PhD Fellow in Vascular Biology

The position

The Department of Medical Biology is thrilled to announce that an exciting PhD position is available on the project “Role of scavenger cells in successful microbial elimination by phage treatment”. The position is affiliated with the Vascular Biology Research Group (VBRG) at the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. The position is available for commencement from August 2025. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.

The project 

The successful candidate will work on the project titled “Liver scavenger cells and phage pharmacokinetics”

Antimicrobial resistance represents a growing global health crisis. Multi-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens pose significant threats, particularly to immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. In response to the rise of antimicrobial resistance, the development of alternative therapeutic strategies is imperative. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy, which utilizes viruses that specifically target and destroy bacteria, has re-emerged as a promising treatment for multi-drug-resistant infections. Despite its potential, phage therapy faces challenges such as regulatory hurdles and safety concerns. Currently, there is a scarcity of molecular studies examining the pharmacokinetics and potential adverse effects of phages in mammals receiving phage therapy. Additionally, limited information is available regarding the cellular mechanisms involved in phage clearance from the bloodstream and the impact of phages on host cells, complicating the assessment of patient safety.

This PhD project aims to address these challenges by exploring the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of phages using clinically relevant mouse models and primary human cell cultures. The research will provide essential insights into the interactions between phages and the mammalian immune system, focusing on their clearance from the bloodstream. Specifically, the study will investigate the role of the liver's scavenger system, including Kupffer cells (KCs) and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), which are known to play a significant role in the clearance of bloodborne pathogens and nanoparticles. 

We hypothesize that these liver cells, due to their central scavenger function, are key players in the removal of phages from circulation. This PhD project will contribute to a deeper understanding of phage-host interactions, providing key information needed to design safe and effective application of phage therapy in clinical settings.

Interested candidates with a background in medical biology, microbiology, immunology, physiology or related fields are encouraged to apply. This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

The candidate will collaborate with other researchers and supervise master- and bachelor students in on-going projects. Relevant techniques include working with research animals, primary cells of mouse and human origin, basic molecular biological techniques, different histological methods and advanced imaging.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Associate professor Anett Kristin Larsen: 

• phone: +47 77 62 52 12
• e-mail: anett.k.larsen@uit.no

Qualifications

In order to be appointed to as PhD Fellow, the eligibility requirements for the faculty’s PhD programme must be met. 

This position requires:

• Master’s degree within life sciences, or other educations that have been approved as equivalent. Candidates holding a degree in Medicine or Veterinary Medicine may also apply. 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.
• Applicants must document fluency in English and be able to work in an international environment. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.

It is highly beneficial if the candidate has:

• A FELASA accreditation – approval for work with research animals. 
• A specialization and documented experience in microbiology, mammalian physiology and/or immunology 
• Experience with cell culturing, microscopy and molecular biological techniques 
• Good communication and collaboration skills. 
• Documented proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at a minimum of level A2. If the candidate does not document proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at level A2, then the doctoral fellow must complete a language course equal to 15 ECTS before the end of the fixed-term period. UiT will facilitate this.  

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

As many people 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.

Admission to the PhD programme 

For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Admission 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 ECTS. 
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master's degree of 120 ECTS. 
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS. 

Applicants 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. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.  

If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position. 

Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor's degree and a 2-year master's degree. UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project 
• Good 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 
• PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 536 200 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.

More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility

Application 

Your application must include: 

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV, containing a complete overview of education, experience, professional work
• Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree
• Official transcripts 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
• Documentation of proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at a minimum of level A2 (if available)
• References with contact information
• Master’s thesis (or thesis draft), and any other academic works

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 and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must still submit your transcript of grades for the master’s degree with your application.

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. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline. 

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 written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description for the position. A copy of the assessment report will be sent to all applicants. 

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position. 

General information 

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

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

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no.

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. 

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act 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. 

DIVERSE INFO

Kilde: NAV stillingsannonser
https://arbeidsplassen.nav.no/stillinger/stilling/0f917fce-5ba4-43db-ac4e-0b8790fd9156
IMPORTAPI
https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige-stillinger/stilling/277011