Project Description

The candidate will work with implementing Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) in the sample preparation workflow of bottom-up liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of established disease biomarkers. Novel MIP-assays developed in the project will be validated against conventional assays (including both immunoassays (where available) and MS-based assays). The project will mainly be conducted at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo (UiO), but will include secondments (total approximately 6 months) to Proteome Sciences, Frankfurt (Germany), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (United Kingdom) and Capitainer AB (Sweden).

At UiO the candidate will focus on the determination of biomarkers for Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), which is an aggressive form of lung cancer with a short survival after diagnosis (few months). Since SCLC is sensitive for treatment, early diagnosis or proper monitoring is of high interest. Our research focuses on design of the sample preparation and the possibility to determine and differentiate multiple SCLC markers simultaneously at ultra low concentrations which might allow a more robust and personalized diagnostic profile in the future.  

Candidate requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in (bio)analytical chemistry at the moment of appointment.  
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system 
• Experience with LC-MS and sample preparation (SPE or immuno-based affinity extractions) preferable from biological samples. 
• Candidates must not have a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment.

Desired qualifications: 

• Tryptic digestion of proteins for LC-MS analysis. 
• Experience with nano-flow LC-MS systems. 
• Knowledge of polymer chemistry in general and molecular imprinting technology in special is advantageous. 

Other information

Grade requirements: 
The norm is as follows: 

• the average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system 
• the average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system 
• the Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system 

 The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see: 
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/ 

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation. 

Supervisor information

Trine Grønhaug Halvorsen and Léon Reubsaet
Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dept. of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

t.g.halvorsen@farmasi.uio.no

+47 22855735

leon.reubsaet@farmasi.uio.no

 +47 22856613

www.farmasi.uio.no