Postdoctoral fellow

Helse Sør-øst RHF; Oslo; On-site; NOK 550,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned hospital in Oslo offers a two-year postdoctoral fellowship focusing on innovative spinal cord injury treatments and collaboration with veterinary specialists. Ideal candidates hold a PhD or medical/veterinary degree, willing to engage in diverse research tasks and training programs.

Benefits

Dynamic research environment with exposure to neurosurgery and electrophysiology

Possibility of introduction to the neurosurgical department's duty system

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant field is mandatory.
• MD or Veterinarian interested in surgery preferred.
• Experience in electrophysiology with animals/humans is valued.

Responsibilities

• Conduct spinal surgeries under guidance if qualified.
• Design prototypes for implants as a neurophysiologist.
• Analyze locomotor behavior and histology of spinal tissue.
• Plan and execute clinical trials involving spinal stimulation.

Skills

Teamwork

Motivation for multidisciplinary collaborations

Proficiency in English

Education

PhD

MD or Veterinarian

PhD in neuroscience/neurophysiology

Job description

Two-year position as fulltime postdoctoral fellow at the Norwegian Stem Cell Center, Oslo University Hospital

A two-year (potentially expandable to three) fulltime postdoctoral fellowship is available at the Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research, Oslo University Hospital. The candidate will work with Dr. Jean-Luc Boulland and Mark Züchner (Consultant Neurosurgeon). The work will be conducted in Norway and abroad, in close collaboration with veterinarians. The project focuses on electrical stimulation of the central nervous system in a recently developed large animal model for spinal cord injury (Züchner et al., 2019 Front. Neurol. 10.3389/fneur.2019.00223).

Tasks

• The candidate must have a PhD. Backgrounds could include MD, veterinarian, or neurophysiologist.
• If the candidate is an MD or veterinarian, they will learn to perform spinal surgery in pigs guided by a senior Neurosurgeon.
• If the candidate is a neurophysiologist, they will learn to design and build prototypes of implantable stimulation electrodes.
• All candidates will analyze locomotor behavior and perform histology/immunolabeling of spinal tissue.
• The candidate will also be involved in planning and executing a clinical trial involving electrical stimulation of the nervous system.

Qualifications

• A PhD.
• Medical doctor or veterinarian interested in neurosurgery/spine surgery.
• Alternatively, a PhD in neuroscience/neurophysiology with experience in central or peripheral electrophysiology (recording/stimulation in animals/humans).

Suitable candidates will be contacted directly during the process.

Additional qualities include:

• Motivation for teamwork.
• Willingness for short but regular stays abroad.
• Interest in multidisciplinary collaborations.
• Proficiency in English.

We offer

A dynamic research environment with insights into neurosurgery/spinal surgery, electrophysiology, locomotor behavior, quantitative immunofluorescence, and innovation. An introduction to the neurosurgical department's duty system may be possible if the candidate is qualified and interested.