LEDIG STILLING VED UIT NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET

PhD Fellow in Molecular Biology

Deadline: 25.05.2021

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

UiT – Developing the High NorthUiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research university and the northernmost university of the world.

Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.

Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.


The Faculty of Health Sciences

The Faculty of Health Sciences represents a newly created entity gathering almost all possible health study programs. This facilitates an unique interdisciplinarity and innovation in health education and research. We work closely with the services in the North to solve tomorrow's challenges.

Faculty of Health Sciences / Department of Medical Biology

The position

A PhD position is available at the Department of Medical Biology (IMB), Faculty of Health Sciences with the research group RNA and Molecular Pathology. The PhD Fellow will work on the long non-coding RNA NEAT1 in cellular stress responses and autophagy.

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.

The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

The position’s field of research

The successful candidate will study the role of the long-noncoding RNA NEAT1 and paraspeckles in cellular stress response pathways and autophagy using advanced nanoscopic analyses and state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques. An overall objective is to increase the understanding of the role of NEAT1 and paraspeckles in human diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

The PhD student will be part of a research team led by Associate Professor Maria Perander that currently consists of 2 postdocs, 1 PhD student, 1 technician, and undergraduate students. The position is part of the thematic Nanoscopy Applied to Selective Autophagy Research (NASAR) project initiative formed by research groups at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Science and Technology, headed by Professor Terje Johansen.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact:

Qualifications

The position requires a Master’s degree in biochemistry/molecular biology/cell biology/medical biology or a Norwegian Candidate of Medicine degree, or other education which has been approved as equivalent to these.

Applicants must document fluency of in English and be able to work in an international environment. Working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language is also highly beneficial.

Applicants must document experience and knowledge in basal molecular biology methods, cell imaging, and tissue culturing. Documented experience in CRISPR/Cas9 work and imaging of RNA molecules (RNA-fluorescent in situ hybridization like RNAscope®) will be evaluated as positive. Previous experience from working with long non-coding RNAs is regarded as beneficial.

The applicants must submit a short text (max 400 words) introducing long non-coding RNAs.

In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant's potential to complete a research education based on the master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.

We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position.

As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

Admission to the PhD programme

For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Admission normally requires:

  • A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS.
  • A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master's degree of 120 ECTS.
  • A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS.

Applicants must have a grade of C or better on the master's thesis and have a grade point average of C or better for the master's degree. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.

Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from NOKUT. Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor's degree and a 2-year master's degree.

If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position.

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University i Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity is a strength and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

We offer

  • A stimulating working environment in an international research community with dedicated colleagues
  • Appropriate training and supervision
  • State-of-the-art research infrastructure
  • Good career opportunities
  • Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement 
  • Pension scheme through the state pension fund 

More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here.

Application 

Your application must include:

  • Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
  • CV
  • Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree
  • Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor's and master's degree
  • Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
  • Documentation of English proficiency
  • References with contact information
  • Master’s thesis, and any other academic works
  • A short text (max 400 words) introducing long non-coding RNAs

Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must document completion of your degree before commencement in the position. You must still submit your transcripts for the master’s degree with your application.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017 . A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.

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