NORPOD - A collaborative postdoc program of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine (2024-2028)

The NordForsk-funded NORPOD program of the Nordic EMBL Partnership aims to nurture the next generation of scientists whilst promoting research collaborations in molecular medicine across the Nordics and beyond, for the benefit of human health. The four Nordic EMBL nodes work in partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and its sites throughout Europe thus, encouraging competence building and engagement with its research networks.

The NORPOD program connects our three cross-cutting research themes to address major challenges in health and medicine in Nordic societies: (1) Precision medicine (2) From microbes to infection genomics (3) Neuroscience - from genes and circuits to disease mechanisms and interventions.

With NORPOD, the Partnership aims to develop exciting cross-disciplinary projects and collaborations to train and mentor future scientists in molecular medicine. By strengthening translational research in precision and personalized medicine, the program will aim at benefiting healthcare through cross-sector innovation, from the clinic to industry.

Nordic EMBL Partnership awarded funding for NORPOD program

Apply now

2024 Call for postdoctoral fellows through the NORPOD program

NORPOD is the collaborative postdoctoral program of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine. The partnership is a network of four national research centers across the Nordics and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), with complementary research expertise at the forefront of molecular medicine research. With the NORPOD program, the Nordic EMBL Partnership aims to foster the next generation of researchers in molecular medicine by expanding their expert knowledge, skills and research excellence.

We welcome applications! Apply for one of the 7 postdoctoral positions in Molecular Medicine!

List of NORPOD projects

PROJECT TITLE	PROJECT DESCRIPTION	PROJECT PIs	HOST NODE AND LOCATION	FIND ALL INFORMATION AND HOW TO APPLY
1. Comparative study of the gut epithelium dynamics during inflammation	Comparing the effect of inflammation on gut permeability in both zebrafish and mice models, using methods ranging from in vivo imaging across the whole organism, to cutting-edge mucus measurements, and RNAseq. This project aims to identify conserved pathways involved in inflammation and how microbially produced short chain fatty acids can protect the gut.	Main PI: Gilles Vanwalleghem (DANDRITE), co-PI: Björn Schröder (MIMS)	DANDRITE, Aarhus, DK	Here
2. Novel insights into the cancer genome and epigenome using long-read sequencing and machine learning	Gaining novel insights into the cancer genome and epigenome. This project will generate and analyse nanopore long-read sequencing data to investigate gene regulatory logic in cancer cells and understand the impact of DNA adducts to methylation, expression, and gene regulation.	Main PI: Esa Pitkänen (FIMM), co-PI: Biswajyoti Sahu (NCMM)	FIMM, Helsinki, FI	Here
3. Pushing the boundaries of CRISPR screens in malaria parasites	Focusing on developing new and improved CRISPR methodologies to enable full genome screens in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. This project will combine expertise in CRISPR and genetic manipulation of malaria parasites.	Main PI: Ellen Bushell (MIMS), co-PI: Emma Haapaniemi (NCMM)	MIMS, Umeå, SE	Here
4. Synaptic ubiquitin signaling for protein clearance during sleep	Investigating the regulation of protein clearance during sleep by an important cellular signal for protein homeostasis. By integrating sleep behaviour experiments, subcellular biochemistry and proteomics, this project aims to unveil how synapses use ubiquitin to rebalance molecular homeostasis during sleep.	Main PI: Chao Sun (DANDRITE), co-PI: Charlotte Boccara (NCMM)	DANDRITE, Aarhus, DK	Here
5. The organelle landscape of single cortical neurons	Studying intracellular organelle landscape of single cortical neurons to increase knowledge of information flow through neurons in the cortex. This project will use machine learning methods to reconstruct organelle landscape in large volume electron microscopy datasets to investigate functional properties of dendrites in cortical layers.	Main PI: Lassi Paavolainen (FIMM), co-PI: Chao Sun (DANDRITE)	FIMM, Helsinki, FI	Here
6. Unveiling the spatial regulation of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer	Identifying the spatial transcriptional regulation of tumor cell states that drive chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. This project will integrate multiplexed single-cell spatial proteomics, transcriptomics and chromatin states using unique novel spatial technologies and analytical methods.	Main PI: Anniina Färkkilä (FIMM), co-PI: Marieke Kuijjer (NCMM)	FIMM, Helsinki, FI	Here
7. Verifying CRISPR cures by RNA sequncing	Focuses on CRISPR-Cas9 -correcting white blood cells from patients with Inborn Errors of Immunity, and characterizing the cells with different sequencing techniques. This project aims to build a CRISPR-Cas9 based gene correction platform for diverse Inborn Errors of Immunity.	Main PI: Emma Haapaniemi (NCMM), co-PI: Helena Kilpinen (FIMM)	NCMM, Oslo, NO	Here

Important information

Dates and deadlines:
The call opens: 29 April 2024
Application deadline: 31 May 2024
Final interviews expected: late June-early July 2024

Selection process:

The collaborating supervisors (PIs) of the research project will shortlist top candidates based on all the submitted applications.
For each project, the collaborating PIs may plan an in-person/online lab visit and meeting with the top candidates.
Top candidates will be invited for an online interview conducted by an independent selection panel where they will also be given the opportunity to pitch their project plan.
NORPOD Fellowships will be awarded based on the recommendation of the selection panel, and expected to start during autumn 2024.

NORPOD Fellows will:

Develop a collaborative project under the supervision of two Nordic EMBL PIs.
Obtain a 30-month-full time postdoctoral employment at the host institution of the main project PI.
Travel for short or long-term stays to the collaborating supervisor's lab to promote collaboration and carry out parts of the research project.
Gain access to state-of-the-art core facilities and platforms available in the wider network of the Nordic EMBL Partnership.
Participate and contribute to strengthening personal and professional development.
Advance the goals of the Nordic EMBL Partnership by fostering synergies and research excellence.

For questions regarding the positions or research projects, please contact the contact person indicated by each project in the ad. With general questions regarding the NORPOD program framework, you may contact the central administrator of the program, Dominik Fischer at dominik.fischer@umu.se .