Job description

Position as a PhD Research Fellow in molecular biology, available at the Section for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, at the Department of Biosciences.

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, or for a period of 4 years, with 25 % compulsory work (e.g. teaching responsibilities at the department) contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department.

Starting date no later than October 1, 2021.

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

The PhD will be supervised by Assoc. Prof. Pierre Chymkowitch. The Chymkowitch lab investigates the transcriptional regulation of gene expression by the Small Ubiquitin-like modifier SUMO. This project aims at characterizing novel molecular mechanisms regulated by sumoylation in differentiating cells with a particular focus on adipocyte differentiation. The project will be conducted using mouse and human cells with the possibility to use mouse models. In addition to traditional biochemistry and cell biology methods we are using next-generation sequencing technologies and cutting-edge mass spectrometry technics. This project aims at discovering fundamental biological mechanisms of cellular differentiation and cellular identity determination and maintenance. The proposed research also has biomedical relevance, with implications ranging from metabolic syndromes to cancer.

See also: https://www.mn.uio.no/ibv/english/people/aca/pierrech/

Our group is collaborating with leading laboratories in Norway, Denmark and France and this research will be performed within the Section for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UiO. Research areas within the section encompass gene regulation, enzymology, and structure-function studies of proteins. Several of our research groups are leaders in their respective fields, with vast networks of national and international collaborators.

Qualification requirements

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.

We seek a self-driven and highly motivated and competent candidate, with the following formal qualifications:

Formal requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology or cell biology
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Practical experience from relevant laboratory work within biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology or cell biology and ability to plan, perform and analyze experiments

Optional requirements

• Experience in bioinformatics applied to NGS or mass spectrometry would be a plus.
• Experience with confocal microscopy

Candidates without a Master’s degree have until 30 June, 2021 to complete the final exam.

Grade requirements:

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
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see:

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/ and http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

Personal skills

The candidate must be hard-working and self-driven but yet feature team-working skills in order to achieve scientific goal but also maintain a professional and friendly work environment.

We offer

• Salary NOK 482 200 – 526 000 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Career development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, and transcripts of records
• Documentation of English proficiency
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Letters of recommendation
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “Apply for this job”). Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

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

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. We also want to have employees with diverse expertise, combinations of subjects, life experience and perspectives. We will make adjustments for employees who require this.

If there are qualified applicants with special needs, gaps in their CVs or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant in each of these groups to an interview.

Contact information

For further information please contact:

• Professor Chymkowitch, e-mail: pierrech@ibv.uio.no

For questions regarding the recruitment system please contact: HR adviser Nina Holtan, e-mail: nina.holtan@mn.uio.no.

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