fellowship is available in the field of Chromatin and Epigenetics based at the Division of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway. 

Sarcomas are a heterogenous group of mesenchymal soft tissue and bone cancers comprising 1% of adult malignancies. The emerging knowledge is that a combination of genetic and epigenetic events can drive the onset and progression of tumours. Changes in epigenetic modifications and protein associations are very influential in regulation of chromatin structure and thereby gene expression. However, the understanding of which epigenetic events that are responsible for driving and sustaining Sarcomas are incomplete. We aim to identify Sarcoma weaknesses by mapping epigenetic aberrations that enable identification of novel cancer targets. This project funded by the Norwegian Cancer Society focuses on the mechanisms underlying chromatin interactions and gene deregulation in Sarcoma. To elucidate these mechanisms in Sarcoma the candidate will use genetic, pharmacological, biochemical, and genome-wide approaches such as immunohistochemistry, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP-Seq), gene knockdown, immunoprecipitation, CRISPR-Cas9, drug screens, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and confocal and live-cell imaging.

More about the position

We are looking for a highly competent candidate with strong experimental background in molecular biology and/or epigenetics that can work independently. The candidate should be able to collaborate in a research team of national and international researchers. The successful candidate should have hands-on experience with a broad range of methods in molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry that may include mammalian tissue culture, immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy. Experience with cancer organoid models and/or bioinformatics is an advantage. We offer broad training possibilities in the required experimental methods within a stimulating academic environment in Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming (CanCell) and at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences. 

The fellowship will be for a period of up to 3 years. Starting date is early Autum 2025. The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualifications requirments

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Cell Biology. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Applicant are expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

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.
• Committed colleagues in a good working 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 Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 595 000 to 675 000, 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.

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)
• A brief account (one page, as a separate file) of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activity).
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only with English translation if in other language).
• Copies of letters of recommendation.
• A complete list of publications.
• Description of up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee.
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number).

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.

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.

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

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Questions about the position

• Ragnhild Eskeland (Associate Professor), +4722851457, ragnhild.eskeland@medisin.uio.no