About the position
A 3-year PhD fellowship is available at the Department of Immunology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo. The position will be located in the lab of Dr. Rasmus Iversen and will be available from May 2026.
The research group focuses on B-cell biology - in particular in relation to autoimmune diseases (Lab for Autoimmunity and B-cell Biology, ous-research.no/rasmusiversen).
Recently, B-cell depletion therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for several autoimmune diseases. However, we do not fully understand the pathogenic role of B cells. To gain insight into disease mechanisms, we employ a combination of biochemical assays, structural studies and high-throughput sequencing analyses of single cells isolated from patient samples. This position is part of a new translational research center (KG Jebsen Center for Specific Autoimmune Therapy) aiming to develop antigen-specific B-cell depletion strategies for treatment of autoimmune diseases. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with other researchers and clinicians at Oslo University Hospital.
Project description
The successful candidate will work on a project that aims to identify antigen-specific B cells in antisynthetase syndrome. This is a serious autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs. There is no cure for the disease, but recent studies have indicated that deep B-cell depletion can be an effective treatment. However, removal of all B cells leaves patients immunocompromised. The project will explore the possibility of targeting only the disease-causing fraction of B cells by employing antigen-specific depletion strategies. Ultimately, our goal is to develop precision medicine tools that can be used to treat a range of autoimmune diseases with a minimum of side effects.
Your main tasks will include
- Isolation of antigen-specific cells from patient samples
- Generation of recombinant monoclonal antibodies
- Generation of BCR-transduced cells lines
- Antibody-antigen binding studies
- Targeting of B cells in in vitro assays
- Writing of scientific papers and presentation of results at international conferences
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in molecular biology, bioinformatics or a related area
- Experience with relevant techniques (flow cytometry, cell cultures, PCR, molecular cloning, ELISA) is considered an advantage
- Experience working with recombinant monoclonal antibodies is considered an advantage
- Experience with immune receptor sequencing is considered an advantage
- Fluent in spoken and written English
Personal skills
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with an outstanding potential and a strong background within a relevant research area. The candidate should be able to work independently as well as in a team and should actively contribute to both the design and conduction of research experiments.
We need different perspectives in our work
UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.
We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?
We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.
If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps, we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).
The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.
More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.
We hope you will apply for the position with us.
We offer
- Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
A pleasant and stimulating work environment - Good welfare schemes.
- Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
- A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
- Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
- Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - 600 000 to, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.
Application
Your application should include:
- Application letter
- CV
- A complete list of publications
- Project description
- Transcripts and certificates
- Contact information for 2-3 references
Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".
When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
General information
The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.
Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.
Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.
The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.
Om arbeidsgiveren:
The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 26 500 students and 7 200 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.
The Institute of Clinical Medicine (Klinmed) is one of three institutes under the Faculty. Klinmed is responsible for the Faculty's educational and research activities at Oslo University Hospital and Akershus University Hospital. With about 900 employees spread over approximately 425 man-labour years, Klinmed is the university's largest institute. Our activities follow the clinical activity at the hospitals and are spread across a number of geographical areas.
