Job description

A position as Postdoctoral Fellow in Precision Cancer Medicine is open at University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine. The fellow will be part of the Cell Signalling and Immune Regulation Group led by Prof. Kjetil Taskén located at Dept. of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research (ICR), Oslo University Hospital - Radiumhospitalet. The fellowship period is three years and the starting date is no later than Oct 1st of this year.

A main focus of the group is to explore individual drug responsiveness and resistance patterns in patient cancer cells by cancer drug sensitivity screening for use in precision cancer medicine (PCM) in oncology and hematology. Another line of research in the group focusses on understanding tumor immune evasion mechanisms, and how we can interfere to boost anti-tumor immunity. We also work with signaling networks, anchoring and localization of signaling complexes and their drug targeting. The enthusiastic research team of approx. 20 people is highly international and conducts research in close collaboration with clinicians and with international collaborators.

Read more about the group here.

And see a short or long Youtube-video about the work environment at the ICR here.

More about the position

The postdoc will carry out parts of a project entitled “Adding functionality to precision cancer medicine by cross-disciplinary efforts” funded by the University of Oslo and embedded in the group’s research programme to understand how new methods and assays can be tailored to assess functional aspects of cellular responses for their use in precision cancer medicine patient stratification. The project is planned as part ofa collaboration with the groups of Professors Hege Russnes and Åslaug Helland (see here and here ). A research stay abroad is planned for the technology development.

Work tasks:

• Establish a miniaturized pipeline for direct single cell drug sensitivity screening (CDSS) on live cancer cells.
• Establish a miniaturized pipeline for characterizing tumor immune evasion mechanisms and responsiveness to immunotherapies moving toward precision immune oncology.
• Perform feasibility studies on series of patient samples, model on data to predict responsiveness and also test clinically applicable drug combinations in experimental systems.
• Independent planning and execution of experiments.

Postdoctoral fellows may join the University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine’s Postdoctoral programme with courses and other career-building activities. In addition, there are local activities in the Postdoc forum at the ICR. For more information, see here.

The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualification requirements

We seek structured and sociable persons that can work independently and in team.

The successful candidates should have the following qualifications and skills:

• Ph.D in cancer biology, cancer immunology, chemical biology or a similar area is a requirement.
• Competence and experience with cell culture of primary cancer cells and immune cells is a requirement.
• Competence and experience with chemical biology and drug screening assays and flow cytometry as well as microfluidics and nanotechnology would be a benefit.
• Candidates with good ability to communicate in English, both orally and writing will be preferred.

Personal skills

The candidate should be highly motivated and dedicated and possess excellent team working and communications skills. Personal suitability will be considered.

We offer

• A dynamic and stimulating scientific environment in a young, enthusiastic and motivated team of immunologists, biologists and MDs. The Institute of Cancer Research is at the international forefront and houses top modern (2009) and excellent lab facilities with a wide range of core facilities (animal, light and electron microscopy, flow cytometry, genomics and bioinformatics, MR, drug screening, mass spec etc) locally or at the Rikshospitalet and UiO sites.Salary NOK 544 400 - NOK 626 300 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter with statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• A complete list of publications and academic works
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone 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).

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow 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.

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.

Contact information

• Professor Kjetil Taskén, e-mail: kjetil.tasken@medisin.uio.no
• Senior HR Adviser Thoril Kristiansen, email: thoril.kristiansen@medisin.uio.no

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