The Department of Microbiology at Oslo University Hospital invites applications for one temporary researcher position in the Bacterial Defense Systems and Antimicrobial Resistance group.

Our research addresses bacterial stress responses, antimicrobial resistance and the design of new antimicrobial agents, including synthetic antimicrobial peptides derived from bacterial type I toxins and combinations of such peptides with conventional antibiotics (Dyhr et al., ACS Omega 2026, 11, 38837; Sæbø et al., Sci Rep 2025, 15, 14354; Dyhr et al., ACS Omega 2025, 10, 25790).

This position continues our ongoing Helse Sør-Øst funded work on treatment of extremely antibiotic-resistant infections using conventional antibiotics and composite synthetic antimicrobial peptides, and is supported by innovation funding within that project. The aim is to move efficacy testing of these treatments from conventional broth assays into a human airway tissue context.

Optimisation of the organoid infection model is already under way in the group. The task of this position is to complete and validate the model, establish reproducible infection kinetics and quantitative bacterial burden measurements, and proceed to antimicrobial efficacy testing within the project period.

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:

Required:

• Completed PhD in chemical and biological engineering, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, or a related natural science or engineering discipline.
  
• Documented hands-on experience with quantitative antimicrobial efficacy testing, including MIC and MBC determination in microtiter format.
  
• Documented experience with membrane-active cationic antimicrobial compounds.
  
• Documented experience with biofilm-associated or otherwise treatment-tolerant bacterial populations.
  
• Documented experience with mammalian cell culture and with cytotoxicity testing of antimicrobial compounds.
  
• Ability to independently take over, optimise and troubleshoot an experimental protocol already under  development, and to deliver results within a short and fixed project period.
  
• Experience with quantitative analysis and interpretation of microbiological and cell-based data.
  
• First-author publications in peer-reviewed journals in the field.
  
• Ability to work in accordance with the department's biosafety requirements for work with multidrug-resistant bacteria at containment level 2.
  
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
  

The following skills will be considered beneficial but are not obligatory:

• Experience with iPSC-derived organoids or other three-dimensional human tissue models, particularly airway or lung organoids.
  
• Experience with synthetic antimicrobial peptides or peptidomimetics.
  
• Experience with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and with multidrug-resistant clinical isolates.
  
• Experience with antimicrobial combination testing, including checkerboard or time-kill assays.
  
• Experience with quantitative assessment of bacterial survival, recovery or relapse following antimicrobial exposure.
  
• Experience with heteroresistance or other population-level resistance phenotypes.
  
• Experience from innovation or translational research projects.

Personlige egenskaper:

We seek a highly motivated individual with a strong interest in translational antimicrobial research, able to work independently, take initiative, prioritise effectively within a short project period, and collaborate well with researchers and technical personnel. Personal qualities and team-working abilities will be an important part of the assessment.

Vi tilbyr:

• An interesting and inspiring environment.
• Challenging and varied work.
• Feedback from personnel with relevant background in the Helgesen & Booth group as well as from the section for Research at the Department of Microbiology.

The application must contain

• Cover letter with a statement of motivation and relevant experience.
  
• CV summarising education, positions and academic work.
  
• Copies of educational certificates, including PhD diploma or confirmation of imminent completion.
  
• Complete list of publications and academic works.
  
• 2 to 3 reference persons with name, relation to the candidate, e-mail and telephone number.