PhD Research Fellow in Molecular Microbiology

About the network

StraDiVarious (Strains, Diagnostics and Variants) is a European-wide intersectoral doctoral training network focussed on focus on emerging bacterial threats – specifically the ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp) Our goal is to make a difference in the development of next-generation strain-specific rapid diagnostics, and to help find potential drug/vaccine targets. 

Within this network, we are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to join our team at the University of Oslo for the project:

DC4 - The role of invasin-integrin interactions in Klebsiella and Enterobacter infections

Supervisor Dirk Linke: https://www.mn.uio.no/ibv/english/people/aca/dirkl/index.html

Co-supervisors: Håvard Haugen (Corticalis AS), Susanna Fagerholm (University of Helsinki)

Project description

The PhD candidate will study bacterial adhesins and their interactions with host receptors. The work centers on adhesins from Klebsiella and Enterobacter species, which are two of the ESKAPE pathogens notorious for their emerging multidrug resistance. In this project, you will help to identify bacterial adhesins in the genomes of ESKAPE strains and generate knockout mutants. Using infection assays, you will establish the importance of these adhesins in different stages of the infection process and identify host cell receptors.

The work is in close collaboration with other groups in the network interested in host cell receptors, and in anti-adhesion drug development. The position thus offers the opportunity of internships with both academic and industrial partners. 

Methods will include the generation of mutants and other methods in molecular microbiology, protein expression and purification, and both cellular infection assays and biophysical adhesion assays. An integral part of the work is the identification of host cell receptors using mass spectrometry.

What skills are important in this role?

Mandatory requirements: The candidate must have 

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in Microbiology, Molecular Biology or related fields at the time of admittance to the programme
• Documented experience in at least one of the following areas: molecular cloning and mutagenesis in non-model bacterial species (ideally in a BSL-2 environment), mass spectrometry (ideally in combination with chemical crosslinking or other pulldown assays), or cell-culture based infection assays with BSL-2 pathogens.

Desirable qualifications: In addition, it is an advantage if the candidate has

• A good theoretical understanding of infection biology
• Documented experience with protein expression and purification
• Documented experience with quantitative biochemical or biophysical assays (for example surface plasmon resonance, ELISAs)

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

We are an international team of researchers from very different scientific and cultural backgrounds. Our colleagues should have

• Good language and communication skills 
• The ability to work in interdisciplinary teams
• The ability to work independently on complex projects (from planning and execution to results presentation)
• The ability to work with non-standard scientific equipment (including setup, testing, and potentially smaller modifications or repairs)

General eligibility criteria for the StraDiVarious network: 

• Applicants must not have been awarded a doctorate previously.
• Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of recruitment. See:  https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks 
• Candidates must have a high level of English proficiency (demonstrated e.g. by TOEFL, IELTS certification) or by having been educated in an English-speaking country to age 18.
• Candidates must meet all eligibility criteria as outlined in the individual research project descriptions.
• Candidates must meet the entry requirements of the institution to which they apply.

In addition to the eligibility criteria above, candidates admitted to the PhD programme at the University of Oslo must fulfil all requirements listed here: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:

https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8 

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

We offer

Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK 550 800 – 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2% is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

How to apply

Technical information:

• Position location: Oslo, Norway.
• Application deadline: January 6th, 2026
• Interviews: February 9th and 13th, 2026 (be available both days)
• Project start date: September 1st, 2026 
• Duration: 3 years
• Norwegian Position code 1017

How to apply: 

Please follow this link for detailed instructions: https://stradivarious-site.webflow.io/apply 

Apply for position DC4; we recommend to apply to multiple positions within the network.