Job description

At the Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT) (https://www.med.uio.no/norment/english/), there is a researcher position (SKO 1109) available for 2 years with a possibility of further extension, in the Youth-TOP Study Group, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.

More about the position

The researcher will play a central role in the analysis and subsequent high impact publication of data obtained at MRI-investigations in combination with data obtained from several other domains in patients with severe mental illness and healthy controls spanning from early youth to older age. Individual data is available at the NORMENT centre based on clinical interviews, neuropsychological tests, EEG, MR, genetic analysis, pharmacological investigations, serum assays of intrinsic substances, and stem cell derived data. The researchers will interact with PhD and postdoctoral fellows in the NORMENT and is encouraged to participate in the analyses of independent sample collections connected with the defined research questions.

It is expected that the researcher will focus on the relationships between MRI-derived measures and clinical, biological and demographic aspects in connection with severe mental illness/psychoses, with particular emphasis on youth and gender.

The research will be carried out as part of a cross-disciplinary team of researchers in the Multimodal Imaging and Structural MRI groups at NORMENT in collaboration with international consortia researchers such as the ENIGMA but also other collaborators.

NORMENT, a Centre of Excellence (CoE) with the Research Council of Norway, coordinates a translational multicenter study involving all psychiatric hospital departments in Oslo and several research groups at the University of Oslo. The main purpose of the research is to disentangle and characterize the neurobiological, genetic, psychological and environmental factors contributing to the development of severe mental disorders. Through our extensive infrastructure for clinical evaluations, neuropsychological testing, MRI brain and body imaging, EEG and biobanking we assemble a comprehensive database comprising clinical, brain imaging and genetic data from a large number of healthy controls and patients suffering from psychotic disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.

Qualification requirements

• Holds a PhD in neuroimaging, molecular genetics, bioinformatics, psychiatry, psychology or equivalent
• Has held at least one postdoc position within a relevant area
• Has a strong background and interest in biology, statistics and psychiatry, and an excellent publication record
• Has experience and expertise in coordinating multi-site studies and large scale data-analysis
• Is ambitious and highly motivated for pursuing a career in science
• Excellent command of oral and written English language. Norwegian or other Scandinavian language is beneficial
• Excellent personal and collaborative skills and sense of responsibility

Candidates with a strong interest in and experience with research in bioinformatics, psychiatry, and MRI brain imaging are encouraged to apply.

We offer

• An ambitious and exciting research environment with a strong multidisciplinary profile and excellent opportunities for academic development at NORMENT, which is granted Centre of Excellence status by the Research Council of Norway
• Salary 552 800- 627 700 per annum depending on qualifications
• Attractive welfare benefits

How to apply

The application must include

• Application letter including motivation for applying for the position
• CV (summarizing education, relevant work experience, grants etc)
• A complete list of publications and academic work
• Contact details of 2-3 references

After the initial screening process, short-listed candidates may be asked to submit selected publications, educational certificates and transcripts of records. Interviews may be included as part of the selection process.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. 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).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, and the quality of the project as well as the candidate's motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

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 University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

For any informal enquiries regarding the position, please contact:

• Professor Ingrid Agartz (ingrid.agartz@medisin.uio.no) or
• Professor Ole A. Andreassen (o.a.andreassen@medisin.uio.no)

For questions regarding the application process, please contact HR adviser Svetlana Trofimova, tel. +47 22859226, e-mail: svetlana.trofimova@medisin.uio.no

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