LEDIG STILLING VED UIT NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET
PhD Fellow in Advanced Microscopy Applied in Cardiac Research
Deadline: 09.03.2025
Publisert
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus comprehensive university at the international forefront. Our vision is to be a driving force for developing the High North. The Northern Sami notion eallju, which means eagerness to work, sets the tone for this motive power at UiT. Along with students, staff and the wider community, we aim to utilise our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio and interdisciplinary advantage to shape the future.
Our social mission is to provide research-based education of high quality, perform artistic development and carry out research of the highest international quality standards in the entire range from basic to applied. We will convey knowledge about disciplines and contribute to innovation. Our social mission unites UiT across various studies, research fields and large geographical distances. This demands good cooperation with trade and industry and civil society as well as with international partners. We will strengthen knowledge-based and sustainable development at a regional, national and international level.
Academic freedom and scientific and ethical principles form the basis for all UiT’s activities. Participation, co-determination, transparency and good processes will provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and far-sighted priorities. Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Founded on academic integrity, we will be courageous, committed and generous in close contact with disciplines, people and contemporary developments.
We will demonstrate adaptability and seek good and purposeful utilisation of resources, so we are ready to meet the expectations and opportunities of the future. We will strengthen the quality and impact of our disciplines and core tasks through the following three strategic priority areas.
Faculty of Science and Technology
The position
A PhD position is available at the Department of Physics and Technology at the Faculty of Science and Technology. Join our interdisciplinary team working on the ERC-funded LiBriNa project, which aims to develop a groundbreaking mechano-sensitive lightsheet Brillouin nanoscope. With this cutting-edge tool we will study cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and engineered heart tissue (EHT) generated from these.
General information about the position.
The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.
The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer. Preferably by 01.09.2025.
About the Project
Cardiac tissue engineering is a rapidly advancing field focused on creating functional heart tissues for therapeutic and research applications. The heart's primary role is to pump blood, relying on the coordinated contraction of cardiac muscle cells, cardiomyocytes. These cells contain sarcomeres, which are the fundamental units of muscle contractions. The mechanical properties of cardiac tissues, such as stiffness and elasticity, are critical to their function and may be to a large degree determined by sarcomere organization within cardiomyocytes. In this project, we will explore Brillouin spectroscopy as a non-invasive all-optical method that can be used to deduce mechanical properties at the microscopic level through the interaction of light with acoustic vibrations in a sample. We want to extend this technique as to allowing label-free, contactless measurements in live 3D tissues at unprecedented resolution.
Supported by a multidisciplinary team, the PhD candidate will work alongside experts in optics manufacturing, optical system development, and advanced microscopy methods. Collaborations with the Faculty of Health Sciences at UiT and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) will provide support to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise in cardiac cell biology as well as advanced imaging technology. This project requires an intrinsically motivated PhD student who is eager to tackle complex questions relevant for cardiac tissue engineering, advanced imaging, and image analysis. The candidate will need to work interdisciplinary and with a large degree of independence.
The PhD candidate’s tasks
Sample Culturing: The PhD candidate will learn to culture iPSCs and how to differentiate them into cardiomyocytes and generate EHTs.
Microscopy Imaging: Help to benchmark and consecutively utilize a novel mechanosensitive Brillouin microscope, to capture high-resolution images of the mechanical properties and structural organization of the samples.
Image Analysis: Develop and apply image analysis techniques tailored to cardiac samples as to quantify changes in mechanical properties and sarcomere organization.
Experimental Design: Design experiments to test the research hypotheses, including control and experimental groups, and ensure statistical rigor in data analysis.
Key Responsibilities:
Research: Conduct experiments using advanced Brillouin microscopy on cardiac samples and study the mechanical properties.
Innovate: Collaborate with team members to develop and optimize imaging techniques
Learn: Participate in training and outreach activities
Disseminate: Contribute to publications and present findings at conferences
Qualifications
Educational Background: Master's degree in Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field. A degree in Cell Biology or a related field may be relevant if sufficient prior practical experience within physics and advanced microscopy can be shown
Research Experience: Experience with optical microscopy, imaging techniques, and data analysis as well as previous work with stem cells, cardiac tissues, or related biological systems is highly desirable. In the assessment, the applicant's potential will be evaluated based on a master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. Other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.
Soft Skills: Strong analytical skills, ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team, and excellent communication skills. Openness to learn skills outside your field of study. We will also take into account motivation and personal suitability for the position.
Language: Applicants must document fluency of in English and be able to work in an international environment. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma. Applicants must document proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at a minimum of level A2. If the candidate does not document proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at level A2, then the doctoral fellow must complete a language course equal to 15 ECTS before the end of the fixed-term period. UiT will facilitate this.
In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant's potential to complete a research education based on the master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.
As many people as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.
Admission to the PhD programme
For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Science and Technology and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.
Admission normally requires:
A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS.
In order to gain admission to the programme, the candidate must document sufficient potential for research. The applicant must have a grade point average of C (strong 3.0) or better for the master’s degree, which must contain an independent work. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.
If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position.
Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor's degree and a 2-year master's degree. UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.
Inclusion and diversity
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.
If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.
We offer
A dynamic and supportive research environment
Access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaboration with leading experts in the field
Opportunities for professional development and training
Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
Pension scheme through the state pension fund
PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 536 200 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase
If you have to relocate to Tromsø then the Faculty of Science and Technology may reimburse your moving costs. Further details regarding this matter will be made available if you receive an offer from us.
Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.
More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here.
Application
Your application must include:
Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
CV
Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree
Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor's and master's degree
Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must still submit your transcript of grades for the master’s degree with your application.
All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.
Assessment
The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position. A copy of the assessment report will be sent to all applicants.
The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position.
General information
The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.
The engagement is to be made in accordance with the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment.
After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.
Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no.
A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.
We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.
