About the position

A permanent position (50%) is available at the Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM) as a Research technician.

Background: We are a research group at the Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, focusing on chemical neuroscience using zebrafish models of CNS disorders and brain cancers. Using a combination of genetic and chemical approaches in zebrafish, the group seeks to elucidate the mechanisms of seizure generation, epileptogenesis and treatment resistance by probing the function of novel disease-associated gene variants involved in the etiology of pharmacoresistant epilepsies. We will use engineered zebrafish mutants and transgenic reporter lines as well as pharmacological seizure models for carrying out in vivo chemical modifier screens to identify novel neuropharmacological tools and drug leads. These models and neuroactive small molecules will serve as valuable tools towards understanding the development, function, and diseases of the brain.

Work tasks

• Assisting lab manager with general laboratory management (ordering, organization and storage of lab reagents, database entry)
• Assisting team members with research projects
• Assisting aquatic facility manager (when needed) with aspects of fish line maintenance such as screening of mutant and transgenic lines, genotyping, IVF - egg collection and sperm cryopreservation, surgery and preparation for histology
• General (co)management of chemical libraries
• (Co)-writing, -revising and -developing of SOPs with other team members and other necessary documentation
• (Co)responsibility for training of other personnel in the use of scientific equipment and methods
• Behavioral analysis (e.g., locomotor and shoaling assay), imaging, electrophysiology, Western blotting, DNA/RNA isolation, restriction enzyme analysis, ligation, bacterial transformation, primer design, PCR, RT-PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE, wholemount and fluorescence in situ hybridization, BrDU staining, statistical analysis, microscopy-based screening of mutant and transgenic lines, cell culture, pharmacological and toxicological analysis in vivo

Qualification requirements

• High school equivalent to Norwegian VKII or higher. Experience from similar work can replace this formal requirement.
• Further education will be valued
• FELASA C certificate or equivalent will be valued
• Experience with molecular biological, pharmacological, toxicological, biochemical and histological methods is preferred
• Prior experience working with zebrafish is preferred
• Good knowledge of Word, Excel and GraphPad
• The candidate should ideally have good knowledge of the Norwegian language, both written and oral.
• The group has a number of international collaborations. Thus, the position requires applicants to be highly organized and fluent in English.

Personal skills

• The successful candidate should have an open and friendly nature, always be willing to learn something new and be a self-motivated person not afraid to take initiative to communicate issues and/or troubleshoot.
• Willingness to perform occasional weekend and holiday fish care (with compensation).

We offer

• salary NOK 396 900 – 461 300 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as research technician, position code 1512.
• 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

How to apply

The application must include:

• cover letter statement of motivation
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• evt. documentation of english proficiency
• list of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our recruiting system.

Formal regulations

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

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

Regarding the scientific inquiries please contact group leader Camila Esguerra, e-mail: c.v.esguerra@ncmm.uio.no

The inquiries regarding the technical aspects of the application can be directed to Nina Modahl, e-mail: ninam@ncmm.uio.no.

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