PhD Position – Biomat

About the position

Applications are invited for a 100% full-time, 3-year PhD Research Fellowship position in dental implants, based at the Department of Biomaterials (BIOMAT) at the Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo (UiO), Norway.

We are seeking a candidate interested in debridement and the management of infected dental implants. This PhD position is part of the European Doctoral Network “SHIELD” (Strategies for Healing Implant-associated infections and Enhancing Longevity in Devices). SHIELD offers an exciting opportunity for 16 early-career researchers to contribute to transforming the management of infections associated with medical implants. Focused on addressing the challenges posed by implant-associated infections (IAIs), SHIELD aims to deepen our understanding of IAI mechanisms and develop innovative antibacterial biomaterials to improve patient outcomes.

Structured around three core scientific pillars—regenerative medicine, biomaterial science, and translational research models—SHIELD supports research on therapeutic strategies, novel antimicrobial materials, and experimental models that bridge laboratory discoveries to clinical applications. The program emphasises interdisciplinary collaboration across orthopaedics, otology, and odontology, integrating basic research with preclinical and clinical studies.

SHIELD offers the opportunity to 16 talented doctoral candidates (DCs) to pursue a PhD within the Network at different universities and industrial companies from 26 institutions across 11 countries (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States).

Background information on all DC positions and the SHIELD Doctoral Network is available on :

SHIELD (Strategies for Healing Implant-associated infections and Enhancing Longevity in Devices) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No .

According to a recent Research Council of Norway (RCN) evaluation of medicine and health (EVALMEDHELSE) , the Biomaterials group at the University of Oslo is a dynamic, world-leading research group. It has a strong international presence and is particularly active in securing grant funding and delivering high-quality publications. The group covers several research disciplines, ranging from microbiology and biology (molecular and cell biology) to chemistry and materials science. The group mainly focuses on developing and modifying biomaterials for clinical applications in bone regeneration and integration into hard tissues. It has made a clear societal contribution through innovation and patents that have led to translational research benefiting patients and society, via the establishment of spin-off companies and collaborations with industry. Currently, BIOMAT comprises four tenured professors and associate professors, five researchers / postdoctoral fellows, and five PhD students.

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More about the position

The position is part of the European Doctoral Network project “SHIELD” (Strategies for Healing Implant-associated Infections and Enhancing Longevity in Devices) led by the University of Gothenburg.

The candidate will participate in in vivo experiments and clinical studies to evaluate different debridement tools for infected implants and subsequently analyse. Throughout the in vivo phase, you will develop a clinical protocol suitable for first-in-human pilot studies, integrating the insights gained from animal work with regulatory, ethical, and practical considerations.

We are seeking a motivated and competent candidate with an interest in periodontal health, implant, and biomaterial research. The candidate will join a highly active international research group comprising PhD students and postdoctoral researchers at BIOMAT. The candidate is expected to participate, often leading to valuable learning experiences and opportunities for co-authorship. The extent and type of involvement will be tailored to the candidate’s background and determined in consultation with the supervisory team.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements

• The ideal candidate should meet the following qualifications requirements :
• Master’s degree preferred in dentistry by the start of the PhD position, but master’s degrees in a relevant field may also be considered. You must fulfil the admission requirements of the PhD programme at the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master's degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• MSCA fellowship is only available for a person who has not lived or done your main work / study in Norway for the past year
• Documented experience from dental clinical work and periodontal surgeries
• Translating experimental findings into clinically relevant protocols to guide future pilot human studies.
• Experience with microbiology is advantageous
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU / EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements :
• Strong communication skills in English (written and oral); knowledge of a Scandinavian language is an advantage.
• Ability to travel to training at various European Institutions and collaborate with particular French (Anthogyr) and Swedish (University of Gothenburg) partners. A longer stay abroad is expected.
• Experience with statistical methods is an advantage, but not necessary
• Capacity to develop and apply innovative research methods in implant debridement.

Personal skills

Why should you choose us?

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.

Application

The application must include

Note : If you are applying for a different DC position within the SHIELD Doctoral network, please follow the instructions provided by the hosting organisation. These instructions can be found in the specific link associated with each DC position.

The application, along with its attachments, must be submitted through our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their university's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language. Special emphasis will be placed on the documented academic qualifications and the candidate’s motivation and personal suitability in assessing the applications. Interviews with the best-qualified candidates will be arranged.

General information

The best-qualified candidates will be invited for interviews.

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

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 cannot, 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 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.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology, and services).

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

The Faculty of Dentistry is one of the leading odontological research and educational institutions in Europe. The faculty's research groups contribute top research within several odontological fields.

In addition to educating dentists and dental hygienists, the Faculty has Ph.D program and professional-oriented specialist education. The Faculty holds significant competence in the various research and clinical disciplines, with good interdisciplinary collaboration. It is a modern faculty with approximately 420 students and approximately 420 employees. The faculty is also Norway's largest dental clinic with approximately 50,000 patient visits a year. The Faculty of Dentistry has two departments : Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Department of Oral Biology.

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