Job description

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow available at Department of Biosciences (contingent on external funding).

The appointment is a fulltime position and is made for a period of three years (10% of which is devoted to required duties, usually in the form of teaching activities).

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

Project description:

The position is part of the larger project “Epigenetic mechanisms and cell-type specific gene expression during anoxia and re-oxygenation in crucian carp brain”, funded by the Research Council of Norway and placed at the Department of Biosciences (IBV). The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) is a champion when it comes to surviving without oxygen, and much is known about the physiological mechanisms involved. However, molecular mechanisms regulating the physiological responses are unexplored. Preliminary research has indicated that many thousands of genes change their expression in the brain in response to anoxia and re-oxygenation. The magnitude of this transcriptional response has led us to hypothesise that the response may differ between cell types and brain areas.

The task for the postdoctoral fellow will be to carry out single-cell sequencing and characterization of differential gene expressions patterns in different cell types of the crucian carp brain. This includes exposing crucian carp to anoxia in the lab, harvesting viable cells from the brain, prepare single-cell RNA libraries using the 10x Genomics chromium controller and kits, and perform the necessary bioinformatical processing and analysis.

The main project is led by Associate Professor Sjannie Lefevre from the Section for Physiology and Cell Biology (IBV), and collaborators include Dr. Sissel Jentoft from the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (IBV) and Associate Professor Shuo-Wang Qiao from Department of Immunology at the Institute of Clinical Medicine (Faculty of Medicine). The postdoctoral researcher will be part of the comparative physiology group, and will be expected to collaborate with other members of the group, and take part in supervision of master students.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition is 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.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in physiology, cell biology, molecular biology, or a related field. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and completed defence are eligible for appointment.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English is required
• Basic practical experience with command-line work (unix, R, etc.) is required
• Basic practical experience with bioinformatics and processing of large sequencing datasets is required
• Practical experience with basic molecular biology methods and laboratory practices is required
• A strong background in comparative physiology or organismal biology is highly desired
• Experience with whole-animal experiments (and FelasaC-equivalent certification) is highly desired
• Basic practical experience with isolation of cells is desired
• Previous research and interest in themes related to the project is desirable (anoxia/hypoxia tolerance, transcriptomics)

Personal skills

• Ability to design, plan, interpret original experiments in an independent and innovative way
• Ability and willingness to collaborate and co-author work with other members of the research group, when appropriate
• Strong motivation for project management and scientific writing
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position

We offer

• salary NOK 534 400 – 615 800 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
• research training in yeast research, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, multiomic data generation/integration and machine learning models
• postdoctoral development programmes

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• 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. 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 as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

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.

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

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. 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: Sjannie Lefevre, phone: +47 48 36 47 45, e-mail: s.l.nilsson@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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