About the position 

A postdoc position within the field of nanomedicine is available at The Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science at NTNU. The position is financed by the Research Council of Norway and the period of employment is three years. For the right candidate additional six months of employment  financed by the department may be considered.

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.  

The position is part of the project entitled ‘From evading to embracing immune cells’.  In this project, we and our (inter)national collaborators aim utilize interactions between nanoparticles and immune cells for medical purposes. The postdoc will focus on the interaction between lipidic nanoparticles (such as liposomes) and immune cells. With the emerging understanding of the role for specific immune cell populations in a variety of pathologies, it is increasingly relevant to develop therapeutic strategies targeting specific cell populations. From this angle, the project will focus on characterizing and optimizing these interactions.

You will report to Head of Departement Lars Gunnar Landrø.

Duties of the position

The tasks of the Postdoc span the entire range of lipidic nanoparticle synthesis, in vivo characterization of their interactions with specific immune cells, and in vivo therapeutic application. Although the primary focus is to utilize liposomes for therapeutic interventions, the proposed extensive characterization of immune responses will also provide a better understanding of the immunosuppressive effects of specific immune cell sub-sets in cancer.

In vivo/ex vivo characterization of liposomes and immune cells and responses will be important parts of this work. In vivo imaging is the main tool we use to study nanoparticles in vivo and apart from imaging procedures and sample collection, ex vivo flow cytometry and microscopy and image data analysis will be significant parts of these experiments.

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD. 
• A PhD providing strong skills and knowledge in oncology/immunology and nano/biomedicine
• Expertise in in-vivo experiments and neutrophil manipulation
• Oral and written English skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Preferred selection criteria

It is an advantage to have experience in:

• Tumor biology and immunology
• Flow cytometry
• Medical imaging
• Confocal microscopy

Personal characteristics

Our work is motivated by a fascination for the interaction between man-made nanomaterials and biology. The current project is a ‘high risk/high gain’ project, which means we are looking for a highly competent person who:

• Is highly motivated for the position
• Is enthusiastic and ambitious and has a strong commitment to research
• Has excellent communication skills
• Has an ability to work in in transdisciplinary teams as well as independently.   

We offer 

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment 
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues 
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 
• employee benefits 

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 545 300 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. 

The period of employment is 3 years (possibility of an additional 6 months due to teaching duties).  

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis. 

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.  

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result. 

The application must include: 

• CV, certificates and diplomas 
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, master's- and PhD degrees.  
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 6 works)
• Name and address of three referees 

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well. 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation. 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA. 

General information 

Working at NTNU 

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.  

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.  

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants. 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Researcher Miriam Giambelluca, e-mail: miriam.giambelluca@ntnu.no.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI). 

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Please refer to the application number NV-84/21 when applying.  

Application deadline: 02.08.2021

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science 

We are responsible for the bachelor’s degree programmes for medical laboratory technologists at NTNU. We conduct research in areas relevant to the teaching we provide and to the development of medical diagnostics. We work in close cooperation with the University Hospital, St Olavs Hospital. The Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Deadline 2nd August 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service NTNU - Trondheim