About the position 

Applications are invited for a 3 years position in a Research Fellowship as PhD Candidate in Bioinformatics / Molecular biology to be based at the Department of Molecular Biology (EpiGen), University of Oslo.

More about the position 

We are seeking a motivated Bioinformatics graduate who wants to expand their knowledge to cancer research / molecular biology. The recently opened laboratory of Associate Professor Harri Itkonen at Epigen (Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo) focuses on understanding how the transcriptional machinery and program are remodeled during oncogenic transformation and as the cancer progresses. The Team utilizes computational tools, cell line / mouse experiments along with patient samples to develop potential therapies.

In the current project, the hired PhD Trainee will focus on the remodeling of the basal transcription machinery and its output. RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) lies in the center of regulating gene expression, and remodeling of this machinery is one of the core interests to us as well. Earlier, we have shown that the lowered activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 12 renders prostate cancer cells addicted on the splicing machinery Liang & al. 2024, PMID: 38775167 and Pallasaho / Gondane & al. 2024, PMID: 39361894. This dependency may in part be explained due to gene length-dependent effects, which on one hand stimulate transcription of short genes while suppressing the long. In these projects, we have made extensive use of comprehensive transcriptional profiling, including RNA-seq, SLAM-seq, alternative splicing analysis, combined with epigenetic profiling using ChIP-seq, FAIRE-seq and more recently also ATAC-seq (for examples, see Itkonen & al. 2020, PMID: 3261155; Hu & al. 2021, PMID: 34592899; Gondane & al 2022, PMID: 35164752 and Gondane & al. 2023, PMID: 36975490).

My laboratory works as a team, and some of the data required in the proposed project has already been generated. The most critical skill of the person hired is the ability to use command line-based tools, and as the project evolves, she / he will be involved in other projects in the laboratory as well.

The proposed project is intended for an MSc-level person who wishes to acquire PhD degree. PhD Trainees in my laboratory typically graduate within 3-4 years, and I put great emphasis on planning the project with clear milestones set in the beginning. This strategy allows the Trainees and myself to reflect on the progress and to make adjustments as need be.

I encourage direct, informal enquiries and questions regarding the position (harri.itkonen@medisin.uio.no).

Qualifications / Competence / Selection criteria 

• Applicant must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in bioinformatics or a related field including molecular biology. The degrees should be a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or an equivalent qualification, minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent on a distinct evaluation system (please, explain the evaluation system as part of your attachments). The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS
• Proven experience on using command line-based tools
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

In addition, the additional qualifications will be an asset

• Experience from using virtual machines
• Previous experience on using the computational / experimental tools mentioned in this application
• Experiments on cell lines
• Working experience (in any sector, also unrelated to the field of education)
• Demonstrabale experience in presenting own work (conferences, social media etc)

 Personal skills

• Genuine interest in science
• Ability to work in a team and independently
• Excellent communication skills

We offer 

• A competitive salary depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow, 
• NOK 536 200-575 400
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

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.
• Project description.
• Transcripts and certificates.
• Contact information for 2-3 references.
• Each faculty determines which documentation should accompany the application - insert what applies to the position.

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 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.