At the University of Bergen, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, a full-time temporary position as postdoctoral fellow is available for a period of three (3) years. The position is part of the project ”DNA methylation in psychiatric disorders: mediation of gene by environment effects, from birth to adulthood”, financed by the Norwegian Research Council (Bedre Helse program).

The position is in collaboration with Dr Tetyana Zayats at the BROAD Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. The successful candidate is expected to work in Boston for at least six (6) months of the postdoctoral period.

The candidate will also be affiliated with the NORMENT centre of excellence which offers unique opportunity for excellent translational and multidisciplinary research in mental disorders in Norway.

About the Project

Mental health disorders are among the major contributors to human suffering and morbidity worldwide. Despite considerable research efforts we are still far from understanding their development and progression. This project will explore novel aspects in genetic and environmental contributions by examining epigenetics of three major psychiatric conditions: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We will investigate how epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation) can be implicated in these disorders and how these modifications can be modulated by the environment.

Postdoctoral Fellow

The main objectives for the position are to analyse DNA methylation sequencing in a sample of 100 individuals and together with collaborators in Boston implement imputation method to the rest of the samples typed with the EPIC methylation array.

In the second phase of the project the postdoctoral fellow will be implicated in the analyses of the methylation data to identify methylation effect in psychiatric disorder and their relation with environmental factors.

For further information please contact:

• Professor Stephanie Le Hellard, e-mail: Stephanie.Hellard@uib.no

Qualifications and qualities

• The applicant must hold a PhD degree within the field of genetics, molecular biology, statistics, informatics or bio-informatics. Eventually the candidate can have submitted their PhD´s thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD degree has been awarded before the period of employment starts
• The candidate must have experience in analyses of sequencing data (from next generation sequencing) or of methylation data
• The candidate must have experience in statistical analyses and use of R tools.
• The candidate should have experience in epigenetic analyses and/or human complex genetic disorders
• Knowledge in other statistical packages or programming languages will be an advantage
• The candidate should be proficient in spoken and written English (Norwegian is not a prerequisite)
• Personal skills will be emphasized. The candidate should be able to work independently and interactively in a team setting, be motivated and responsible, and also have a great work capacity and enthusiasm for research
• The candidate must be willing to work abroad in Boston, USA.

We can offer

• a good and challenging work environment in research front of mental health disorders
• salary level 59 (code 1352/pay framework 24.3) at present NOK 515 200 gross p.a., with a degree in Medicine or Dentistry level 61 (code 1352/pay framework 24.5) at present NOK 534 100 gross p.a., with a medical specialization level 63 (code 1352/pay framework 24.7) at present NOK 555 100 gross p.a. on the government salary scale. Further promotion will be after service seniority in the position. A pension contribute of 2 % will be deducted and deposited to the state pension scheme
• a good pension scheme in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• inclusive workplace (IW)
• good welfare benefits

For more information regarding what the University of Bergen can offer its employees please visit:

http://www.uib.no/en/poa/74243/what-can-university-bergen-offer-its-employees

About postdoctoral fellowships

In general, the purpose of postdoctoral positions at the University of Bergen is the building of competence by means of further development of research work to a higher level than what is possible within an ordinary PhD program. The main goals of the positions are to qualify the successful candidate for professional top positions.

It is a goal that the employment period is carried out as a continuous research program. Leaves of absence for other purposes than those laid down by law are normally not granted.

Applicants shall, once employed, put forward a proposal for a project for qualifying work. The proposal shall include a progress plan. It is a premise that the selected candidate will complete the project within the stipulated period of employment.

The employee may be assigned up to 25 % required duties in the form of teaching and similar work at the department.

Postdoctoral fellowships are fixed term positions. You cannot be employed as a postdoctoral fellow for more than one fixed term period at the same institution. Also, you cannot be employed in a postdoctoral position if you have previously held this type of position at a different institution in the region.

Recruitment to state employment

State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. The University of Bergen has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and sex composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds and persons with disabilities. Persons of different ethnic backgrounds and persons with disabilities are therefore encouraged to apply for the position.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.

The University of Bergen applies the principles of public openness when recruiting staff to scientific positions. Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if their request is not respected.

How to apply

Send your CV and application with attachments electronically via “Jobbnorge” by clicking on the button marked “Apply for this job”.

The application must contain:

• a brief letter of application stating your motivation for the position and why you are applying
• witnessed copies of diplomas and relevant certificates (applicants with education from other countries than Norway must enclose witnessed diplomas in both the original language and authorized translations)
• complete list of publications
• publications (pdf) it is important that each of the scholarly works on which the committee should place special emphasis, is attached in its entirety
• two referees (name and contact information)

The application will be sent electronically to the assessment committee.

Please notice that the application will be assessed only with the information available in “Jobbnorge” when the deadline expires.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here

Closing date for applications: 2 December 2018

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