The Department of Clinical Medicine has a position available as Postdoctoral research fellow in the field of nuclear imaging for the study of atherosclerotic plaques in small rodents. The position is affiliated to the Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Biology research group and the project SECURE – Novel Marine Resources for Food Security and Food Safety, and is part of a strategic commitment to increase the knowledge of utilization and general health effects of seafood consumption, including mechanistic studies of possible health effects.
The Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Biology research group (NM&RB research group) is a multidisciplinary team organized at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the Faculty of Health Science, Department of Clinical Medicine, and tightly connected to the Tromsø PET Imaging Center (PET-center) at University Hospital of North Norway (UNN). The PET-center has about 40 employees and the environment is highly multidisciplinary. The center counts with a cyclotron for the generation of radionuclides, state-of-the-art equipment for the production of radiotracers, new equipment for small animal in vivo imaging and clinical positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission tomography (SPECT), computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) scanners.
Most of the work in the position will be carried out at the PETcore, which is an R&D core facility, performing tracer developing studies, establishing imaging methods, as well as participating in study design, performance and data analysis. The PETcore possesses a three-modality scanner (PET/SPECT-CT), an image guided mouse irradiator, containing a bioluminescence-imaging unit and a new preclinical PET/ 7T MR scanner. All the imaging equipment mentioned is located behind animal barriers in the department of Comparative Medicine (AKM). AKM is a research department at the Faculty of Health Science approved by the authorities in order to establish and use animals in biomedical research. AKM and the PETcore serve users from the entire UiT, from UNN and from other research institutions in the region. The employee will work closely together with the PETcore employees at the PET-center and AKM
The project/position`s field of research
The multidisciplinary research project SECURE is looking for a keen scientist, with an excellent academic record and the ambition and potential to become an internationally acknowledged researcher. SECURE is financed by UiT and deals with the utilisation of novel marine low trophic level food resources. The overall aim of the project is to develop knowledge enabling sustainable food security and safety by a multidisciplinary approach covering research fields from cardiometabolic health to legal framework.
The researcher will study the role of the diets from new food resources in relation to cardiovascular disease using mice as animal model. The aim of the project is the development of in vivo imaging protocols for the detection of atherosclerotic plaques in a mouse model for vascular disease.
The successful candidate is expected to test and develop protocols that will enable the detection of early vascular wall changes during atherogenesis in small rodents in in vivo settings by the use of PET/SPECT/ CT and MR imaging methods. The aim is to reveal if and how novel marine diets affect the development of atherosclerosis in mice. The candidate will work closely with the other partners of the SECURE project, comparing imaging results with more traditional protocols. This will be done through:
- Testing and comparing PET, SPECT, CT and MR protocols for detection of plaques in ApoE (-/-) mouse model
- Determining the optimal protocol for early detection of atherosclerotic plaque
- Visualizing the development of the atherosclerotic plaque on the mouse model under different marine diets
- If possible, visualizing bacteria established within the atherosclerotic plaque
The candidate will be engaged in planning and conducting laboratory and animal experiments, analyzing the imaging data, supervising PhD and MSc students, and contributing to high-impact publications.
Contact
The contact person for this position is Dr. Associate Professor Rune Sundset, tel: +47 97 14 14 56, e-mail: rune.sundset@unn.no
Qualification requirements
- PhD in health science, medicine, animal physiology, molecular biology or other relevant discipline in the field of cardiovascular artery disease. Qualification with a PhD is required before commencement in the position. If you are at the final stages of your PhD, you may still apply. You must submit the thesis with your application. You should have dissertated before the preferred start-up date of the position.
- The suitable candidate must document (i.e. peer-reviewed or otherwise published) expertise in molecular (PET/SPECT) and/or imaging (CT/MR) methods to study cardiovascular disease. Previous studies in atherosclerosis will be preferable
- Experience from practical laboratory work relevant to the given project
- Hands-on experience with animal experimentation
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment
- The candidate must show a good command on English, both spoken and written.
Personal suitability will be emphasized. We seek a highly motivated, dynamic and committed candidate with experience in international collaboration who is passionate about developing her/his own research. The candidate must have excellent communication and social skills in order to work with a multidisciplinary team, do project management and outreach, and supervise PhD and MSc students.
At UiT, we emphasise the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
We can offer
- Involvement in an interesting research project
- Excellent career opportunities
- A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues
- Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
- Pension scheme through the state pension fund
Working conditions
The position of Postdoctoral Fellow is a fixed term position for a period of 3 years. The main objective of the appointment as a post-doctoral research fellow is to qualify for work in senior academic positions. No one may be appointed to more than one fixed term period as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the same institution.
The working hours shall be utilized for research, research-related activities and research administration.
The successful applicant must be willing to engage himself/herself in the ongoing development of his/her discipline and the university as a whole.
National and international trends show that mobility and independence for young researchers are important for achieving external funding at national and international level, and consequently will be important for the prospect of establishing a permanent scientific position in the future. The following shall therefore be applicable when employed in postdoctoral positions:
- Unless special circumstances indicate otherwise, postdoctoral projects shall be planned with stays abroad (3-12 months). The duration should take into consideration the framework of the overall project.
- Postdoctoral projects must be planned so that the candidate is given sufficient opportunity to develop professional independence within the framework of the overall project.
In order to achieve a targeted use of the postdoctoral position, and to strengthen the employee’s career development, a development plan must be available no later than three months after the appointment contract is signed. The development plan must be approved by the immediate leader with personnel responsibility.
The remuneration for this position is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1352.
A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.
How to apply
Application and submitted documents (see below) must be sent electronically via the application form available at www.jobbnorge.no and the application must include:
- Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
- CV – containing a complete overview of education, positions and academic work/list of publications
- Diplomas and transcripts of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree or equivalent (in original language and translated)
- PhD thesis and other academic works/publications
- Two references with contact details
- Documentation on English proficiency
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 years completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or USA, for which English was the language of instructions.
Documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language. We only accept applications through Jobbnorge.
Assessment
An expert committee will assess the applicants’ qualifications based upon the submitted documents and in relation to the requirements stated for the position. The best-qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. The interview shall, among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability and motivation for the position.
General
In addition, applicants shall also refer to the supplementary provisions for the appointment to academic positions such as Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow and Academic Assistant at UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, and to regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.
Questions concerning the organisation of the working environment, including that of the physical state of the workplace, health services, possibilities for flexible working hours, part-time work, etc. may be addressed to the telephone reference in this announcement.
At UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, diversity is valued, and we therefore encourage all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their age, gender, functional ability or national or ethnic background. The university is an IW employer and places importance on making the necessary adaptations to working conditions for employees with disabilities.
Personal information given in an application and CV will be treated in accordance with the Act relating to the processing of personal data (the Personal Data Act). In accordance with section 25, subsection 2 of the Freedom of Information Act, the applicant may request not to be registered on the public list of applicants. However, the university may nevertheless decide to make the candidate’s name public. The applicant will receive advance notification of any such publication.
For more information, see: Welcome as an applicant for positions at UiT
We look forward to receiving your application!
UiT – Developing the High North
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research univeristy in Norway 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.
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