Postdoctoral fellowship in in vitro human iPS cell-based neurodegenerative disease modeling

About the position / About the job

A three-year postdoctoral position (100%) is available at the University of Oslo, Norway under a project devoted to developing an innovative microfluidic platform for human iPS cell-based neurodegenerative disease modeling. The project focuses on differentiating iPS cells to neurons, glia and other cell types involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), and on manipulating these cell types in the in vitro platform. The postdoctoral fellow will work with two research groups, one specializing in ALS, the other in PD, but with similar utilization of the in vitro platform. The project includes strong collaboration with technology partners that are developing a powerful, versatile, multi-functionalized in vitro platform that can accelerate research into neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and drug screening. 

We are looking for candidates who are strongly motivated to advance and implement the cellular components of the platform and to interact with the various technology partners to test platform functionalities such as optical and electrical measurements of cell function, miniaturized molecular delivery and sampling, mechanical stimulation and sensing, and functionalized surfaces. The project is funded by the Norwegian Research Council’s programme for technological convergence related to enabling technologies.

The postdoctoral fellow will work at laboratories at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, including the Norwegian Core Facility for Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

The postdoctoral fellow will work within a diverse, international research environment that is highly networked nationally and internationally and with a research profile and collaborations covering stem cell biology, developmental neuroscience, clinical neurology, micro- and nano technology and fabrication, surface technology and bioethics.

More about the position, required skills and qualifications, selection criteria

Applicants must have a PhD in stem cell biology or neuroscience (or a related field), and prior experience with human iPS cell culturing and differentiation to neural cell types. 

The postdoctoral fellow will engage in basic and advanced cell culture and molecular biology methods. Candidates with prior experience in these areas will be prioritized. Experience in differentiating and gene editing human iPS cells will be given emphasis. Experience in electrophysiology and/or optical recording techniques is also valuable.

The fellow will be expected to work in a team environment to advance the overarching aim of developing the innovative in vitro platform. Good interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work autonomously and deliver results in an interdisciplinary and transnational environment will therefore also be prioritized. High level proficiency in English is required. Experience in writing scientific articles will be prioritized. 

Selection of short-listed candidates will be based on assessment of prior experience in the areas described above, a preliminary interview and references supplied by the candidate. Assessment of personal qualifications deemed important for working in our team will be included. Short-listed candidates will be invited to a more in-depth second interview. Interviews may be conducted digitally if necessary.

The position will include a career planning component with The Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo career guidance available throughout the postdoctoral tenure, to help the postdoctoral fellow develop junior faculty competence. See the following link for more information: www.med.uio.no/english/research/postdoctoral-programme/.

Why choose us?

• We offer a dynamic, diverse and intellectually stimulating research environment with committed colleagues working on innovative projects with important societal contexts. 
• The workplace at Institute of Basic Medical Sciences provides excellent career development opportunities.
• The University of Oslo for provides excellent welfare programs for its employees, and one of Norway’s best pension schemes with good insurance and mortgage insurance programs.
• The University of Oslo permits up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• Salary in position as Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 584 500 –  NOK 667 700, 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:

• Application letter.
• CV.
• A complete list of publications.
• Transcripts and certificates.
• Contact information for 2-3 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. 

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.

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 can't, 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 (Norwegian).

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