Researcher bridging immunology, genomics and proteomics (academic-industry collaboration)

About the position

Applicants are invited to apply for a two-year Researcher position (SKO 1109) in immuno-proteomics (hands-on biology). The position is based at the Department of Immunology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo.

The position is available from July 2026 with a flexible start date between July and September 2026. It is a full-time role physically based at GSK Vaccines S.r.l. in Siena, Italy, within the MS Structural Biology, Ab Discovery and Immunology unit. Scientific advising and guidance will be provided by Dr. Greiff (Lab for Computational and Systems Immunology, greifflab.org).

The researcher will develop and establish an Ig-seq platform bridging immunoglobulin profiling, B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire sequencing and serology.

More about the position

The proposed project aims to investigate the polyclonal humoral immune response to a model viral antigen in human samples from pre-exposed individuals. This research integrates advanced techniques, including antigen-specific B-cell sorting, B-cell receptor (BCR) sequencing, and LC-MS/MS-based identification of circulating antigen-specific antibodies. The goal is to link B-cell clonotypes to serum immunoglobulins and resolve functional proteoforms through an immunoproteogenomics approach. The project will involve developing de novo sequencing workflows for antigen-specific antibodies, building proteogenomic pipelines to assemble VH/VL sequences and identify clonotypes. Data will be integrated matching BCR repertoires of PBMCs, tonsil tissue, and matched sera from GSK human biological samples. Computational modeling and machine learning will be essential for antibody identification, epitope prioritization, and cross-cohort comparisons.

The project focuses on deconvoluting pathogen-specific humoral responses to a seasonal viral pathogen by combining paired BCR repertoire sequencing with antigen-resolved LC-MS/MS proteomics. The candidate's responsibilities will encompass the development and analysis of mass spectrometry methods for antibody isolation and characterization, as well as designing and validating multiparameter flow cytometry panels for antigen-specific B-cell and plasma cell identification and sorting. The role demands rigorous data stewardship, collaboration with immunology, proteomics, and bioinformatics teams, primarily at GSK Siena, and contributing to the dissemination of research findings.

Key Duties 

• BCR library preparation and sequencing workflows,
• Implementing bioinformatics pipelines for clonotyping, lineage tracing, and proteogenomic integration
• Performing comparative analyses with published datasets.

 Qualifications

Qualification requirements

• Appointment to the position of researcher in position code 1109 requires a doctoral degree in Proteomics
• Hands-on experience with LC-MS/MS method development for proteins/antibodies, including sample prep, instrument setup, and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in Python/R and scientific computing, and reproducible research practices (Git, containers/workflows).
• Ability to build and run bioinformatic pipelines (de novo peptide sequencing, spectral annotation, FDR control).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
   

Desired qualifications

• Expertise in immune receptor immunology (BCR/TCR) and repertoire analytics (clonotyping, lineage tracing, SHM, germline inference).
• Experience with BCR repertoire analysis (Bulk and/or single cell)
• Experience with advanced Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting.
• Structural biology/protein informatics relevant to antibody-antigen interactions and developability assessment.
• Experience with complementary fragmentation methods (HCD/ETD/EThcD), intact/middle-down workflows, and disulfide/glycoform mapping.
• High-performance/parallel computing; familiarity with ML frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow) and benchmarking.
• Prior experience integrating proteomics and repertoire sequencing (immunoproteogenomics)
   

Personal skills

• Collaborative, adaptable, and effective in an interdisciplinary, ambitious environment.
• Independent, solution-oriented, and organised; strong scientific rigor and documentation practices
   

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, 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. 

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.
• A scientifically rich, interdisciplinary and international environment at GSK Siena with access to state-of-the-art proteomics and flow cytometry facilities.
• Advising and mentorship by Prof. Victor Greiff; opportunities for collaboration across immunology, proteomics, and computational teams.
• Professional development, training, and conference participation.
• Committed colleagues in a good working 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. 
• 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 Researcher, position code 1109 in salary range NOK from 640 000 to 760 000, 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.

Application

Your application should include:

• Application letter.
• CV.
• A complete list of publications.
• Project/research plan aligned with the position scope
• 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.

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  Rules for the use of research posts SKO 1108, 1109, 1110 and 1183 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.