Researcher

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At The Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, a full-time permanent position as a Researcher is available. The position is external financed by a research grant from the Norwegian Cancer Society, and part of the research project "Targeting AXL to improve immunotherapy: Deep clinical biomarker analysis for precision medicine”.

The project has a temporary financing for 2.5 years. The startup date will be as soon as possible.

The primary focus of this position is to define a predictive biomarker signature for clinical response to AXL targeting in combination with checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The work involves state-of-the-art experimental approaches comprising:

1) advanced spatial-phenotypic (imaging mass cytometry, IMC) analysis of patient biopsy samples; and

2) multivariate machine learning-based computational analysis of genomic, plasma cytokine and imaging datasets to define specific multimodal features that predict patient outcome.

• The applicant must hold a relevant Norwegian PhD or equivalent doctoral degree
• The applicant must document the following skills and experience:
  
  • Proven hands-on experience with IMC panel planning and optimization, antibody selection, heavy metal conjugation chemistry, cross-validation via conventional staining (IHC/IF), and advanced troubleshooting approaches.
  • Broad expertise/fluency in state-of-the-art IMC data analysis pipelines, including tools for image visualization (MCD viewer, ImageJ/FIJI, HistoCAT, QuPath, Napari, Cytomapper), denoising, spillover-correction, single-cell and tissue-compartment segmentation (DeepCell, CellPose, CellProfiler, Ilastik), batch correction (Seurat, Harmony), cell type clustering and phenotypic annotation (UMAP, phenograph, FlowSOM, PARC, X-shift, random-forest), differential testing/modeling of cell type composition and functional marker expression, neighborhood and community analysis, and generation of information-rich figures to capture cellular heterogeneity, results of statistical testing, and tissue architecture.

• Experience in applying deep-learning models (e.g. ResNet, NaroNet) to highly-multiplexed imaging datasets is an anadvatage.

• Familiarity with oncology clinical trial design, endpoints (safety/TRAEs, PFS, OS, response per RECIST criteria), and confounding/prognostic clinical features.

• Expertise in exploratory biomarker analysis of feature-rich datasets, including cutpoint analysis, co-correlation networks, longitudinal sampling/paired timepoint analysis, survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier, Cox), multivariate modeling/adjusting for clinical covariates, and feature selection/signature generation (LASSO/PLS-DA).

• Ability to interpret results from a wide variety of omics assays including whole-exome-seq, mRNAseq, circulating proteomics panels, and systemic/in-situ immunophenotyping (CyTOF, IMC) to form biological hypotheses around the mechanisms driving response/resistance to cancer therapies.

• Personal skills, including abilities to work independently and cooperate within a research group will be evaluated
• The applicant must be motivated and responsible, and also have a great work capacity and enthusiasm for research
• The candidate must be fluent in written and oral English

• Experience with international collaboration is an advantage

  The applicant’s personal suitability for the position is a significant factor in the evaluation.

• Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment
• Salary NOK 635 400 (code 1109, pay grade 65), specialist NOK 657 300 (code 1109, pay grade 67) gross p.a. for a fulltime position. In the case of a highly qualified applicant, a higher salary may be considered.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

• A brief letter of application stating your motivation for the position, why you are applying and why this position is perfect for you
• An overview of your education and work experience (CV)
• Witnessed copies of diplomas and relevant certificates (applicants with education from other countries than Norway must enclose diplomas in both the original language and authorized translations)
• Publications and academic work (max 10 in PDF) and a list of these
• Your PhD thesis (in PDF)

• Two references (name and contact information)

  It is very important that each of the scholarly works on which the committee should place special emphasis, is attached in its entirety.

• The researcher will be a member of the research group of which the topic/project belongs to
• The salary shall if possible be 100 % covered by external financing
• The researcher shall actively contribute to attract external funding to the research project, both for her/his own position and other positions, from the Research Council of Norway, EU and other sources
• The researcher is expected to have her/his research activity financed by the project of the researcher and the projects of the associated research group
• The Head of Department may allocate work for the Researcher related to specific research projects
• The researcher may participate in committee work and other administrative tasks within the University of Bergen
• The researcher has no teaching duties, but is expected to supervise master students and PhD candidates when this is a natural part of the research activity of the research group
• The researcher may apply for competence promotion according to the regulations for promotions
• The basis for the position ceases if no further project funding and new law on state officials etc. on dismissal and preferential rights will be applied to permanent employees

Further information about the position can be obtained from: Prof. James Lorens, e-mail: jim.lorens@uib.no

«UiB must follow Norway’s export control regulations when processing applications for this position.»

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We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.

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