About the position

The Department of Medical Biology and the Research group for Host-Microbe Interaction at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway announce a vacant Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the area of microbiology and single-cell chemical biology.

The appointment is available from 01.05.2020 and is for a period of 3 years.

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.

Department of Medical Biology (IMB) will be the workplace for the candidate. More than 180 staff members from all over the world have their workplace at IMB. The department consists of 13 research groups concentrated on fundamental biomedical research problems, including research on various forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, the immune system, host-microbe interactions and antibiotic resistance. The department provides education for students studying programs in medicine, dentistry, biomedical laboratory sciences, biomedicine and pharmacy. The position is affiliated to the Research group for host-microbe-interactions (HMI) and the new Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS).

Contact

For further information about the position and UiT please do not hesitate to contact:

• Associate Professor Christian Lentz, Phone: (+47) 776 44905, Email: christian.s.lentz@uit.no or
• Professor Mona Johannessen, Phone (+47) 776 46225, Email: mona.johannessen@uit.no

The project study

The successful candidate will be an essential part of a new project area headed by Associate Professor Christian Lentz. Our research is dedicated to exploring the adaptation of bacterial pathogens to their host and antibiotics at the single-cell level using chemical biology and microbiological methods. We will use these insights to develop innovative approaches to prevent, treat, and diagnose bacterial infections. The position is funded through a start-up grant by the newly established Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS).

The specific aim of the advertised project is to pioneer the use of fluorescently tagged small molecule probes for detection and functional validation of bacterial single-cell and subpopulation phenotypes. The results gained by this project should illuminate how individual cells of a genetically identical bacterial pathogen functionally diversify and thus contribute to survival during infection or upon antibiotic treatment.

The successful applicant will employ a variety of experimental techniques including cultivation of bacterial pathogens, flow cytometry/FACS-sorting, confocal microscopy, various ‘omics’ techniques or antibiotic resistance profiling. The candidate will have access to core facilities at the Faculty of Health Sciences, providing state-of-the-art technology and hands-on expertise in bioimaging, FACS, proteomics or genomics.

The candidate is encouraged to develop his/her own research ideas and strategies within the framework of the project.

The successful applicant will work in a team with local and international collaboration partners. A research stay with one of our collaborators abroad within the time-frame of the project is encouraged

The successful applicant may contribute to the Department's teaching activities (up to 10% of the time). Teaching duties will be allocated based on the applicant's qualifications and the needs of the Department, and may include exam work, teaching seminars, and supervising or assisting in lab courses.

Required qualifications

To be qualified for the position of Postdoctral Research Fellow, a completion of a relevant PhD degree in microbiology/infection biology, chemical biology or related field of study is required. PhD students who foresee to achieve their degree by July 2020 are welcome to apply under certain conditions (details in How to Apply section below), but have to document completed degree before employment.

Strong skills in microbiological and/or cell biological techniques are expected. Previous experience with flow cytometry, fluorescence/confocal microscopy and/or transcriptomic analysis are considered highly advantageous. Experience in molecular biology and biochemical methods is considered desirable. As the project requires the use of a wide range of experimental techniques, a diverse set of research skills is preferable to specialist knowledge and a willingness to learn new methods is essential.

We seek for a highly motivated, research-minded candidate, with a strong academic track-record and publication list who is interested in trespassing the boundaries of traditional disciplines and venture into new scientific territory.

We are looking for a person with strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work analytic, independently and with collaborators. We will evaluate personal suitability and motivation for the position.

The candidates must document proficiency in both written and oral English.

We can offer

• Interesting work tasks in a cutting-edge research project
• A vibrant international research community
• State-of-the-art research infrastructure
• Flexible working hours and a state collective agreement
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund

Working and payment conditions

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

National and international trends show that mobility and independence for young researchers are important for achieving external funding at national and international level, and consequently will be important for the prospect of establishing a permanent scientific position in the future. The following shall therefore be applicable when employed in postdoctoral positions:

• Unless special circumstances indicate otherwise, postdoctoral projects shall be planned with stays abroad (3-12 months). The duration should take into consideration the framework of the overall project.
• Postdoctoral projects must be planned so that the candidate is given sufficient opportunity to develop professional independence within the framework of the overall project.

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.

Remuneration of post doc positions is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1352. A compulsory contribution of 2% to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

How to apply

Application and submitted documents (see below) must be sent electronically via the application form available on www.jobbnorge.no and the application must include:

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV – containing a complete overview of education, positions and academic work/list of publications
• Diplomas and transcripts of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree or equivalent (in original language and translated)
• PhD thesis and any other academic works/publications. (Candidates who have not yet finalized their PhD thesis are only eligible if they can document at least one original research publication as a first author and should write a statement on the anticipated timeline of obtaining the degree along with a draft or outline of their thesis work)
• Two references with contact details
• Documentation on English proficiency

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 has to be in English or a Scandinavian language. We only accept applications through Jobbnorge.

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee’s mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants’ research qualifications based on the application documents and related to the requirements for the position.

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

General

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

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. UiT will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability

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.

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