About the position 

We have vacancies for two postdoctoral researchers at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine: the first one oriented to bioinformatics and computer engineering, the second one focusing on bioinformatics and cancer biology.

The two postdoctoral researchers will work in close collaboration with each other.

You will be part of the international research consortium ONCOLOGICS, coordinated by NTNU, and working to advance personalised medicine for colorectal cancer patients. You will interact closely with other researchers at NTNU and in our ONCOLOGICS network, which includes top research institutions throughout Europe: outstanding partners from Institut Curie, Charité, Uppsala University, the SME ProtAtOnce in Greece,
and Barcelona Supercomputing Center.

The ONCOLOGICS project aims to bring Personalised Medicine to the clinic by combining in silico computational modelling and functional validation in patient-derived tumor tissue cultivated ex vivo. Experimental readouts include patient cancer cell viability data as well as specific molecular readouts that report on cancer cell growth signaling. The in silico and ex vivo platforms jointly pave the way for future ‘functional personalised medicine’.

You will report to researcher MD MSc PhD Åsmund Flobak, ONCOLOGICS coordinator.

Duties of the position

• You will analyze various types of molecular data from colon cancer patients that have received medical therapies at Institut Curie and Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, and contribute to innovative new integrative analysis methods that can provide detailed characterization of a patient’s tumour material
•  You will design and develop computational models for therapy treatment simulations, based on DrugLogics software and other software solution from the consortium partners
• You will analyze discrepancies between computational model predictions and clinical observations from patients for which there is already treatment outcome data available
• You will contribute to the development of computational models, the analysis of model performance and iterative model refinement, and you will develop new metrics to evaluate model compliance with patient-derived tumour sample behaviour and drug response

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree in the area of bioinformatics and/or computer sciences or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD 
• Proficiency in oral and written English.

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

• a background in bioinformatics or computer engineering, preferably with focus on oncology or cancer biology
• experience with and motivation to work in an interdisciplinary scientific setting
• excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Technical skills: programming languages, programming skills, math and stats skills
• Personal characteristics

We seek candidates that

• are motivated and able to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration
• have good communication and networking skills
• are team players, able to convert meeting minutes into action
• are proactive and forthcoming, able to work 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 2 years.

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. 

The position is subject to external funding.

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 5 items) 
• Research plan or project proposal
• 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. 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 Åsmund Flobak, telephone 0047 72 57 37 17, email asmund.flobak@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Elisabeth Myrvang, e-mail: elisabeth.myrvang@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).  

Application deadline: 31.10.21

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.

The Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM):

The Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM) is NTNU’s largest department, with 450 employees. Our research and teaching help to improve treatment and health.

IKOM has expertise in basic, clinical and translational research within broad disciplinary areas. We study children’s and women’s health, cancers, blood disorders and infectious diseases, gastroenterology, inflammation, metabolic disorders, laboratory sciences and medical ethics. The

Department offers teaching in medicine at master’s and PhD level. We also offer continuing education for employees in the health services.

Deadline 31st October 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime (2 jobs)
Duration Temporary
Place of service