About the job

A new postdoctoral position is available in the lab of Dr. Mara Martin-Alonso, Group Leader at CEMIR. Our main scientific goal is to understand how diseases in mucosal surfaces such as the gut and the lung are started and developed in time. This project focuses on how epithelium is reprogrammed in processes such as intestinal repair and tumorigenesis, and how this process is controlled by stromal partners during tumor formation and metastasis. The main goal of the candidate will be to study the mechanisms implicated in tumor formation affecting the intestinal epithelium and the possible partners related to the different phases of cancer development and metastasis. The work will be a combination of ex vivo organoid cultures, in vivo tumor models, combined with RNAseq, histology, flow cytometry, microscopy, bioinformatics and general cell and biochemical work.

The period of employment for the position is 4 years, preferably starting in Spring 2023 (or earlier).

Our laboratory consists of an international team of enthusiastic biologists and biotechnologists, with an exciting and extremely good work atmosphere.

We seek a highly motivated new colleague with preferred experience in cancer and/or intestinal biology. The candidate is expected to spearhead his/her research line. He/She should be able to present the data by writing and publishing in scientific journals, and by orally presenting them at meetings. Thus, oral and written competence of the English language is a must.

We are looking forward to bringing in an excited candidate that will complement our current strengths, who can work independently, but also participate and contribute to the research of others in the group.

Please read our recent publications to have a broad overview of techniques and approaches used in our laboratory.

Duties of the position

• Work with intestinal organoids. Isolation, culture and maintenance of normal and tumorigenic organoids.
• Mouse work. Models of inflammation, tumor development and organoids isolation. Colony maintenance.
• Analysis of organoids/mice models using general cell and molecular biology tools including histology, microscopy, flow cytometry, RNA and protein analysis by RNA-seq and proteomics, western blot, qPCR, etc.
• Basic Bioinformatics knowledge (RNA seq analysis, Mass spectrometry analysis).
• Data analysis and figures generation to be published in international peer-review journals.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in cancer research, molecular medicine, or a related field and must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD.

If you can document that the PhD thesis has been submitted, your application can be assessed even if you have not yet defended           your dissertation. Documentation of the obtained doctoral degree must be presented before you can take up the position.

• Proficiency in oral and written English

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D Candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate.

Preferred selection criteria

Emphasis will also be placed on experience with the following areas:

• Prior experience in animal model research, preferably in mice
• Prior experience in organoids and/or cell culture
• Felasa C certification is beneficial
• Technical skills in molecular and cellular biology, and genetics
• Experience in flow cytometry, histology, immunostaining and imaging (e.g., confocal microscopy)
• Ability to do programming to analyze large data sets

Personal characteristics

• Ability to work both independently and in a team
• Ambitious
• Honest and reliable
• Open-minded and including
• Stamina

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 563 500 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 4 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: 

• Cover letter
• CV and certificates
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your Ph.D, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or that your PhD thesis has been submitted
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, or have recently submitted your thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 3 items)
• Name and contact information 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 

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality.

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. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Mara Martin Alonso, email mara.m.alonso@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Elisabeth Myrvang, e-mail: elisabeth.myrvang@ntnu.no.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: 31.12.2022 

NTNU

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 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MH) is one of NTNU’s largest faculties with about 2000 employees (1300 full-time equivalents).

The Faculty’s main activities are education and research in close integration with St Olav’s Hospital. For further information, see: https://www.ntnu.edu/mh.

Deadline 31st December 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary