PhD position in Experimental Molecular Oncology – Pediatric Research Group
A 3-year PhD position is available at the Pediatric Research Group, UNN-University Hospital of North Norway and UiT- The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Norway. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. The position, including running costs, is financed by The Norwegian Childhood Cancer Society.The Pediatric Research Group is divided in subgroups specializing in the fields of oncology, neonatology, infection, rheumatology, allergy, pain research, child and adolescence psychiatry and developmental pathology. The overall aim is to contribute to better treatment and development of preventive methods by acquiring new knowledge. The current project falls into the part of the research group focusing on oncology. The PhD position is associated with the Pediatric Oncology Group. There are currently 1 postdoc, 1 medical research student, a laboratory manager and two professors in the group. The PhD position will be conducted/implemented in close collaboration with our research fellows at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm – Sweden.The research group has a collaboration with the Molecular Inflammation Research Group at UiT- The Arctic University of Norway. In addition, the research group has collaboration with research groups in Oslo-Norway and Stockholm-Sweden. The PhD project:This project is entitled “Combating the MYCN oncogene in aggressive neuroblastomas with novel therapeutic strategies”. Neuroblastoma is a pediatric cancer originating from immature cells destined for the sympathetic nervous system. It is an extremely heterogeneous disease ranging from spontaneously regressing tumors to aggressive metastatic disease with fatal outcome. Therefore, there is an imminent need to investigate new treatment options for high-risk neuroblastoma. The Pediatric Oncology Group has focused the research on several aspects of molecular oncology in the childhood cancer neuroblastoma, including studies of the MYCN oncogene, microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs. This PhD project is a translational research project aiming to improve clinical work and health service for cancer patients. Specifically, the project will investigate expression and regulation of the MYCN oncogene in model systems (cell lines and mouse models) of neuroblastomas using newly developed sequencing methodologies. RNA sequences generated from, and interacting with, the MYCN oncogene will be investigated and evaluated as potential targets for treatment and diagnosis of aggressive neuroblastomas. RNA splicing and regulatory RNAs interacting with oncogene expression will be investigated in-depth. The results generated from this project are also expected to have impact on treatment and understanding of other MYC-driven cancers. The overall aim of this project is to investigate novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit oncogene expression in aggressive variants of neuroblastoma with the aim to evaluate new potential treatment alternatives for this disease. Duties and responsibilitiesThe applicant should have previous experience from work with experimental molecular oncology. The work is expected to include a broad array of techniques and technologies such as general molecular biology techniques, cell cultures, animal studies (xenograft), protein and RNA expression analyses, microscopy, flow cytometry/FACS and a variety of other molecular biology methodsAnalyzing data, and presenting the results The PhD candidate will in addition to project planning and lab work be involved in the daily maintenance of the laboratory Introduction of new relevant techniques to the research group will be highly valuated. RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses will be conducted in this project, so experience with this will also be valuated Preparation of manuscript drafts and grant applications Attending seminars, courses and conferences Institutional teaching is not associated with this position Applications must be submitted through "Apply for position". The application must contain:Cover letter giving a brief description of previous research experience and motivation to why you are applying. CV (including date of birth, address, list of publications, relevant former positions and references). Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor's and master's degree Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available) Documentation of English proficiency Master’s thesis, and any other academic works Other relevant attachments to the application:Recommendation letters and/or contact details to reference personsAny other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. We only accept applications and documentation sent within the application deadline. Applicants may be called to an interview. The interview shall, among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability and motivation for the position. A trial lecture may also be requested. The remuneration is in accordance with the qualifications of the successful applicant. QualificationsFor employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment periodAdmission normally requires: A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTSA master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master's degree of 120 ECTSA master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTSApplicants must have a grade of C or better on the master's thesis and have a grade point average of C or better for the master's degree.Applicants should preferably be fluent in Norwegian, both spoken and written form. However, applicants fluent in English, both spoken and written will be considered. Emphasis will be put on personal qualities such as independence in the laboratory, developed way of critical thinking and creativity, as well as the ability to work successfully in a research group. UtdanningsnivåHøyskole / Universitet, Hovedfag / MastergradKontaktinformasjonTrond Flægstad, Professor/MD, +47 924 55 047, Trond.Flaegstad@unn.no
Christer Einvik, Professor, +47 415 48 510, Christer.Einvik@uit.noArbeidsstedHansine Hansens veg 67
9019 TromsøNøkkelinformasjon: Arbeidsgiver:Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge HFReferansenr.:4498849229Stillingsprosent: 100%ScholarshipSøknadsfrist: 01.09.2022
Frist
01.09.2022