About the position

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD fellowship to be based at the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo. The position is linked to the project titled “An oxytocin intervention to support youth with autism, which is funded by a grant from the Kavli Trust (Principal Investigator: Daniel Quintana). The fellowship is for a period of 3 years. The employment period can be considered to be up to 4 years given addition of teaching and administrative duties (up to 25 %), depending on the competence of the successful applicant and the needs of the department. The research fellow must take part in the Department’s PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. 
 

Autism is characterised by qualitative differences in social interaction and routinised behaviours. While these differences can be a strength for many, for some autistic youth they can present challenges that may benefit from individualised supports. This project is evaluating the support potential of intranasal oxytocin in autistic youth via a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized-controlled crossover trial of a four-week course of oxytocin in autistic youth aged 12-21. In collaboration with other members of the team, the fellow will be directly involved in project coordination, data collection, data analysis, and the write up of results for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Project description

The project is based in the Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Laboratory (Lab leader: Daniel Quintana), in the Health-, Developmental- and Personality- psychology section at the Department of Psychology. The goal of the Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Laboratory is to better understand the role of the hypothalamus and its hormones in maintaining health and well-being. The candidate will also be affiliated with the K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Director: Terje Nærland), whose goal is to address mechanisms of brain development differences and translate findings to improve support for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• The candidate must be qualified for admission to the ph.d. program at the Faculty of Social Science, University of Oslo (https://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/).
• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a MA level degree in psychology, medicine, cognitive neuroscience, or other relevant fields. 
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in Norwegian and English is required. 
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills is required.

Favourable Qualifications

• Previous experience working with individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., autism) or lived experience with neurodevelopmental conditions is an advantage
• Previous experience with coordinating research projects is an advantage
• Previous experience with statistical analysis and programming (R, Python, or similar) is an advantage. Interest in acquiring the necessary statistical analysis and programming skills is required.
• Previous experience with experimental research is an advantage
• Previous experience with open science practices is an advantage
• Previous experience with neuropeptide research (e.g., oxytocin) is an advantage

Personal skills

The following personal skills will be considered beneficial during the evaluation of candidate applications:

• Ability to work with accuracy and precision
• Good problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and as an integrated member of a team
• Highly motivated

We offer

• Salary (NOK 536.200 – 596,100 per year), - depending on experience and qualifications.
• An ambitious and exciting research environment with a strong multidisciplinary profile and excellent opportunities for academic development.
• Attractive welfare benefits including excellent benefits for families (kindergarten, paid paternal/maternal leave etc) and a generous pension agreement. In addition, Oslo offers a family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities in its immediate surroundings.
• Starting date: June 2025.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

How to apply

The application must include:

• One-page cover letter (summary of motivation and research interests, career plan).
• CV (summarizing education, positions, relevant experience).
• Relevant educational certificates and transcripts of records
• List of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)
• List of publications, if any (including preprints with valid links). Publications should not be submitted along with the initial application.

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on academic qualifications, the candidate’s motivation, and personal suitability. Interviews will be performed as part of the selection process.

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews. 

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian),  Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.