Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Pharmaceutical analytical chemistry

About the position

A tenure-track position is available at Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo. The appointment is a fixed-term postdoctoral position for six (6) years. During this fixed-term period, the candidate is given the opportunity to qualify for a tenured position. The Department of Pharmacy may instruct departmental duties limited up to 25% of total working hours.

Pursuant to the Act relating to universities and university colleges, post holders at institutions can only be employed for one fixed-term period in a tenure-track position. Anyone employed for a fixed-term period of more than one year in an ordinary postdoctoral position pursuant to the Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow, research fellow, research assistant and resident, or held such a postdoctoral appointment at a foreign institution, cannot be employed in the fixed-term postdoctoral tenure-track position.

Tenure-track positions at the University of Oslo are reserved for candidates who are expected to develop the competence and independence required to build and head a leading international research group. A formal midway assessment will be held, which will be completed before the candidate has been employed for four years. Before the end of the fixed-term period, the institution shall assess whether the requirements laid down in the employment contract have been met.

Please see Regulations on appointments to tenure-track positions, with supplementary provisions for UiO - University of Oslo for more details regarding qualifications and assessment.

Job description

Research activities in pharmaceutical analytical chemistry at Department of Pharmacy include (a) conceptual development of sample preparation technologies for mass spectrometric determination of proteins in blood (PROTEIN-project) and (b) conceptual development of analytical microextraction technologies based on artificial liquid membranes (MICROEXTRACTION-project). Both research projects include extensive use of chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometry.

The candidate is expected to develop an independent research portfolio related to the MICROEXTRACTION-project. This research is conceptual; it is based on artificial liquid membranes, and is open in different directions depending on the interests and experiences of the applicant. Detailed information about focus, strategy, and publications is found on our web page (www.mn.uio.no/farmasi/english/research/groups/sampleprep-uio/index.html). A short discussion of potential research directions as suggested by the applicant should be included in the cover letter.

Teaching duties must be expected at both bachelor, master and PhD-level, building a teaching portfolio for the candidate. The core teaching tasks are within (a) quality control of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients, (b) quality control of pharmaceutical preparations, and (c) bioanalysis of drugs, drug metabolites, biopharmaceuticals, drugs of abuse, and doping agents. In addition, teaching activities include (d) general chemistry for pharmacy students, (e) bioanalysis for chemistry students, and (f) advanced bioanalysis at the PhD level for pharmacists and chemists.

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.

Candidates must demonstrate outstanding results in relation to the production and dissemination of scientific publications. Recent research and scientific output will be emphasized. Experiences with teaching and scientific supervision will also be important for the evaluation of candidates.

Assessment of applicants will be based on the following criteria:

• PhD in pharmaceutical analytical chemistry, drug analysis, analytical chemistry, or similar is required
• Experience with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry is required
• Experience with sample preparation of biological fluids (blood, urine) and extraction of pharmaceuticals is required
• Experience with drug analysis is required
• Experience with liquid-phase microextraction or electromembrane extraction is preferred
• Experience from international research collaboration is preferred
• Teaching experience in pharmaceutical analytical chemistry is preferred

An applicant with this research expertise will be a particularly strong candidate, but applicants with sound background in other areas of pharmaceutical analytical chemistry / drug analysis / analytical chemistry can also be considered.

For appointment to a tenure-track position it is required that the public defense of the candidate’s doctoral thesis was held within the preceding five years. Additional time may be allowed for leave relating to childbirth or adoption.

Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and a Scandinavian language are required. The teaching language is Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language). The person appointed to the position will be expected to be able to teach in Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language) within two years.

The applicants will be judged according to their scientific and pedagogical qualifications, personal skills (listed below), and with administrative and other qualifying activities taken into account as well. Interviews and trial lectures will be used as part of the appointment process.

Applicants, who at the time of appointment cannot provide documentary evidence of formal basic teaching competence, must acquire such competence in the course of a period of two years.

Personal skills

• Diligent
• Patient
• Targeted
• Resourceful
• Good communication and collaboration skills
• Good pedagogical skills
• Team builder

We offer

• Salary NOK 526 000 – 608 200 per year depending on qualifications and seniority in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• Attractive employee benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral development programs
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter (including statement of motivation, summary of scientific work, and potential research directions)
• Short discussion of potential research directions
• 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, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates 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. 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 Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard, phone: +47 228 56476, e-mail: [email protected]

For questions regarding the reqruitment system Jobbnorge please contact HR Adviser Therese Ringvold, e-mail: [email protected]

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