The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.
There are five departments and seven centres at Faculty of Medicine.
Through robust and close interaction with the world around us – globally, nationally and locally – we shall be instrumental in building a society based on knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Do you want to take part in shaping the future?
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Neuroscience
At the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, a full-time (100 %) position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow is available for a period of three (3) years. The position is linked to the consortium project ”Understanding plasticity and neural circuit dynamics in the brain” (TMS Brain Research Initiative), financed by "Trond Mohn Stiftelse" (TMS) and the University of Bergen. Expected starting date is January 1, 2023.
About the project/work tasks:
The main objective of the TMS Brain Research Initiative is to identify core principles of plasticity and neural circuit dynamics in the brain.
The project is hosted by the University of Bergen and organized as a consortium collaboration between the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Bergen (UiB) and the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
The consortium project is organized into five interactive work packages, based on multidisciplinary collaborations between the UiB and NTNU partners.
The Postdoc will be linked to a work package studying the neuromodulation of retinal microcircuits for vision in starlight, twilight, and daylight.
The Postdoc will join an active neuroscience research group with two principal investigators (prof. Espen Hartveit and prof. Meg Veruki). The project focuses on investigating plasticity of neuronal microcircuits involving amacrine cells in the mammalian retina, including functions of ion channels and chemical and electrical synapses. Primary methods include patch-clamp electrophysiology, two-photon microscopy, including two-photon uncaging, and two-photon FLIM-FRET of intracellular signaling. The experimental work will be performed with the mammalian retina as the model system.
The laboratory has modern setups for in vitro electrophysiology combined with two-photon microscopy, including uncaging and FLIM-FRET.
Qualifications and personal qualities:
The applicant must hold a Norwegian PhD or an equivalent degree within neuroscience, cell physiology, biophysics, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline, or have the doctoral thesis submitted prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded at the latest within five months after the closing date for applications.
You must have a keen interest in cellular neurophysiology and imaging and wish to work on challenging problems related to mechanisms of neuronal plasticity and the correlation of structure and function of intact neural circuits.
Practical experience with patch-clamp electrophysiology, cellular imaging (including calcium imaging) and the use of biosensors to investigate intracellular transduction mechanisms is an advantage.
Experience with two-photon imaging and two-photon photo stimulation / uncaging in brain slices is an advantage.
Experience with live-cell FLIM-FRET is an advantage.
Experience with the design and expression of proteins for imaging is an advantage
Experience with using recombinant viral vectors for gene transduction in tissue and experimental animals is an advantage.
Proficiency in programming environments like Igor Pro, Matlab, and Python is an advantage.
You will be expected to work independently and in a structured manner, be self-motivated, have good collaborative skills and have a great work capacity and enthusiasm for research.
You must be able to document a proficient knowledge of English (spoken and written).
About the position of postdoctoral research fellow:
The position of postdoctoral research fellow is a fixed-term appointment with the primary objective of qualifying the appointee for work in top academic positions. You can not be employed as a postdoctoral fellow for more than one fixed term period at the same institution.
Upon appointment, the applicant must submit a project proposal for the qualifying work. The completion of the project proposal for the qualifying work, as well as a progress plan, will be developed in cooperation with the project leader / supervisor and head of department.
It is a requirement that the project is completed in the course of the period of employment.
When relevant, the employee will have the opportunity to take part in teaching and committees for student evaluations.
We can offer:
Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment
Salary level 62 (code 1352/pay framework 24.6) at present NOK 563 900 gross p.a., with a degree in Medicine or Dentistry level 63 (code 1352/pay framework 24.7) at present NOK 574 700, with a medical specialization level 65 (code 1352/pay framework 24.9) at present NOK 594 300, gross p.a. on the government salary scale. Further promotion will be after service seniority in the position.
Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
A brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
CV.
Transcripts and diplomas (applicants with education from other countries than Norway must enclose witnessed diplomas in both the original language and authorized translations) and documentation of submitted doctoral thesis. If you have not yet completed your PhD degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your degree.
Complete list of publications.
Publications (PDF). It is important that each of the scholarly works on which the evaluation committee should place special emphasis, is attached in its entirety.
Names and contact information for two references. It is desirable that one of these should be the main advisor from the PhD program.
General information:
Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting:
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.
Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
Further information about our employment process can be found here.
