Phd Research Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry

About the position

As part of the HARPNET Doctoral Training Network we invite applications for a position as PhD Research Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry available at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo. 

Starting date no later than April 1, 2027. 

The fellowship period is three years.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. 

Place of work is Department of Pharmacy, the Life Science Building, Blindern, Oslo

About the network
HARPNET is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network that prepares 15 doctoral candidates to transform how chronic inflammatory diseases are understood and treated. HARPNET’s scientific programme is integrated across three scientific work packages, where data, technologies and biological models will be shared across projects through joint supervision, network activities and academic and industrial secondments. The position is allocated to work-package 3 Developing therapeutic and translational solutions within the HARPNET network.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our team at the Uni-versity of Oslo for the project:

DC12 - Small-molecule promoters of inflammation resolution

Supervisor Trond Vidar Hansen: https://www.mn.uio.no/farmasi/english/people/aca/trondvh/index.html

Project description

This project aims to develop low-molecular-weight resolution promoters targeting GPR101 as potential therapies for rheumatoid arthritis. Computational experiments will guide compound design, synthesis, and biological evaluation, including the assessment of bioactivity, mechanisms of action, medicinal chemistry properties, and metabolism.

The work will be conducted in close collaboration with research groups across the network working on resolution biology and drug discovery based on resolution pharmacology. The position also include internships with both academic and industrial partners, and the doctoral candidate must participate in these activities.

Methods will include synthetic medicinal chemistry, chromatography, spectroscopic and analytical techniques (HPLC, LC-MS, and GC), as well as computational tools. An integral part of the work will be the integration of biological data with medicinal chemistry principles to identify the most promising molecular candidates.

How to apply

Technical information:

Position location: Oslo, Norway
Application deadline: October 1st, 2026
Interviews: Online during the period October 19th – November 6th and in presence Friday 4th December 2026
Project start date: April 1st, 2027
Duration: 3 years

Please follow this link to apply for this position and for more detailed instructions on the application: 
https://harpnet.eu/recruitment/

Apply for position DC12; we recommend applying for multiple positions within the network.

What skills are important in this role?

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in synthetic medicinal chemistry or synthetic organic chemistry. Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Documented solid experience in synthetic organic chemistry
• Documented solid experience in chromatography, spectroscopy and analyses of low molecular organic compounds
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

Desired qualifications:

• Documented relevant experience in lipid chemistry
• Documented relevant experience in medicinal chemistry oriented computational tools
   

University of Oslo is subject to the Security Act, which governs the organisation's protection of security-sensitive objects and knowledge, in addition to other relevant legislation concerning access to and handling of sensitive information. Based on this, it is a requirement that successful applicants are security-eligible. We may use background checks as part of our recruitment process.

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

We are an international team of researchers from diverse scientific and cultural backgrounds, and we seek a candidate with these personal skills:

• Good language and communication skills
• Good collaboration skills
• The ability to work in interdisciplinary teams
• The ability to work independently on complex projects, from planning to presenting results
• The ability to work precisely in a structured manner and swiftly adapts to new tasks
• Positive attitude and the ability to handle hectic periods
   

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

The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews.

General eligibility criteria for the HARPNET network

• Candidates must not have been awarded a doctorate previously
• Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country or 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 meet all eligibility criteria as outlined in the individual research projects descriptions
• Candidates must meet the entry requirements for admission to the PhD-program of the institution to which they apply, see below for more details

Language requirement:

• Good oral and written communication skills in English
• 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

In addition to the eligibility criteria above, candidates admitted to the PhD pro-gramme at the University of Oslo must fulfill the Grade requirements, see www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc7

The norm is as follows:

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system

For more information see:The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. 

We can offer you

• A pleasant and stimulating work environment
• 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
• Career development programmes
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
• Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - 610 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund 

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 (Norwegian), 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.

General information

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), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.  

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