LEDIG STILLING VED UIT NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Translational Cardiovascular Research

Deadline: 27.10.2021

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

UiT 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 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.

The position

At the Department of Medical Biology and Cardiovascular Research Group a position has become available for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in experimental biomedical research. The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø.

The position is a fixed term position of a duration of 3 years. Appointment to the position of Postdoctoral Fellow is mainly intended to provide qualification for work in top academic positions. It is a prerequisite that the applicant is able to carry out the project over the full course of the employment period. No one may hold more than one fixed-term position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the same institution.

More than 200 staff members from all over the world have their workplace at the Department of Medical Biology (IMB). The Department consists of 13 research groups concentrating on fundamental biomedical research problems, including research on various cancer forms, cardiovascular diseases, the body's immune system and antibiotic resistance. The Department is also involved in marine bio-prospecting and testing of new drugs. IMB provides education for students studying medicine, dentistry, biomedical laboratory sciences, biomedicine and pharmacy.

The Cardiovascular Research Group

The Cardiovascular Research Group (CVRG) consist of several lab-groups with a common interest in understanding the pathophysiology of acute and chronic failure by the using animal models. In addition to in vivo and in vitro assessment of mechanical function and metabolism of the intact heart, we use biochemical and molecular biology techniques, high-resolution respirometry, and perform studies using isolated cardiomyocytes/cell culture. Heart failure is induced by ischemia/reperfusion, pressure overload, obesity/insulin resistance/diabetes or anticancer therapies. At present, the CRG consists of 5 labs lead by 3 professors and 2 associate professors. In addition to the technical staff, we have PhD fellows, MSc and BSc students (medical and biomedical students) whom are involved in various research projects.

The position's field of research

The postdoctoral research fellow will be working in the lab of Professor Ellen Aasum where the major focus is to elucidate the role of metabolic remodeling in the development of cardiac dysfunction/failure associated with diabetes and obesity/insulin resistance. By using mice models and ex vivo assessment of myocardial substrate utilization, oxygen consumption and ventricular mechanical function, we have elucidated the underlying mechanisms and consequences of obesity/diabetes-induced impairment of cardiac inefficiency. In addition, we have studied how various pharmacological interventions, exercise training and nutritional supplements influences on the development of cardiac dysfunction, cardiac metabolic remodeling and mechanoenergetics changes, as well as their tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion of these hearts.

The main tasks of the postdoctoral research fellow will be to engage in scientific research related to this topic, where the fellow are expected to take part in the planning, execution and analysis of the experiments, as well as write academic, peer-reviewed publication. At the same time, the candidate will collaborate with other members of the research group, and can expected to be involved in the supervision of Bachelor, Master and PhD student. Taken together, the postdoctoral fellow is expected to take part in the project from ideas to publication, supporting and working closely with the principal investigator.

In order to achieve a targeted use of the postdoctoral position, and to strengthen the employee’s career development, a development plan must be available no later than three months after the appointment contract is signed. The development plan must be approved by the immediate leader with personnel responsibility.

Unless special circumstances indicate otherwise, postdoctoral projects shall be planned with stays abroad. The duration should be at least 6 months.

The position will additionally be assigned to teaching and related work for UiT in an amount equivalent to a maximum 10 % of a full-time employment. The duties will be allocated based on the applicant’s qualifications and the needs of the Department, and may include exam work, teaching, leading seminars, and leading or assisting on lab courses.

Required qualifications

The applicant must hold a Norwegian PhD within biomedicine / biochemistry / physiology / medicine or related fields or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree is required. The doctoral thesis should be submitted or be close to submission at the time of the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded.

Documented fluency English, both written and orally are required. Basic Norwegian (or other Scandinavian language) is an advantage. Practical experience from work with experimental animals in cardiac research is an advantage. Experience with studies within metabolism, heart perfusion and standard methods in biochemistry/cell biology are beneficial.

At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Emphasis will be placed on experience and personal suitability in relation to the qualifications specified. In addition, we would emphasize on personal initiative, motivation and work ethic. A candidate that is solution-oriented with the ability to work in a structured manner, independently and in collaboration to accomplish common research goals.

Contact

For further information about the position and UiT contact:

  • Professor Ellen Aasum (main supervisor, PhD), phone: +4799372997, email: Ellen.aasum@uit.no

We can offer

  • Exciting and stimulating scientific tasks
  • An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
  • Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
  • Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement

Working and payment conditions

Working hours will be set aside for research, research-related activities and research administration.

The successful candidate must also be willing to get involved in the ongoing development of their department and the university as a whole.

The remuneration for this position is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1352 Postdoctoral. A compulsory contribution of 2% to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

How to apply

Your application must include:

  • A brief description of research interests and specific motivation for applying for this position.
  • CV - summarizing education, positions and academic work
  • Diplomas and transcripts from completed degrees
  • Documentation on English proficiency
  • 2-3 references with contact details
  • PhD thesis, and any other academic works

Proficiency in the English language can be documented in the following ways:

  • Diploma from a Norwegian upper secondary school with both spoken and written English (140 hours)
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  • IELTS (International English Testing Service)
  • Completed university degree in the field of English language or literature
  • One year’s completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or USA, for which English was the language of instruction.

Documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language. We only accept applications through Jobbnorge.

Assessment

An expert committee will assess the applicants. The committee’s mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants’ qualifications based on the application documents and the announcement. The Assessment Committee will give emphasis to the potential for research, as presented in the PhD thesis, or in any other academic works.

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview shall, among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability for the position and motivations.

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.

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.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and 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.

We look forward to receiving your application!

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