The Department of Chemistry seeks a motivated and enthusiastic PhD candidate to join the Research Group in Macromolecular Chemistry. The successful PhD candidate will become a member of an international and interdisciplinary research team focusing structural and functional studies on protein kinases ( https://en.uit.no/forskning/forskningsgrupper/gruppe?p_document_id=523765). Collaborative work will be carried out with other groups at the university and also at European synchrotron radiation facilities. As a student, you will enter an international and collegial environment, and be enrolled in the Norwegian ‘BioCat Graduate School in Biocatalysis’, which provides top-level graduate courses in both scientific and transferable skills, arranges national PhD conferences and offers generous travel stipends for student research visits to collaborator laboratories (see https://site.uit.no/biocat/).

The appointment is for a period of 4 years. The nominal length of the PhD program is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % of each year, and will consist of teaching or other duties for the department.

The position’s field of research

The research project involves the study of protein-ligand interactions involving important drug design targets of the protein kinase class of enzymes. The work will focus on experimental characterization of ligand interactions with the protein kinase targets, including protein production, crystallography, and biophysical measurements. Techniques of computational chemistry and data mining will be used to model interactions and to design new ligands. In addition, ligand synthesis will be carried out in collaboration with organic chemistry groups, optionally by the PhD candidate as well. The target proteins will be chosen based on prior results of the research group, and will most likely involve targets relevant to cancer or neurodegenerative diseases.

Further information is available by contacting researcher Prof. Richard Engh.

• phone: +47 776 44073
• email: Richard.Engh@uit.no

Qualifications

This position requires a Bachelor's degree in chemistry and a Master’s degree (or equivalent training) in a relevant field of chemistry, such as biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, protein chemistry, physical chemistry or structural biology, with an average of Norwegian equivalent grade of C or better. Both a strong academic record and a genuine interest in conducting research are essential to qualify for the position. This must be demonstrated by your Master’s thesis, academic record, and other application materials (see below). Personal suitability for the position will also be emphasized.

The applicant must be able to document proficiency in English that satisfies the Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification, either as a native language, via undergraduate education in a Nordic country, or by test scores as described below. Further details about requirements for admission to PhD studies is available via links here: https://uit.no/nt/phd. Proficiency in a Scandinavian language will be favoured due to teaching obligations.

Application

Your application must include:

• CV and application letter
• Diplomas and transcripts from your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees or equivalent;
• Diploma Supplement for completed degrees from EU universities (and applicants from non-EU universities are advised to attach an explanation of the grading system)
• Documentation of English language proficiency for PhD-studies, with a minimum score of 6.5 on each part of the IELTS test, or minimum scores of 22, 22, 22 and 25 (reading, listening, speaking and writing, respectively) on the TOEFL test.
• Copy (or links) to Master’s thesis (or equivalent)
• A description of research performed and/or any other works (published or unpublished) which you wish to be considered. In cases of multiple authorship, your specific contributions must be described.

• 2-3 references and/or letters of recommendation, including contact details

Qualification with a Master’s degree is required before commencement. For those who are near to completion of their Master’s degree, submit a draft version of the thesis. You must have fulfilled all requirements (and passed all examinations) for the Master's degree before the planned commencement date.

All documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Danish, or Swedish). Submit applications electronically through Jobbnorge.no.

Assessment

The assessment will emphasize academic performance, motivation and personal suitability for the position. You must be willing to engage in the ongoing development of your discipline and the university as a whole. During the assessment process, emphasis will be put on your potential for research, as shown by the Master’s thesis and other academic works, relevant research experience and academic performance and teaching experience and/or qualifications. Teaching experience and/or qualifications will be considered an advantage. In addition, we may consider work experience or other activities of significance for the PhD studies.

Terms of employment

PhD positions are paid according to salary code 1017, and normally start at salary grade 51 on the pay scale for Norwegian state employees. There is a 2% deduction for contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

You have to be qualified for and participate in our PhD study program. If you already hold a PhD or equivalent degree, you will not be eligible for this position.

More information about moving to Norway is available here: http://uit.no/mobility

General

UiT is an established and internationally recognised university with ~17,000 students and ~4000 employees. The position is organized under the Department of Chemistry at UiT and the workplace is the Norwegian Structural Biology Centre (NorStruct, http://norstruct.uit.no).

We make the appointment in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

UiT – The Arctic University of Norway has HR policy objectives that emphasize diversity, and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their age, gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background. The university is an IW (Inclusive Workplace) enterprise, and we will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act. You may request to not be registered on the public list of applicants, but the University may decide that your name will be made public. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.

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