Postdoctoral Fellowship in Systems and Molecular Immunology

About the position

We have a vacant Postdoctoral Fellowship in Systems and Molecular Immunology at The Jacobsen Laboratory which is situated at Department of Immunology, University of Oslo, Norway. The department is situated at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet. Johanne Jacobsen is leader of the The Jacobsen Laboratory.

The three-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The position offers a competitive salary and access to the comprehensive Norwegian welfare system.

The lab is in Oslo, a vibrant, international city known for its high quality of life and stunning natural surroundings.

Project description

Project Summary
The generation of durable, high-quality immunity against rapidly mutating pathogens is orchestrated within transient microanatomical structures known as Germinal Centers (GCs). Within these centers, B lymphocytes undergo intense selection to produce high-affinity antibodies and long-lived memory B cells. While follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are critical to this process, recent discoveries by our lab and others have revealed a more complex regulatory landscape. Other T cell subsets, including specialized CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells, dynamically modulate the GC response, creating a balance of "help" and "suppression" that controls the lifespan of the GC and the quality of the antibodies it produces. 
We are seeking an exceptional postdoctoral fellow to lead a project aimed at dissecting the molecular determinants of T cell heterogeneity and function within the GC, with a direct focus on their impact on B cell quality and antibody functionality.

The Jacobsen Laboratory
The Jacobsen Laboratory at the University of Oslo (UiO) is a dynamic research group dedicated to understanding the T cell subsets that shape adaptive immunity. Situated at the Oslo University Hospital, we are part of a vibrant, translationally-oriented research environment with affiliations to the Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA) Center of Excellence and the SPARK Norway innovation program. Our lab fosters an environment that provides the direct mentorship and networking opportunities essential for building a successful independent career.

A New Framework for T Cell Control of Antibody Quality
Our central mission is to understand how the balance between productive help and necessary suppression is maintained within the GC to ensure the generation of high-affinity antibodies without triggering autoimmunity. To address this, our research program heavily focuses on studying T and B cell population dynamics through intravital 2-photon imaging and the role of secreted immune metabolites in these dynamics. The successful candidate will lead a project to develop novel sensors for intravital microscopy to study how these metabolites drive population dynamics. The Jacobsen laboratory has a dedicated 2-photon microscope for this purpose. 

The candidate will have access to state-of-the-art technologies and extensive international collaborations, including:

• International Collaborators: Kyoto University, Princeton University, University of Washington, The Rockefeller University, Scripps Research Institute, Karolinska Institute.
• Technology and Resources: Norway's first 2-photon intravital imaging system for immunology. A novel, rapid AAV-mediated technology for generating transgenic mouse models. Comprehensive core facilities for advanced flow cytometry, genomics, and single-cell sequencing.

Responsibilities

• Perform intravital surgery to implant optical imaging windows over draining lymph nodes for long-term, real-time tracking of T-B cell interactions. 
• Develop novel sensors for intravital imaging using novel transgene techniques established at the Norwegian Transgenic Facility. This is a collaborative effort with the laboratory of Professor Sidonia Fagarasan at Kyoto University, and includes a research exchange. 
• Analyze imaging data using Imaris and custom software. 
• Conduct single-cell TCR and BCR analysis, and RNA transcriptome profiling of relevant T and B cell subsets.

Qualifications - The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a highly motivated, creative, and intellectually fearless scientist to join our team.

Foundational Qualification requirements: 

• A PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, molecular biology, cell biology, bioengineering, or a related discipline. 
• To be appointed as a postdoctoral fellow, a doctoral degree is required. The doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the approval of the public defense of the doctoral thesis.
• A strong track record of scientific productivity, demonstrated by first-author publications in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals. 
• Full professional proficiency in both written and spoken English.

Desired qualifications  - Profile of Technical and Scientific Expertise:

This interdisciplinary project requires a broad and deep skillset. We encourage applications from individuals who demonstrate excellence in at least one of the core domains below and a strong motivation to master the others.

•  Advanced In Vivo Microscopy: Hands-on experience with 2-photon microscopy and surgical procedures for intravital imaging in mice is preferred. Experience with functional imaging (e.g., calcium or FRET sensors) and optical techniques like photoactivation or optogenetics is highly desired. 
• Molecular Biology & Sensor Engineering: Strong expertise in molecular cloning, vector design, and mammalian cell tissue culture is ideal. Experience with protein engineering is highly desired. 
• Cellular & Systems Immunology: A deep theoretical knowledge of adaptive immunity, particularly T and B cell biology, is preferable. Extensive experience with primary immune cells, mouse models of immunization or infection, advanced multi-color flow cytometry (FACS), T cell functional assays, and managing complex transgenic mouse colonies is required. 
• Computational & Data Analysis: Proficiency with software such as FlowJo and GraphPad Prism is expected. Experience analyzing large-scale datasets (e.g., scRNA-seq, TCR/BCR sequencing) and familiarity with R or Python are highly desired. 

Personal qualities:

We seek a candidate who is intellectually curious, creative, resilient, meticulous in their research, and has a collaborative spirit. 

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.

We offer 

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
•  An Environment for Scientific Excellence and Career Advancement
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of  exercise during working hours. A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 610 000 to 670 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

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

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

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

Application

Your application should include:

• Motivational Cover Letter: (Max 2 pages) Describe your research background, key accomplishments, and specific motivation for this project. 
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Detail your education, research experience, technical skills, and a complete list of publications. 
• Transcripts and certificates: Copies of your PhD diploma and other relevant academic transcripts. 
• List of References: Names and contact information for 2-3 professional 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.