PhD Fellow (100 %) for 3 years at Klinisk institutt 2

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

UiB shall be among Europe's leading universities, internationally known for high quality in research and education. As a social institution, we shall contribute to sustainable and democratic development and be an attractive and inclusive place of study and work.

Video: https://youtu.be/M5n6RnScNgAPhD Fellow

At the Faculty of Medicine, Klinisk institutt 2, a position as a PhD fellow (100 %) is vacant. The position is available for a period of three (3) years.

The position is linked to the projects “Genetic Foundations of Appetite and Obesity in Early Life” and “Identification of factors affecting early growth to reveal biological mechanisms that may be targeted to prevent later obesity and diabetes” at the Mohn Research Center for Diabetes Precision Medicine (PRECISE-DIA)”, funded by the University of Bergen.

About the project:

Childhood overweight is an increasing global health challenge, and there is strong evidence that genetic predisposition is a central factor for individual vulnerability in an increasingly obesogenic environment. Our research group aims to uncover the genetic architecture behind weight gain, appetite, and satiety regulation from infancy to adolescence, and to use this knowledge to understand the lifelong consequences of early influencing factors for metabolic health and diabetes.

The PhD fellow will have the opportunity to work with data from the uniquely rich Den norske mor, far og barn‑undersøkinga (MoBa), which contains detailed genetic, phenotypic, and questionnaire-based data from approximately one hundred thousand pregnancies (fhi.no/en/ch/studies/moba). The parents and children in MoBa have been followed since inclusion in the study (recruitment in the period 1999–2008), which provides special opportunities to study disease and health development throughout the life course across two generations. The results will be combined with data from international collaborations with broad ethnic representation, to enable the identification of both common and rare genetic variants that affect body development early in life, eating behavior throughout the life course, and lifelong health.

The project will be carried out at the Mohn Research Center for Diabetes Precision Medicine (PRECISE‑DIA) (uib.no/en/diabetes), located at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Haukeland universitetssjukehus, Bergen, Norway.

The PhD fellow will work in a multidisciplinary (medicine, genetics, statistics, epidemiology, cell biology, and informatics) and strongly internationally oriented research environment. We have a clear focus on personal and professional development, and will offer guidance and training both within the core team and through formalized co-supervision from international partners. There will also be opportunities for research stays abroad.

Work areas

• Identify early developmental trajectories (both genetic and non-genetic factors) that characterize healthy and unhealthy weight and life development
• Study the significance of both rare genetic variants (NGS‑data) and common variants (GWAS) for growth development and eating behavior
• Participate in international collaboration within genetics in the early life stage
• Identify genetic effects that act differently depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or father (so-called parent-of-origin effects)
• Participate in multidisciplinary research work in the group and at the center
• Conduct research stays abroad

Qualifications and attributes:

Applicants must have a master's degree or equivalent in molecular genetics, medicine, genetic epidemiology, statistical genetics, medical data science, or bioinformatics.

Applicants must also attach a personal text where they explain their research interests and motivation for the project. In this text, the applicant shall:

• Document a strong interest in the project and analysis of large datasets
• Show high motivation for the project
• Document the ability to work independently and structured, while simultaneously being motivated for collaboration with others
• Show ability and motivation to complete a ph.d. project
• Have very good oral and written skills in English (see documentation requirements for further information)

The following will be considered an advantage:

• Experience from relevant research projects
• Experience with analysis of large omics‑datasets
• Good competence in informatics
• Experience from international collaboration

Personal qualities will be emphasized in the assessment.

The following applies to the position:

Applicants with foreign education must attach a certified translation to English or Scandinavian if the original diploma and transcripts are not in one of these languages. Applicants must also attach the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) general assessment of whether the education (bachelor and master) corresponds to a Norwegian master's degree. See https://hkdir.no for more information about the assessment of higher education. We point out that the application for assessment from HK-dir can take time and the application should be sent as early as possible when you know you want to apply for the PhD fellow position. If you have not received an answer by the application deadline, attach documentation from HK-dir stating that they have received your application. Note that the automatic approval scheme from HK-dir is not sufficient. Applicants with Nordic education, or medical education from the EEA area who have received a license to practice as a doctor in Norway, are exempt from the HK-dir assessment requirement; see Opptakskrav | Det medisinske fakultet | UiB

See also requirements for documentation of English proficiency: http://www.uib.no/med/115525/krav-til-engelskkunnskaper-ved-opptak-til-phd-programmet

Researcher training (the ph.d. program):

The position as a PhD fellow involves completed researcher training with the goal of a doctorate. The PhD fellow shall enter an approved program for a doctorate within a timeframe of 3 years, without other imposed work tasks at the institute. The final plan for the implementation of the researcher training must be approved by the faculty within three months after starting the position. Admission to the faculty's ph.d. program is a prerequisite for employment in the position.

PhD Fellow position:

The PhD fellow position is a fixed-term position. No one can be employed as a PhD fellow for more than one fixed-term period at the same institution. You also cannot be employed in a PhD fellow position if you have previously had such employment at another institution in the region. The language of instruction is normally Norwegian.

We offer:

• Exciting and developing work tasks in a strong professional environment
• Salary currently kr 600,000 (code 1017) in the state salary scale. For applicants with at least one year of employment in a medical or dental position, the salary is currently kr 615,000 (For applicants who are authorized as a doctor or dentist, documentation of Norwegian authorization must be attached to the application). For applicants with specialist training, the salary is currently kr 635,000 (For applicants who have specialist training, specialist approval from Helsedirektoratet must be attached.)
• Membership in Statens pensjonskasse
• Good welfare schemes

The application shall include:

• A short statement about the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• Transcripts and diplomas (all higher education) and relevant certificates
• Applicants with foreign education (bachelor and master) must attach a certified translation to English or Scandinavian if the original diploma and transcripts are not in one of these languages. Applicants must also attach HK-dir's general assessment of whether the education corresponds to a Norwegian master's degree. See https://hkdir.no/ for more information on general assessment of higher education. If you have not received an answer by the application deadline, you can attach documentation from HK-dir stating that they have received your application
• Documentation of English proficiency
• A complete list of publications and any other professional work you want to be taken into account
• Any publications (pdf)
• Two references (name and contact information)

General information:

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting professor Stefan Johansson, e-mail: stefan.johansson@uib.no

Diversity is a strength and enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

The University of Bergen utilizes increased transparency in the recruitment of scientific positions. Information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the applicant list. If the request is not followed, the applicant shall be notified of this.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. If you check this box in the application, you may receive positive special treatment. We always invite at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups to an interview. More about the recruitment process here.

Life as a ph.d. candidate at UiB

Astrid Nybø tells about life and daily work as a ph.d. candidate at UiB.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo3Z63yzkKA&list=PLf8ZIYfAO0qjhROTj6SthDbSScg0lSO6G&index=5

About the employer:

The University of Bergen is a recognized educational and research institution, organized into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centers. The campus is located in central parts of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien, and Årstad.

The Faculty of Medicine consists of five institutes and eight centers. Read more about the faculty and associated institutes.