PhD Research Fellow position

About the position

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.

Key information

Application deadline:

30.11.2026

Employer:

Oslo universitetssykehus HF

Town/city:

Oslo

Title:

PhD Research Fellow position

Positions:

1

Full-time/part-time:

Full-time

Employment type:

Contract

Percentage of full-time:

100

Webcruiter ID:

5204412952

Start date:

01.03.2027

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DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT

Enhancing the efficacy of innovative RT through immunotherapy combinations

Objectives

The successful candidate will be recruited as Doctoral Candidate 6 (DC6) in the Department of Cellular Therapy at Oslo University Hospital (OUS)- Radiumhospitalet.

The purpose of this 3-year PhD project is to integrate Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, immune checkpoint inhibition, and radiotherapy for GBM treatment. The project aims specifically to 1) Produce disialoganglioside (GD2)-specific CAR T cells and profile these in terms of activation, cytokine secretion and GBM killing efficiency in 2D and 3D tumour cell cultures, 2) Establish orthotopic in vivo models where tumour growth will be monitored with MRI and GD2 CAR T-cell efficiency tested in combination with radiotherapy and other immunotherapies, 3) analyse tumours for immunogenic cell death ICD, changes in the tumour microenvironment, and T-cell dynamics. Radiotherapy and ICD will be tested in close collaboration with other partners in the project. The PhD student will also be spending some months doing secondments at partner institutions in Italy and Spain.

An important part of the research will be carried out in close collaboration with another doctoral candidate in InnovaRTBRAIN (DC13) from the proton therapy research group at the Department of Physics, University of Oslo and the Department of Radiation Biology, Oslo University Hospital (OUS).

Co-supervisors (academic partner):

Eirik Malinen, University of Oslo

Arianna Palladini, University of Pavia

Methodology

Modified T cells will be produced through viral transduction with CAR constructs. The T cells will be characterized using flow cytometry and tested for effector functions (cytotoxicity assays, cytokine production) upon co-incubation with GBM cells in vitro (2D and 3D models) and in vivo (murine models). The tumour microenvironment will be characterised using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Molecular cloning techniques will be used as well as 2D and 3D cell culture techniques, microscopy, and in vivo experimental work.

Expected Results

1. Established preclinical protocols for combination therapy in melanoma
2. Demonstration of mechanisms of synergy and increased anti-tumour efficacy of combination therapy in vitro and in vivo
3. Established profile of the tumour microenvironment for relevant molecules

Supervisors and host organisations

Main supervisors and recruiting organisation:

Else Marit Inderberg, Sébastien Wälchli

Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

THE CANDIDATE PROFILE

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.

WHAT WE OFFER

• 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.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

• 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.

Address: Ullernchausseen 64, 0379 Oslo, Norway

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Contacts

Else Marit Inderberg

Unit leader

Email: elsin@ous-hf.no

About the employer

Oslo University Hospital is a highly specialized hospital in charge of extensive regional and local hospital assignments. As Scandinavia’s largest hospital, we carry out more than 1.2 million patient treatments each year. The hospital has a nationwide responsibility for a number of national and multi-regional assignments, and has several national centers of competence. Oslo University Hospital is responsible for approximately 50 percent of all medical and health care research conducted at Norwegian hospitals, and is a significant role player within the education of a large variety of health care personnel.