Researcher in Personalized Cancer Treatment using Radiotheranostics

The position

An exciting permanent position as Researcher is available at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences. The position is affiliated with the Molecular Inflammation Research Group and the project THERACAN, which is funded by the Trond Mohn Foundation for 4 years.

The research will be conducted within a thriving research team that has recently received grants of excellence. The main focus of the work will be on the development and preclinical evaluation of novel radiotheranostics approaches to treat cancer. A preference will be given to candidates with background in preclinical experimental models and with demonstrated research interest in cancer.

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.

About the project

The project linked to this position is a sub-project of a larger collaborative research project named THERACAN. The overarching objective of the THERACAN project is to develop and test novel strategies for delivering more efficient and personalized targeted radionuclide therapies to patients (TRT). Within this broad project, the (sub)project will focus on the development and preclinical test of newly developed radiopharmaceuticals.

The candidate will be responsible for conducting preclinical studies, using cell culture assays and experimental animal tumor models, including planning and execution of experiments involving 212Pb-labelled FAPI-2286 and PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals, as well as external beam radiotherapy. Tumor responses to the treatment including tumor growth control and potential changes in the tumor microenvironment will be investigated. Additionally, the candidate will acquire skills in performing in vivo PET/SPECT and MR/CT imaging experiments and data analysis.

The candidate is expected to take an active role in coordinating experimental timelines, ensuring compliance with ethical and safety standards for animal research, and collaborating with national and international teams working in radio-immunotherapy, radiopharmacy, molecular imaging, cancer biology, and computational analysis. Participation in interdisciplinary meetings, contributions to scientific publications, and engagement in the broader research community are also expected.

Qualifications

Compulsory requirements

• A PhD degree in molecular/cell biology or related field. If you are at the final stages of your PhD, you may still apply if you have submitted your PhD thesis for evaluation within the application deadline. You must submit the thesis with your application. You must have received your PhD before the start date of the position.
• A publication record that document expertise in biomedical science and interdisciplinary research.
• Strong technical skills that align well with the project needs.
• Good communication skills in English. Nordic applicants can document their capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.
• Completed accredited training equivalent to FELASA Category B (EU Function A/D), required for conducting animal experiments in mice under Norwegian regulations.

Beneficial requirements

• Experience in preclinical cancer research, including cell culture assays and in vivo tumor models.
• Experience with radiopharmaceutical handling, radiation safety procedures and in vivo imaging (PET/SPECT, MR/CT).
• Proficiency in quantitative image analysis and associated data handling.
• Experience with analytical laboratory techniques such as flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
• Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and to communicate scientific results effectively.

At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Personal qualities
We seek a motivated, responsible and collaborative researcher who:

• Works well in teams and communicates clearly with colleagues and students.
• Shows strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrates scientific independence, integrity and a commitment to high ethical standards.
• Motivation and personal suitability will be emphasized in the assessment.

Inclusion and diversity  

UiT The Arctic University i Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity is a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.  

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics. 

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project using cutting-edge technology.
• A productive, collaborative, and stimulating environment with researchers working on forefront medical applications.
• Good career opportunities.
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement .
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund .
• The possibility to balance professional development with a location to experience the liberating arctic nature: ski under the northern lights, hike and bike along the fjords.

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.

More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility 

Application

Your application must include:

• Application letter, including a 1-page summary of your motivation, why you are qualified for this position and how you will strengthen the research activity in the research team.
• CV, containing a complete overview of education, experience, professional work and a list of scientific publications and presentations.
• Official transcripts of grades/Diplomas for all academic degrees.
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available).
• Description of your academic production, stating which work(s) you consider most important and of relevance to this position. A brief description of the other listed works should also be included to demonstrate breadth of production. These descriptions shall be an attachment to the application.
• Documentation of English proficiency
• Contact information to 3 valid references.
• Documentation of completed accredited training equivalent to FELASA Category B (if available).

If you’re at the final stages of your PhD, you may still apply if you have submitted your PhD thesis for doctoral degree evaluation within the application deadline. You must submit the thesis with your application. Documentation of your completed PhD degree must be submitted before commencement.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position. A copy of the assessment report will be sent to all applicants. 

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position. A trial lecture may also be held.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

The remuneration for Research Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1109. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no.

The successful candidate must be willing to get involved in the ongoing development of their department and the university as a whole.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.