PhD Research Fellow in Raman and Autofluorescence Spectroscopy of Organoids, University of Oslo (MSCA MERIT)

Job Description

The University of Oslo has a funded PhD position in Raman spectroscopy of organoids in its Department of Physics. You will build label-free optical tools that track how viral infection changes cells. The post is part of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie MERIT network. It pays NOK 550,800 to 595,000 a year.

At a glance

• Position: PhD Research Fellow, 3 years, full time (Jobbnorge 309647; MERIT Doctoral Candidate 6)
• Where: Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway
• Pay: NOK 550,800 to 595,000 a year; 2% goes to the state pension fund
• Supervisors: Prof. Balpreet Singh Ahluwalia and Associate Prof. Elisabeth Wetzer
• Start: No later than 1 April 2027
• Apply: 30 October 2026

What the Raman organoid spectroscopy PhD involves

• Develop a Raman and UV-visible autofluorescence platform, mainly with 785 nm Raman excitation
• Test free-space set-ups and photonic waveguide chips that boost the signal with the evanescent field
• Measure organoid sections infected with HIV-1 and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
• Build a spectral library of early molecular and metabolic changes during infection
• Use machine learning to sort spectra and link them to disease stages
• Travel for secondments and work with other doctoral candidates in the network

Why this role matters

Early signs of infection often show up in a cell’s chemistry before any damage is visible. Label-free light can read those signs without dyes. This project joins photonics, biology and AI, and the MSCA network gives you training and contacts across Europe.

What University of Oslo is looking for

• A master’s in physics or engineering, or a related field such as biophysics or biomedical technology
• A foreign master’s must equal at least four years of study in Norway. Your thesis must be submitted by the closing date
• A strong background in optics, photonics or spectroscopy, with hands-on instrument work such as Raman
• Programming and data analysis in Python or MATLAB, and basic AI tools
• MSCA rules: you must not hold a doctorate, and you must not have lived or worked mainly in Norway for more than 12 months in the 3 years before 1 April 2027
• UiO grade rules: bachelor’s average C or better, master’s average B or better (Norwegian scale)

Nice to have

• Integrated photonics, waveguides or evanescent-field spectroscopy
• Handling cells, tissues, organoids or viruses
• PCA, clustering, chemometrics or machine learning for spectra or images
• Instrument automation

Pay and location

The PhD Research Fellow salary is NOK 550,800 to 595,000 a year, based on skills and experience. 2% is paid into the State Pension Fund. The post is full time for three years. The University of Oslo is covered by the Security Act, so the chosen candidate must pass a security check. Applicant names may appear on a public list.

How to apply

Apply through the official University of Oslo page. The closing date is 30 October 2026. The advertisement sends you to the MERIT network application form. You will upload a CV, explain your interest, and confirm the mobility rule there. The full advertisement is also available as a PDF. Late applications are not considered.

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