Job description

Applications are invited for a three year position in a Research Fellowship as PhD Candidate in Medicine and Health Sciences

Applications are invited for a three year position in a Research Fellowship as PhD Candidate in Medicine and Health Sciences to be based at the research group for Cognitive Neurophysiology (PI Jørgen Sugar) at Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo. A four-year position, which also includes 25% teaching, supervision and/or administrative duties, may be possible.

Our group studies the neural substrates of episodic memory. We use electrodes placed in the brain of patients with epilepsy (for clinical reasons) to measure the activity of individual neurons and small groups of neurons. With this unique technique, used in only a handful research groups worldwide, we aim to relate neural activity directly to the patient’s reported experiences.

More information please see here. 

The candidate will be responsible for (1) planning and conducting behavioral experiments in patients, (2) analyzing neuronal population activity and (3) disseminating the results. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with clinicians at the Department for Neurosurgery (Oslo University Hospital), FRONT Neurolab (Department for Psychology, UiO) and international collaborators at NIH and UCLA (USA). The candidate will be exposed to innovative electrophysiology techniques used in animals through interaction with other research groups at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences.

More about the position

The position is part of the project “Memory Maps”. We aim to identify neural activity encoding space and time, and assess how such activity is involved in the encoding and recall of episodic memories by combining in vivo extracellular recordings from single neurons and local populations with carefully designed behavioral experiments including eye tracking and virtual reality set-ups.

The research fellow must take part in the Faculty’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.

The applicant must, in collaboration with her/his supervisor, within three months after employment, have worked out a complete project description to be attached to the application for admission to the doctoral program. For more information, please see the web site for: Application and admission – PhD – Faculty of Medicine 

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (120 ECTs) in EITHER Neuroscience,  Psychology, Physiology,  Mathematics, Physics or equivalent minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale). The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS. 
• Applicants without a Master’s degree have to complete their final exam before September 15, 2022.
• fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

Personal skills

We are searching for a highly motivated candidate with strong interest in brain circuits and memory formation.

• The research fellow should be able to work independently and organized, while at the same time engage in close collaborations in highly interdisciplinary teams.
• Basic skills in data analysis and programming (Matlab, Python, R or similar), experience with cognitive experiments and/or a background including physiology are an advantage.      

We offer

• An exciting and stimulating academic environment
• A rare opportunity to achieve experience with intracranial electrophysiological recordings in humans
• Salary NOK 491 200 – 534 400 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow (position code 1017)
• 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 statement of motivation and research interests
•  CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
•  copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
•  list of reference persons: 2-3 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

Associate professor: Jørgen Sugar email: jorgen.sugar@medisin.uio.no

About the University of Oslo 

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences overall objective is to promote basic medical knowledge in order to understand normal processes, provide insight into mechanisms that cause illness, and promote good health. The Institute is responsible for teaching in basic medical sciences for the programmes of professional study in medicine and the Master’s programme in clinical nutrition. The Institute has more than 300 employees and is located in Domus Medica.Apply for this job