PhD Position in Personalized Cancer Treatment using Theranostic Radiotherapeutics

The position

A PhD position in personalized cancer treatment is available at the Department of Medical Biology (IMB), Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The position is affiliated with the Tumor Biology Research Group and the externally funded project NORTHCARE, led by Dr. Mathias Kranz.

The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.

The project

The NORTHCARE project aims to develop a novel treatment for glioblastoma (GBM) by combining targeted radiotherapy and diagnostics (theranostics), focused ultrasound (FUS), and molecular imaging (PET/SPECT). The PhD candidate will be responsible for conducting preclinical studies using animal models of glioblastoma, including planning and execution of therapeutic experiments involving [64Cu]/[67Cu]/[225Ac]-labeled radiopharmaceuticals. This includes synthesis/radiolabeling, and quality control of copper-labeled PSMA and FAP compounds in collaboration and support with experienced radiochemists. The candidate will acquire and analyze PET/SPECT imaging data, perform kinetic modeling, and contribute to advanced image analysis, including potential integration with AI tools. Additional responsibilities include molecular and cellular analysis of tumor tissues using techniques such as immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and single-cell RNA sequencing, in close collaboration with expert partners. The candidate will take an active role in coordinating experimental timelines, ensuring compliance with ethical and safety standards for animal research, and collaborating with national and international teams working in radiopharmacy, molecular imaging, cancer biology, and computational analysis. Participation in interdisciplinary meetings, contribution to scientific publications, and engagement in the broader research community are also expected.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Dr. Mathias Kranz:

• email: [email protected]
  
  

Qualifications

Applicants must;

• have a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in molecular biology, biophysics, pharmacy, biomedicine, radiochemistry, or other relevant disciplines.
• demonstrate strong written and oral English communication skills. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.
• have the ability to work independently and collaboratively, and a keen interest in interdisciplinary research.
• have completed accredited training equivalent to FELASA Category B (EU Function A/D), required for conducting animal experiments in mice under Norwegian regulations, before starting the PhD. Documentation of completed accredited training may be sent in after the application deadline, but before the project's starting date (1.1.2026).
  
  

It is beneficial if applicants have;

• experience with radiolabeling, preclinical cancer research, animal experiments, image analysis, or molecular biology techniques is an advantage.
• working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language.
  
  

In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant's potential to complete a research education based on the master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.

We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. We are looking for candidates who:

• Have good collaboration skills
• Have good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
• Wants to contribute to a good working environment
  
  

As many people as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

Admission to the PhD programme

For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Admission Normally Requires

• A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS.
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master's degree of 120 ECTS.
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS.
  
  

Applicants must have a grade of C or better on the master's thesis and have a grade point average of C or better for the master's degree. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.

If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position.

Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor's degree and a 2-year master's degree. UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project
• Good career opportunities
• A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues 
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement 
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund 
• PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 550 800 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase
  
  

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.

More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility

Application 

Your Application Must Include

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV, containing a complete overview of education, experience, professional work and pedagogical qualifications
• Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree
• Official transcripts of grades/academic record for bachelor's and master's degree
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• Documentation of proficiency in Norwegian or a Scandinavian language (if available)
• 3 references with contact information
• Master’s thesis, and any other academic works
• Documentation of completed accredited training equivalent to FELASA Category B (if available)
  
  

Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. You may still apply if you are in the final stages of the master’s degree, but the master’s thesis must be submitted for evaluation within the application deadline. You must submit the thesis and transcript of grades for the master’s degree with your application.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position. A copy of the assessment report will be sent to all applicants.

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no.

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.

Eallju - Developing the High North

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research university and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.

Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.

The Faculty of Health Sciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway represents a newly created entity gathering almost all possible health study programs. This facilitates an unique interdisciplinarity and innovation in health education and research. We work closely with the services in the North to solve tomorrow's challenges.

Read more about us at uit.no/helsefak