Job description

Are you interested in clinical utilization of CRISPR gene editing?

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join our research team in facilitating the transition of one of our research projects into clinical testing. The position is affiliated with the Institute of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oslo, but your daily work place will be at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet and Norwegian Centre for Molecular Medicine at Oslo Science Park. The research groups have conducted basic, translational and clinical research for many years, with focus on monogenic immune deficiencies (Haapaniemi lab, www.haapaniemilab.org) and coagulation disorders (Stavik lab, www.ous-research.no/stavik). The position is over a three-years period and the starting date is no later than Oct 1st of this year.

More about the position

In the project, you will work on a bleeding disorder called inherited factor (F) VII deficiency. FVII is a vital protein in the blood coagulation process and an inherited deficiency of this protein is caused by mutations in the F7 gene leading to severely reduced activity of the FVII protein in the blood. Clinically, these patients experience frequent and sometimes severe bleeding episodes, and the only treatment today is replacement therapy that is expensive and invasive. We are using CRISPR gene editing and advanced cell reprogramming techniques to correct the mutation in the patients’ and establishing transplant procedures to restore FVII activity and function. Your role will be to further optimize gene editing protocols, study the approach in preclinical animal models, and later transfer procedures into a GMP-compliant setting to ensure that the gene edited cells fulfill the requirements as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).

You will also be involved in identifying and handling regulatory aspects related to ATMPs, and in obtaining financial support for clinical trials. This important pre-clinical work will ensure that the translation from the bench to bedside can occur without delay. You will be part of our research group and will work closely with two experienced researchers and a PhD student on the project.

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

Qualification requirements

• PhD in relevant topic
• Ability to independently design, plan, execute, and interpret complex experiments
• Experience with any of the following:
  • CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing
  • Stem cell work, including organoid culturing
  • Animal experiments
  • Molecular biology, including next generation sequencing library preparation & data analysis
  • Flow cytometry or immunostaining/microscopy.
• Proficient in English language, both written and oral.
• Experience with GMP and ATMP is an advantage.

The appointment requires a PhD or a degree equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in educational sciences. Appointment to the position is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.

Personal skills

• Excellent communication and team working skills
• Organized and structured
• Independent and problem solving
• Flexible and willing to learn

We offer

• salary NOK 544 400 – 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
• a career development program for postdoctoral fellows The Postdoctoral Programme - Faculty of Medicine (uio.no).
• interest organization for PhD and postdoctoral fellows Home - UiODoc (uio.no).

How to apply

The application must include:

• Application letter (statement of motivation, summarizing relevant scientific work and research interest).
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities).
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only).
• A complete list of publications.
• Any research publications that the applicant wishes to be considered.
• 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. 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).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description and the quality of the project as well as the candidate’s motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

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

• Researcher Maria Eugenia Chollet Dugarte, email: m.e.c.dugarte@ous-research.no
• Head of Group, Emma Haapaniemi, email: emma.haapaniemi@ncmm.uio.no
• Senior Researcher Benedicte Stavik, email: benedicte.stavik@ous-research.no
• Senior HR Adviser Thoril Kristiansen (questions regarding the application process), email: thoril.kristiansen@medisin.uio.no

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