Job description

A funded 3-year PhD candidate position is available in the Computational Biology & Gene Regulation group led by Anthony Mathelier at the Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), University of Oslo, and a Nordic EMBL partner for molecular medicine.

More about the position

The group was established in 2016 and focuses on gene expression regulation and the mechanisms by which it can be disrupted in human diseases such as cancers. In a nutshell, the group develops and applies computational approaches to analyse in house (through collaborations with groups at the Institute for Cancer Research, where the group is also affiliated) and public multi-omics data to study gene expression dysregulation. Amongst others, our current projects aim at developing new computational methods and tools for (1) improving the prediction of transcription factor (TF) binding sites; (2) prioritizing somatic mutations dysregulating the gene regulatory program in cancer cells; (3) understanding the interplay between TF binding and DNA methylation in cancers; (4) characterizing the landscape of active promoters and enhancers in breast cancer; and (5) assessing the transcriptional impact of transition from diploid to aneuploid cells in breast cancer. The Computational Biology & Gene Regulation group is funded through a start-up package from the NCMM, a Young Research Talent grant from the Research Council of Norway, and an open call grant from the Norwegian Cancer Society.

See http://mathelierlab.com for further information.

Candidates

We seek an individual highly motivated by the development of computational models and tools dedicated to the analysis of biological data. We are looking for applicants excited about combining life sciences and computation to analyse gene expression regulation. The ideal candidate will be collaborative, independent, with strong enthusiasm for research, and should have experience in statistical / machine learning modelling and computer programming (mainly Python, R, and bash) dedicated to the analysis of large-scale genomics data. Being familiar with gene expression regulation in general, DNA methylation, and TF binding is an advantage. The selected candidate will develop computational models to study the binding of TF to DNA and how aberrant DNA methylation can alter gene regulation in cancers. The position is open to applicants with a background in computational biology/bioinformatics, computer science, or related fields. We offer a stimulating environment with excellent working and social benefits.

Requirements

Essential requirements and skills

• Master degree in computational biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, or a related field
• Proficiency in programming (Python, R, bash)
• Ability to collaborate with researchers from different fields and at different career stages
• Willingness to be part of a team to share knowledge and skills
• Experience with analysis of genomics data sets
• High drive for science
• Proficiency in English

Advantageous skills

• Proven ability to implement bioinformatics pipelines, tools, and resources
• Experience with a workflow management tool like Snakemake
• Experience with the git version control system
• Knowledge of eukaryotic gene expression regulation is an advantage
• Knowledge of molecular biology is an advantage

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter outlining motivations, career goals, past achievements, and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

All documents should be uploaded in PDF format.

Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”.

We offer

• The PhD candidate position will be placed as SKO 1017 (position code) with salary NOK 479 600 – 532 300 per annum, depending on qualifications.
• 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

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Contact information

Inquiries about the position can be directed to Anthony Mathelier at anthony.mathelier@ncmm.uio.no.

Inquiries about the application can be directed to personnel adviser Nina Modahl at ninam@ncmm.uio.no.

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