PhD position in sleep and metabolism research

Job description

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD Fellowship for an interdisciplinary project combining Systems Neuroscience and Metabolism to establish mouse models of adolescent sleep deprivation and investigate the impact of poor sleep during critical developmental periods on long-term metabolic imbalance. The selected candidate will join the SmartSense transdisciplinary consortium at the Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo.

More about the position

The consortium integrates local expertise in neurophysiology (Charlotte Boccara, NCMM – MedFak), adipose tissue biology (Nolwenn Briand, IMB – MedFak), epigenetics (Philippe Collas, IMB – MedFak) and sensor technology (Ørjan Martinsen, Physic department – MatNat). A state-of-the-art animal facility, the largest in Norway, is localized in the Institute.

The successful candidate will be integrated in Charlotte Boccara’s group Systems Neuroscience and Sleep at the Norwegian Centre for Molecular Medicine (ERC 2023, Nature Comm 2022, Science 2019). In addition, she/he will be co-supervised by Dr Nolwenn Briand on metabolism and adipose tissue research at the Department of Molecular Medicine.

We seek a highly motivated candidate with some experience in either neuroscience, animal research or metabolism. The selected candidate will work at the intersection of development, metabolism, and systems neuroscience, gaining a unique holistic perspective on sleep functions. Under the guidance of leading experts in their field, she/he will learn how to use viral and electrophysiological tools to develop chemogenetic and optogenetic models of targeted sleep deprivation. The selected candidate will also learn how to carry out metabolic phenotyping in mice, including studies in metabolic cages, and prepare tissue and cell samples for microscopy, molecular and transcriptomic studies.

SmartSense consortium: https://www.med.uio.no/imb/english/research/projects/smartsense/index.html

Boccara Lab: https://boccaralab.com/, https://www.med.uio.no/ncmm/english/groups/boccaragroup/

Nolwenn Briand and Phillipe Collas: https://www.med.uio.no/imb/english/people/aca/nolwenb/

The research fellow must take part in the University’s/ Faculty’s/ Department’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian Master degree in life science (preferentially with a background in Neuroscience, Development or Metabolism). The Master’s degree must have a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Experience with in vivo rodent experimentation is desired, a FELASA certificate (or equivalent personal license to conduct animal experiments) will be a strong plus.
• Experience in electrophysiology, rodent surgery, tissue dissection and advanced microscopy will be a strong advantage.
• Experience in the following will also count in the assessment of the applicants: chemogenetics, optogenetics, computational and statistical methods for analysis, rodent behaviour, histology methods, sleep scoring, neurodevelopment as well as rodent genetic editing, viral and neurodevelopment tools, cell fractionation and metabolic phenotyping.

Personal skills

• Strong motivation
• Ability to integrate and collaborate within a cross-disciplinary environment
• Organization skills
• Ability to work independently and take initiatives
• Clarity in communication

We offer

• salary NOK 532 200 – 575 400 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow, (position code 1017)
• A friendly and supportive environment ideal for learning new methods
• Integration in a high-quality doctoral school
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• cover letter describing research experience, interests, and statement of motivation.
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• a complete list of publications and academic works
• list of 2-3 professional references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

Dr. Charlotte Boccara, charlotte.boccara@ncmm.uio.no