The position

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Department of Medical Biology has an available position for a PhD Fellow, for applicants wishing to take a Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) degree at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway. The Research Group for Host-Microbe Interactions is searching for a self-motivated and enthusiastic PhD Fellow to conduct an interdisciplinary research project in the field of microbiology and chemical proteomics.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research university and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.

Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.The Faculty of Health Sciences

The Faculty of Health Sciences represents a newly created entity gathering almost all possible health study programs. This facilitates an unique interdisciplinarity and innovation in health education and research. We work closely with the services in the North to solve tomorrow's challenges.

The position is available from 01.05.2020 and the appointment is for a period of 4 years. The nominal length of the PhD program is three years. The fourth year is distrubuted as 25 % each year, and will consist of teaching and other work tasks undertaken for the Faculty of Health Sciences. The successful candidate is obliged to make a contribution to the teaching of all students at the Faculty of Health Sciences as and where necessary.Department of Medical Biology (IMB) will be the workplace for the candidate. More than 180 staff members from all over the world have their workplace at IMB. The department consists of 13 research groups concentrated on fundamental biomedical research problems, including research on various forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, the immune system, host-microbe interactions and antibiotic resistance. The department provides education for students studying programs in medicine, dentistry, biomedical laboratory sciences, biomedicine and pharmacy. The position is affiliated to the Research group for host-microbe-interactions (HMI) and the new Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS).The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD Fellow shall participate in the faculty’s organized research training, and the PhD project shall be completed during the period of employment. Information about the application process for admission to the PhD programme, application form and regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor(PhD) are available at the following address: PhD - Faculty of Health Sciences

The position's field of research

The successful fellow will be an essential part of a new project area headed by Assoc. Prof. Christian Lentz. Our research is dedicated to exploring the adaptation of bacterial pathogens to their host and antibiotics at the single-cell level using chemical biology and microbiological methods. We will use these insights to develop innovative approaches to prevent, treat and diagnose bacterial infections. The position is funded through a start-up grant by the newly established Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS).

• The specific aim of the advertised project is to identify and validate enzymes of bacterial pathogens that are relevant for bacterial survival under different experimental conditions
• The project involves the use of chemical proteomic techniques such as activity-based protein profiling to detect and quantify enzyme activites in gel-based assay systems, to enrich and identify the molecular targets of covalent small molecule probes by mass spectrometry, and to visualize enzyme activities in bacterial cells by fluorescence microscopy. The project further foresees the cultivation of bacterial pathogens in different in vitro assay systems and potentially the cloning, recombinant expression and functional validation of newly discovered enzymes.
• The successful applicant must contribute to the Department's various teaching activities (apportioned to 25% of the student´s working hours). The duties will be allocated based on the applicant's qualifications and the needs of the Department, and may include exam work, teaching seminars, and supervising or assisting in lab courses.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Christian Lentz:

- Phone: (+47) 776 44905 - E-mail: christian.s.lentz@uit.no

or Professor Mona Johannessen:

- Phone: (+47) 776 46225 - E-mail: mona.johannessen@uit.no

We offer

• A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund

More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here: Welcome to UiT!

Qualification requirements

• Completion of a Master’s degree in the life sciences or other educations that have been approved as equivalent. (Qualification with a Master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your Master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis. You must document completion of your degree before commencement in the position).
• A specialization and documented experience in microbiology, infection biology or chemical biology/proteomics-related areas will be evaluated as advantageous.
• Good communication and collaboration skills
• The candidates must document proficiency in both written and oral English as stated here is required

We are seeking a candidate with a high degree of self-motivation and able to work independently in a structured manner. Both a strong academic record and a genuine interest in conducting research are essential to qualify for the position. The candidates Master’s thesis, academic record, and other application materials must demonstrate this. We will emphasize personal suitability in our assessment.

The PhD Fellow will participate in formal research training, and perform the doctorate degree project over the course of the period of employment. The eligibility requirements for the faculty’s PhD programme must be met cf. section 6, Regulations for the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD). For information on the admissions process to the PhD programme and on PhD regulations, visit: Regulations PhD Faculty of Health Sciences

Application

The application must be submitted electronically via www.jobbnorge.no and shall include:

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV - summarizing education, positions and academic work
• Diplomas and transcripts of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree or equivalent (in original language and translated)
• Master thesis, and any other academic works
• Two references with contact details
• Documentation on English proficiency. This website states how English profiency shall be documented.

Proficiency in the English language can be documented in the following ways:

• Diploma from a Norwegian upper secondary school with both spoken and written English (140 hours)
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• IELTS (International English Testing Service)
• Completed university degree in the field of English language or literature
• One year’s completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or USA, for which English was the language of instruction

Documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language. We only accept applications through Jobbnorge.

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee’s mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants’ qualifications based on the application documents and the text of the announcement. The Assessment Committee will give emphasis to the potential for research, as presented in the Master’s thesis or equivalent, or in any other academic works.

In the assessment, consideration may also be given to professional experience and any other activity which may be significant for the completion of the doctoral degree, as well as to any pedagogical qualifications. This includes pedagogical training, teaching experience, experience of public education and experience/training of other kinds.

As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

General

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017 or 1378 depending on qualifications. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. UiT will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to Offentleglova information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.

Department of Medical Biology

The research conducted by the Department of Medical Biology focuses on fundamental biomedical questions and comprises research on various types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, the body's immune system and resistance to antibiotics. The Department also takes part in marine bioprospecting and in the development of new medicines. As part of an extensive cooperation network that includes both Norwegian and international partners, the Department chairs and participates in a number of projects funded by the European Union and the Research Council of Norway.

The main emphasis of the departments teaching is related to the medicine and odontology programs, a bachelor's program in bioengineering, as well as on bachelor's, master's and doctoral level in biomedicine. The department also contributes to education of students of nutrition, paramedics, radiography and nursing. The department also hosts the Advanced Microscopy Core Facility (KAM) and Tromsø University Proteomics Platform (TUPP).

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