A 3-year 100% PhD position is available at the Department of Pediatric Research, OUS Rikshospitalet (https://ous-research.no/pediatricresearch/) for a highly motivated and skilled PhD student on a project funded by the Norwegian Childhood Cancer Society (Barnekreftforeningen, www.barnekreftforeningen.no). We would like to fill the position as soon as possible, starting at 25.03.2026.

Childhood cancer is a devastating disease and one of the leading causes of illness-related death in children in Norway. Tumors release molecular structures into body fluids such as blood, spinal fluid, and urine. These circulating particles, including cell-free DNA (cfDNA), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and metabolites, can be byproducts or molecular signals of the tumor, transmitting information between cells. In a process called liquid biopsy, they can be utilized to determine the status of the disease. Peripheral blood has traditionally been used in liquid biopsies; however, the volume is often limited. In contrast, urine-derived samples are less invasive, present in high abundance, and their composition can reflect dynamic physiological and pathological changes. In this project, we will analyze the composition and characteristics of cfDNA, isolate and characterize molecular cargo and targets of EVs, and profile the distribution of metabolites in urine from pediatric cancers. Urine-derived liquid biopsies may contribute to improved diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring, relapse prediction, and may offer novel therapeutic strategies in children with cancer.

The scholarship is based on cooperation between Dr. Lars O. Baumbusch (Senior scientist and project group leader at PFI, OUS Rikshospitalet and Prof. II at Østfold University College) and Prof. Dr. Marit Inngjerdingen Dep. of Pharmacology, UiO. The project will be linked to other research environments within Oslo University Hospital, national- and international research groups.

Only applicants who apply electronically via WebCruiter will be considered. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Oslo University Hospital is a workplace with great diversity. We believe this is crucial for solving our tasks in the best possible way. We want this diversity to be reflected among the applicants for our positions, and we encourage all qualified candidates, regardless of background, to apply!

Kvalifikasjoner:

• Master's degree
• Biology / Molecular Biology / Biomedicine / Biotechnology
• Applicants must hold an MSc in biomedicine, biotechnology, or molecular biology
• The candidate has good practical skills in various extraction, quantification, and analysis of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins including qRT-PCR, ddPCR, and Western blotting
• The candidate has broad expertise in various other relevant molecular biology techniques
  Knowledge about and/or working experience with isolation and analysis of cfDNA, ncRNAs, and EVs
• Some experience in scientific writing / presentation
• Proficiency in the English language is a prerequisite
• Experiences in handling human samples from a biobank
• Experiences working with childhood cancer is highly beneficial
• Knowledge and/or experience with Oxford Nanopore Sequencing
• Basic programming skills with Python and R for data analysis
• Experiences working with cell-lines (including flow cytometry)
• Practical experience with functional analysis of genes,
• including gene silencing with siRNA transfections
   

Personlige egenskaper:

• We are looking for a highly dedicated and motivated candidate with great working capacity
• We expect scientific curiosity and a deep understanding about the nature of scientific thinking
• You have a strong interest in childhood cancer research
• You are able to design, plan, perform, and analyze experiments in an innovative way
• The candidate is expected to work together with engineers and other scientists in a team
  Ability to work independently, but with good communication skills
• Good written and oral communication skills in Norwegian and English is mandatory

Vi tilbyr:

• 100% position for three years granted by the Norwegian Childhood Cancer Society (Barnekreftforeningen)
  Interesting scientific topic
• Encouraged supervision and cooperation team
• A friendly working environment
• A favorable pension arrangement and attractive welfare arrangements
• In accordance with the OUS’s equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity