Postdoctoral fellowship in Transcriptional mechanisms in development and disease

About the position 

We are seeking an ambitious and motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the research group of Dr. Deo Prakash Pandey. The postdoc position is at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, while it will be located at Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital. The position is funded through the UiO Convergence environment “Decoding Addiction” for a period of three years. The project focuses on transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms, with an emphasis on functional genomics and advanced sequencing technologies.

As a postdoctoral fellow, you will work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment, interacting closely with experimental and computational collaborators. You will contribute actively to research, supervision of students, and collaborative activities in multiple projects, and play a central role in advancing cutting-edge genomic approaches.

The position offers strong opportunities for scientific development in a dynamic academic environment at Rikshospitalet, with access to excellent core facilities and close proximity to Oslo’s city center and surrounding nature.

Start date: 01.05.2026 or at the earliest after that.

About the convergence environment

The position is part of the UiO:Life Science Convergence Environment “Decoding Addiction”. Convergence environments are interdisciplinary research teams that aim to address major societal challenges through collaboration across disciplines. They are funded by UiO’s strategic research area UiO:Life Science. The postdoctoral fellow will collaborate with experimental and computational researchers across work packages and contribute to the interdisciplinary activities of the convergence environment.

More about the position

The overarching aim of the project is to understand how transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms regulate cellular identity during development and how their dysregulation contributes to disease. We focus on how chromatin organization, transcriptional elongation, and epigenetic modifiers shape gene expression programs, and how perturbations in these regulatory layers drive pathological states, particularly in aggressive cancers. Conceptual knowledge in these areas will be highly relevant for the candidate.

The project combines experimental and computational approaches to dissect transcriptional dependencies and regulatory networks in clinically relevant model systems. We employ advanced genomic technologies, including bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, chromatin profiling approaches such as ChIP-seq and CUT&RUN, and complementary epigenomic assays. These approaches are integrated with functional perturbation strategies, including CRISPR-based gene editing and pharmacological inhibition, to identify mechanistic vulnerabilities in disease-relevant contexts.

The candidate will contribute to experimental design, data generation, and the integration and interpretation of large-scale genomic datasets. The position offers substantial scientific independence and the opportunity to develop an emerging research profile within transcriptional and epigenetic regulation.

Responsibilities

The postdoctoral fellow will contribute centrally to the scientific aims of the project and the interdisciplinary activities of the Convergence environment. Main responsibilities include:

• Designing and conducting independent research within transcriptional and epigenetic regulation
• Applying advanced genomic and single-cell technologies, including RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, and related approaches
• Performing functional perturbation experiments and integrating multi-omics datasets
• Collaborating closely with experimental and computational collaborators
• Contributing to supervision of students and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals
• Developing an independent research profile, including applications for national and international fellowships
   

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in molecular biology, cancer biology, genomics, stem cell biology, or a related discipline. The doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment.

The successful candidate must have:

• At least one first-author publication, published or formally accepted for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal
• A strong background in experimental molecular and cellular biology
• Demonstrated experience with genomic technologies such as RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, or related chromatin and transcriptomic approaches
• Experience with single-cell sequencing technologies is considered an advantage
• Solid conceptual understanding of transcriptional regulation, chromatin biology, and epigenetic mechanisms

Experience with bioinformatic analysis of high-throughput sequencing data (e.g., quality control, alignment, peak calling, differential expression analysis, and integrative multi-omics analysis) is a strong advantage. Candidates with demonstrated ability to work at the interface of experimental and computational biology will be prioritized. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to work independently, manage complex research tasks, and collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary environments. Strong written and oral communication skills in English are required.

The successful candidate will be expected to actively develop an independent research profile and qualify for and apply to national and international postdoctoral fellowship schemes during the employment period.

Personal skills 

We are seeking a motivated and scientifically curious researcher who can work independently while contributing actively to a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment. The successful candidate should demonstrate strong integrity, reliability, and the ability to function effectively both within the research group and in collaboration with external partners.
The candidate should:
 

• Be able to work independently and take initiative in driving research projects forward
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues within the group and with external collaborators
• Communicate clearly across experimental and computational disciplines
• Contribute positively to group dynamics and a supportive research culture
• Work constructively with master’s and PhD students and engage in mentoring activities when relevant
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and the ability to manage complex tasks

We need different perspectives in our work 

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps, we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

We hope you will apply for the position with us. 

We offer 

We offer an exciting postdoctoral position in a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, located at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet. The successful candidate will join an ambitious research group with strong national and international collaborations, access to state-of-the-art core facilities, and excellent opportunities for scientific development and career progression. 

• A full-time postdoctoral position funded for three years
• Salary in position as Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 595 000 - 679 000 depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
• An ambitious and innovative research project within cancer epigenetics and functional genomics
• A stimulating academic environment with close interaction between experimental and computational researchers
• Access to excellent core facilities and advanced genomic technologies
• Competitive salary in accordance with University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital regulations
• Family-friendly policies and good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Application

• The application must include:
• Application letter describing motivation and relevant experience
• Curriculum vitae
• A complete list of publications
• Copies of diplomas and transcripts
• Contact information for three references
   

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews. 

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.