Postdoctoral Fellow/Researcher in small cell lung cancer

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here .

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.

The multidisciplinary lung cancer research group at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine  has a vacancy for a postdoctoral fellowship/researcher position.

We have established an active, ambitious, multidisciplinary research team of, among others, physicians and researchers of oncology, pathology, bioinformatics and molecular biology. Our group collaborates closely with the Departments of Oncology/Pulmonology/Pathology/Thoracic Surgery at St. Olavs hospital and central research infrastructure such as Biobank1 and the Clinical Research Unit.

Our group is one of the most active academic groups when it comes to conducting international, randomized clinical intervention phase II-III trials on lung cancer, especially small-cell lung cancer. Using data and biological material collected through these trials and a regional lung cancer biobank, we are now expanding our translational research aiming at identifying clinically relevant prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Our ambition is to develop a classification system for small-cell lung cancer which enables us to individualize treatment for patients and form a platform for future research on novel, effective therapies.

As part of this expansion, we are now hiring several new PhDs and post-doctors/researcher and are looking for a person with experience and interest in next generation sequencing analyses of human biological samples, including both sample handling and down-stream data analyses.

Your immediate leader will be Professor Bjørn Henning Grønberg

To some extent the research activity can be adapted to applicants’ qualifications and interests, however the position includes (but is not limited to) the following tasks:

• Isolation of DNA and RNA from different kinds of samples, e.g. formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, fresh frozen tissue, serum, plasma and whole blood - followed by relevant quality assurance procedures
• Next-generation sequencing of DNA and RNA
• Analyses of next-generation sequencing data
• Testing and optimizing new protocols for such analyses
• Other related laboratory work
• Statistical analyses
• Interpretation of results, especially with respect to clinical relevance
• Presentation and publication of results
• Organize and take responsibility for progress in the group’s projects

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD. If you can document that the PhD thesis has been submitted, your application can be assessed even if you have not yet defended your dissertation. Documentation of the obtained doctoral degree must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Good written and oral English skills.
• Documented experience with relevant laboratory work and research activity listed under tasks.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D Candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate.

• Doctoral degree in molecular biology or medicine in a research field mentioned in this call
• Experience with research on tumor biology
• Experience with next-generation sequencing
• Experience with statistical analyses of large data sets and using R
• Experience with clinically relevant cancer research
• Experience with planning and conducting own research projects
• Experience with applying and being granted research funding

• Ability to work independently, but also interact well in a team
• Critical thinking
• A curious nature with ambitions of acquiring new knowledge and skills and pursue and independent research career
• Analytical
• Structured, able to organize workflow and handle large amounts of data and samples

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities. It is essential to be able to work well with the rest of the team.

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 563 500 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

The period of employment is 3 years.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants , and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.  

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.  

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result. 

The application must include: 

• CV and certificates
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your Ph.D, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or that your PhD thesis has been submitted
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, or have recently submitted your thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment.
• Research plan
• Name and contact information of three referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here . If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well. 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation. 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA. 

Working at NTNU 

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality .

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The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.  

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As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Bjørn Henning Grønberg, telephone +47 47 29 78 78, email [email protected] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-advisor Elisabeth Myrvang, e-mail: [email protected] . 

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: 31.12.2022 

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

The Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM):

The Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM) is NTNU’s largest department, with 450 employees. Our research and teaching help to improve treatment and health.

IKOM has expertise in basic, clinical and translational research within broad disciplinary areas. We study children’s and women’s health, cancers, blood disorders and infectious diseases, gastroenterology, inflammation, metabolic disorders, laboratory sciences and medical ethics. The Department offers teaching in medicine at master’s and PhD level. We also offer continuing education for employees in the health services.