Researcher Position in Precision Medicine and Monogenic Diabetes

The Mohn Center for Precision Medicine in Diabetes (PRECISE-DIA) is seeking a full-time researcher (100%) for a 3-year position affiliated with the project “Beyond Type 1 Diabetes: Precision Medicine in HNF1B-MODY”, funded by Helse Vest for the period 2026–2028. 

The project aims to functionally investigate the role of the transcription factor HNF-1B in diabetes. It is a collaboration between the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen. The project is led by Professor and Senior Consultant Pål Rasmus Njølstad.

About the project
Diabetes and its complications are among the greatest global health challenges of the 21st century. One important subtype is Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), an autosomal dominant form of diabetes and a key example of precision medicine, which is often misdiagnosed as type 1 diabetes. Pathogenic sequence variants in the transcription factor gene HNF1B cause HNF1B-MODY, a condition that may also involve organ dysfunction, including pancreatic aplasia, kidney malformations, severe renal failure, genital malformations, and neuropsychiatric disease.

Haukeland University Hospital and the University of Bergen are internationally recognised for research into the clinical, genetic, and functional basis of monogenic diabetes. In this project, exome sequencing will be used to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed HNF1B-MODY in children and adults with presumed type 1 diabetes included in the Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry and the Norwegian Diabetes Registry for Adults.

Patients found to carry pathogenic variants will receive a precise molecular diagnosis, along with improved genetic counselling and treatment. They will also be invited to participate in a treatment study investigating whether insulin injections can be replaced by sulfonylurea tablets, as some patients with HNF1B-MODY respond to sulfonylureas.

Genetic data and protein function data will be integrated through multidimensional analyses and machine learning and related to clinical phenotype. This may improve prediction of diagnosis and treatment among patients with HNF1B-MODY. Functional studies of HNF1B variants will also be carried out in the world’s largest HNF1B-MODY cohort, contributing to a revision of the international diagnostic criteria for HNF1B-MODY. The project may include studies of interaction partners to the HNF-1B protein as well as biochemical and 3D-analysis of selected variants. Also, the candidate will be involved in a subproject aiming to make a high-throughput assay for investigating all theoretically possible missense variants in the HNF-1B protein (MAVE). The project is expected to have immediate impact on both diagnosis and treatment.

The position involves demanding and specialised technical and academic support functions related to research and teaching.
The successful candidate is expected to have substantial laboratory expertise in biochemical/ molecular biological methods. Advantages are experience with research on transcription factors or analyses of mutations in diabetes genes, including:

Arbeidsoppgåver

The position involves demanding and specialised technical and academic support functions related to research and teaching.
The successful candidate is expected to have substantial laboratory expertise in biochemical/ molecular biological methods. Advantages are experience with research on transcription factors or analyses of mutations in diabetes genes, including:

• cell and molecular biology
• cell culture, particularly beta-cell, kidney cell, and stem cell models
• protein analyses such as Western blotting and ELISA
• other relevant biological analytical methods 

Kvalifikasjonar

Applicants must have:

• a relevant PhD, or an equivalent doctoral degree
• scientific qualifications in cell biology and molecular genetics
• interest in diabetes research
• experience in supervision, teaching, and preparation of research grant applications is desirable
• the ability to work independently and collaboratively
• strong motivation for research, a high level of work capacity, and enthusiasm for scientific work
• excellent spoken and written English skills 

Experience from international collaboration is an advantage.
Personal suitability will be an important part of the overall assessment

Personlege eigenskapar

The application must include:

• a motivation letter explaining your motivation, your reasons for applying, and why you are well suited for the position to be presented at an ingerview
  
• a CV including details of education and work experience
• certified copies of diplomas and relevant certificates/testimonials
• applicants with foreign education must submit diplomas in the original language as well as authorised translationspublications or other scientific/professional work to be considered in the evaluation (maximum 10), together with a list of these works
• the doctoral thesis in PDF format
• contact details for two referees
• Please note that all scientific works to be considered in the assessment must be uploaded in full as PDF attachments with the application

Conditions attached to the position:

The following conditions apply to the Researcher position:

• the researcher will be a member of Njølstad’s research group
  
• the researcher is expected to contribute actively to securing external funding for the academic environment, both for own research and for colleagues, including
• funding from the Research Council of Norway (NFR), the EU, and other sources
  
• the researcher may participate in committees, boards, and similar bodies
  
• the position carries no formal teaching obligation, but the researcher is expected to supervise master’s and PhD students where this is a natural part of the research activity of the group
  
• the researcher may apply for promotion in accordance with applicable academic promotion regulations
  
• the basis for the position will cease if project funding ends; the current legislation relating to state employees, including provisions on dismissal and preferential rights for permanent employees, will apply

Vi tilbyr

• a strong and stimulating research environment at the forefront of precision medicine in diabetes
• good welfare benefits 

For Norwegian applicants, please apply via Webcruiter.
English‑speaking applicants may submit their application as a PDF to: pal.njolstad@uib.no