UiT The Arctic University of Norway has established «The Arctic MSCA-PF program» (uit.no/project/arcticmsca) to recruit excellent young researchers planning to apply for a Marie Skƚodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) to pursue a career in research. We invite applications from promising young researchers within the field of Immunology and autoimmunity. The selected candidate will write a proposal for a 24-month MSCA-PF at UiT together with Professor Kristin Fenton. This is an opportunity to accelerate your research career while living in the urban research city of Tromsø, uniquely located at the top of the world surrounded by some of Europe’s last pristine wild nature.

This call is one of 70 from pre-selected supervisors at UiT The Arctic University of Norway through the “Arctic MSCA-PF program”. Successful postdoc candidates will be invited for a three-day MSCA-PF symposium June 4-6, 2024 (hybrid physical/digital event, see details at uit.no/project/arcticmsca/program-structure). At this event, the candidates will present their past research achievements, discuss future plans with their potential supervisor and learn how to write a successful MSCA-PF application. The selected candidates will, jointly with the supervisor, write the MSCA-PF application by the deadline of September 11, 2024.

In this call we search for talented, young researchers within the field of Immunology and autoimmunity as presented by Professor Fenton:

The RNA and molecular pathology (RAMP) research group is dedicated to unraveling the intricate cellular and molecular mechanisms that underpin the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN). Our primary objective is to pioneer early detection methods for these conditions and to elucidate the role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in autoimmune disease progression. We focus on developing innovative diagnostic tools for the early detection of SLE and LN. We are investigating the formation and function of TLS within nonimmune organs and their impact on immune cell activation and suppression, by characterizing the spontaneous and inducible models of SLE that exhibit large, highly organized TLS. We are also defining the contribution of TLS to the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases and their potential parallels in cancer. To achieve this, we are utilizing various genetically modified and spontaneous mouse models to simulate SLE and LN for in-depth study; employing cutting-edge methods to dissect the cellular and molecular dynamics within TLS and affected tissues; analyzing complex datasets to identify patterns, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets; and bridging the gap between basic research and clinical application to fast-track the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. By defining the role of TLS and leveraging our findings, we aim to revolutionize the early detection and treatment of SLE and LN, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Please send your CV (max 3 pages) and describe a research project that will strengthen and complement the presented research (max 2 pages) to kristin.fenton@uit.no by Feb 16th 2024. Mark your application "Arctic MSCA". Successful candidates will be contacted in late March 2024.