Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most lethal human cancers. The standard treatment—surgery followed by radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) provides a median survival of around 14 months and is often accompanied by severe toxicity. Recurrence occurs in 90% of patients within 2 years, while re-irradiation and alternative treatments are constrained by high morbidity.
Novel therapeutic approaches that address the main challenges in GBM treatments are urgently needed and include I) radioresistance, II) infiltration, and III) immunosuppression. The main objective of InnovaRTBRAIN – Innovative Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors – is to tackle those challenges by means of innovative radiotherapy and employing a holistic approach.

In this context, thanks to a network of 23 partners InnovaRTBRAIN aims to train 14 doctoral researchers to enhance the efficacy of innovative radiotherapy through combination with immunotherapies. Research and transferable training of the doctoral researchers will be performed in a highly interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and international environment. In addition to acquiring skills related to the research project, they will be trained also in open science, communication and dissemination, responsible research and innovation, circular economy, ethics, data management, entrepreneurship, marketing, intellectual property, and gender dimension in research. 

The recruiting organisation 

Oslo University Hospital (OUH) is a highly specialised hospital in charge of extensive regional and local hospital assignments and the provision of high quality services for the citizens of Oslo. The hospital also has nationwide responsibility for a number of national and multi-regional assignments and has several national centres of competence. OUH carries out advanced patient treatment, research and clinical trial treatments, and give advice and provide education on international levels. The hospital is Scandinavia’s largest and annually performs more than 1.2 million patient treatments.
The Department of Oncology is located at one site, The Norwegian Radiumhospital. The department carries out intensive research on new cancer treatment methods.
The PHD position is available in the Translational Research Unit, at the Section for Cellular Therapy. The section has a clinical unit producing cell therapy products for patient treatment and a Translational Research Unit developing new types of CAR- and TCR-based treatment for solid cancers.
 

Oslo University Hospital is a workplace with great diversity. We believe this is essential to perform the tasks required. We pursue diversity among our job applicants and encourage everyone to apply regardless of who you are and what background you have.

Kvalifikasjoner:

Academic prerequisite

We are looking for a student with a 5-years degree (Master) in biology, immunology, biotechnology, or related fields.
 
Technical skills and knowledge required

The candidate must have experience with cellular biology (cell culture, cell transfection, basic molecular biology ((DNA manipulation, cloning), and strong knowledge of immunology (at least theoretical).
The candidate must be ready to perform in vivo experiments including surgery.

Knowledge and practical experience in any of the following techniques will be considered and advantage:

• animal experimentation (equivalent to FELASA C, CAREiN)
• immunology (flow cytometry, ELISA, primary T-cell culture)
• biochemistry (basic techniques: western blot, protein work) 

Soft skills

• Great sense of thoroughness and organization
• Dynamism, reactivity and autonomy
• Writing skills in English and ability to summarize are essential
• Flexibility and ability to work in a team

Exclusion criteria

The candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Norway for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

The candidate, at the time of recruitment by Oslo University Hospital, Norway, must not be enrolled in a doctoral school or have been awarded a doctoral degree.

Personlige egenskaper:

• An enrolment in a PhD program;
• An international work environment, in which doctoral researchers can develop their skills and innovate within a competent team;
• An attractive 36 months’ salary;
• An individual and well-structured scientific and transferable training (open science, responsible research and innovation, ethics, data management, entrepreneurship, creativity, communication, career plans and gender balance in science) within the InnovaRTBRAIN network.

Vi tilbyr:

• Motivation letter (max. 1 page);
• CV including the details of education/qualifications, work experience, language skills and other relevant skills, and name of at least two referees with email addresses
• Certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of exams taken with relative mark. A certified/signed copy of Master of Science certificate or a letter from the Head of the degree course stating that the student is going to finish before February 2027;
• A summary of your technical skills and context of their use (max 1 page).

All applications will be checked for eligibility (in particular, the adherence to the mobility rule). Incomplete, longer or AI-generated applications will not be selected. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Candidates will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. Start of employment is foreseen March 2027.

Equal opportunities

Equal opportunities policy without distinction on the grounds of gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation will be applied.
The selection is not limited to EU citizens; therefore, candidates can be of any nationality.