About the position

We currently have a vacancy at the Group of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology (GMCC) for a PhD student fellowship. This is a 3-year temporary position within the field of cardiac physiology and molecular medicine. We seek a talented and enthusiastic person with experience in medicine, physiology and molecular medicine.

The hosting research group GMCC is located at the Department of Circulation and medical imaging at the Faculty of Medicine and health sciences. NTNU and St. Olavs University Hospital in Trondheim offers a unique research environment for translational medical research. The research unit is integrated in St. Olavs University Hospital, and is now co-located with the cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery units. Both NTNU and St. Olavs Hospital have excellent infrastructures for clinical and experimental research with state-of-the-art equipment and laboratory technicians and engineers, with considerable knowledge and time-allocation dedicated to the laboratory methods. More information about GMCC: www.ntnu.edu/isb/gmcc.

Main duties and responsibilities

Our research projects aim to establish a novel separation and characterization technology for purified exosomes released from the heart. Despite the extraordinary potential of the exosomes in protecting the heart, todays way to isolate and purify exosomes for characterization and especially for clinical utilization with aim of delivering exosomes to ischemic areas are suboptimal. This project in molecular and biomedical engineering represents a major multi-disciplinary effort by combining fluid mechanics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and medicine for developing an exosome separation, purification, analyses and treatment platform. This PhD position is part of a collaborative effort between researchers from different disciplines. The PhD candidate will in this project work in close collaboration with one PhD candidate from the Department of Energy and Process Engineering that will focus on the technical challenges of separation and detection of sub-micron particles using a microfluidic platform. In addition, one Post doc from the field of biotechnology will benefit the project.

The role of the current PhD position will be to serve the project from a biomedical, cellular and molecular medical side with providing and characterizing exosomes from biological fluids. For analyses of exosomes we will use material from different sources: intact hearts in vivo as well as isolated hearts from experimental comparative animal models as well as well as exosomes released from cardiomyocytes maintained and treated in culture. The topic of the current PhD project involves ischemic heart disease and isolation of purified exosomes as well as in detail characterization of purified exosomes, also including their cargo. 

Qualification requirements

We are searching for a person with a powerful internal motivation to identify physiological and cellular mechanisms of the heart in both experimental animal and human studies. The successful candidate must have:

• A master’s degree or an equivalent education in a relevant field such as physiology, genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology, systems biology or a medical degree
• Experience in quantitative statistical analysis and academic writing
• A strong academic record with a weighted average grade of at least B from master’s or equivalent education, in accordance with NTNU’s grading system
• Proficiency in spoken and written English
• The candidate must have extensive experience in general cellular biology laboratory work and master work with cell cultures in addition to general biochemical and molecular techniques and analyses for transcriptomic and proteomic analyses

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, postdoctor and research assistant

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

Personal characteristics

• Previous research experience and/or publication
• Experience with research in cardiac physiology, especially within myocardial infarction
• Experience with experimental animal research
• Previous experience with exosomes, RNA sequencing and proteomics analyses as well as bioinformatics analyses
• Personal motivation and proven ability to work both independently and in a team, as well as potential as a researcher
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and written

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement.

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

PhD Candidates (code 1017) are remunerated with a gross annual salary of minimum NOK 479 600. Depending on qualifications and academic background the salary can range between NOK 479 600 – 523, 200.  In addition to taxes, a further 2% is deducted for the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The appointment will be made in accordance with current regulations and supplementary rules with guidelines for employment as PhD Candidate appointments at universities and university colleges in Norway. Admission to a doctoral degree program is a requirement for employment as a PhD candidate. See: http://www.ntnu.no/studieavd/dok/PhD_regulations.pdf

Appointment takes place on the terms that apply to State employees at any time, and after the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

Candidates from universities outside Norway are requested to send a Diploma Supplement or similar official document, which describes in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree:  https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/european-skills-passport/diploma-supplement.

Candidates from non-English speaking countries outside the Nordic countries must provide official documentation of their English competence. Approved tests and results are:

• TOEFL: 600 / writing 4.5 (paper-based test), 92 / writing 22 (internet- based test)
• IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS tests accepted)
• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): grade A or B

General information

A good working environment is characterized by diversity. NTNU has a goal of ensuring a gender and age balance and to recruit candidates with a minority background. We therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, age, functional capacity or cultural background. If necessary, we will adapt the workplace for people with disabilities.

Norway and NTNU offer strong family-friendly and life-balance polices, see:

http://www.nyinorge.no/en
https://www.norge.no/en   
https://www.ntnu.edu/lifeandhousing/trondheim/practical-information
For more information regarding moving to NTNU: http://www.ntnu.edu/nirs

How to apply:

Please submit your application electronically using the appropriate link in http://www.jobbnorge.no. Applicants will only be assessed on the information submitted and it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure everything is submitted by the deadline of 15.01.2020.

Please complete the online application form. The applicant’s personal qualification and motivation for applying for the specific position must be mentioned in the cover letter. In addition, the following pdfs must be attached:

• Relevant transcripts and diplomas, including diploma supplement
• Short statement from a former supervisor/tutor/teacher
• Publication list, if applicable

Chosen applicants will be invited to undergo an interview.

For further information about the position, please contact:

Head of GMCC/ Senior Researcher, Morten Andre Høydal, ISB, telephone: +47 72828053 or email: morten.hoydal@ntnu.no.

For information concerning the application process, please contact:

HR Consultant Julie Hoff, telephone: + 47 72576984, email: julie.hoff@ntnu.no.

Please note that under the Norwegian Civil Service Act, information about applicants may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be included on the list of applicants.

Application deadline: 15.01.2020

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 Circulation and Imaging (ISB) has 260 employees, and its research units are at the Cardiothoracic Centre at St. Olav’s Hospital, integrated with collaborating clinical divisions. The Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (ISB) includes anaesthesiology, radiology, radiography,

ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, exercise physiology, cardiovascular physiology, pulmonary physiology, pulmonary medicine, cardiology, vascular surgery, thoracic surgery and biomedical engineering. The department is also responsible for the Centre for Innovative Ultrasound Solutions (CIUS), the Medical Simulation Centre and the MR Centre. More information about the department is available at http://www.ntnu.edu/isb

Deadline 15th January 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Øya