PhD Research Fellow in marine plankton ecology

About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in marine ecology available at the Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology (AQUA), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than October 1, 2024.

The fellowship period is 3 years.

A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

Knowledge development in a changing world – Science and technology towards 2030.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Job description

The role of disease is generally understudied in pelagic ecology. Our group aims to understand the role of parasites of zooplankton and their effects on biogeochemical processes, population dynamics, and community composition. We are seeking a candidate who will use state-of-the-art high-throughput imaging devices in combination with traditional plankton sampling to examine responses to environmental gradients and fluctuations on scales relevant to the individual plankton and their parasites.

The candidate will observe fine-scale dynamics of zooplankton, including short-lived parasite stages or rare groups typically underrepresented in net samplings. Results will be used to test available model predictions of key traits and population dynamics of zooplankton hosts and parasites. Results may also be combined with larger-scale data from Skagerrak and Kattegat and our existing meta-barcoding data sets from ongoing projects (e.g. POICE project, RCN) to examine how large-scale distributions depend on fine-scale responses to the environment and how parasites mediate dynamics.

The candidate will be based in Oslo and will conduct fieldwork in Drøbak and Oslofjorden. He/she will develop the project together with the supervisors. The candidate is expected to engage in outreach activities and collaborate actively in the research group, including with national and international scientists.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in in biology relevant to this PhD project (e.g., marine or aquatic biology, biological oceanography, marine parasitology, plankton ecology or similar).
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

Desired qualifications:

• A solid background in one or preferably several of the following topics: i) plankton ecology, ii) marine parasitology, iii) image analysis or iv) biostatistics
• Strong practical and analytical skills, and experience with zooplankton ecology and large data sets. A documented ability to perform field and laboratory work, as well as of experience with data-intensive workflows such as bioinformatics or statistical data analysis with R, Python, Matlab, or similar programming languages and environments.
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position are key. We seek a highly motivated candidate with excellent oral and written communication skills in English and preferably a Scandinavian language. Social and collaborative skills are important, as the suitable candidate must be able to work both independently and in collaborative settings within an interdisciplinary and international scientific environment.
• Pedagogic experience is an asset.

Candidates without a master’s degree have until 30 June 2024 to complete the final exam.

Grade requirements:
The norm is as follows:

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:

https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8 

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. 

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position.

For more information see: 

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/
 
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

We offer

• Salary NOK 532 200 – 575 400 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement 
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Career development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter
• A separate 1-2 page statement of the applicant’s research interests related to the project and motivation for applying for the position
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work , including scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records
• Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “Apply for this job”). 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.

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

UiO has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

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.

Contact information

For further information about the position please contact: Professor Josefin Titelman, phone: +47 22 854501, e-mail: Josefin.Titelman@ibv.uio.no or Researcher Jan Heuschele, phone: +47 46371954, e-mail: janheu@uio.no or Researcher Svenja Christiansen email: svenja.christiansen@ibv.uio.no, phone: +47 22854242

For questions regarding Jobbnorge, please contact: HR Adviser Nina Holtan, e-mail: nina.holtan@mn.uio.no

About the University of Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.

Department of Biosciences (IBV) is one of nine departments at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Research in the department is organised in five sections covering topics within biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, cell biology, genetics, aquatic biology, toxicology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Education across these topics is offered for around 350 bachelor, 250 master, and 120 PhD students. With 52 permanent professors/associate professors, post-docs, researchers, technical, and administrative personnel, the Department has a total staff of 340 from more than 30 different countries. The Department aims to maintain high international standards within both research and teaching. The new bachelor program in bioscience is the first of its kind to include programming and computational modelling as core elements.

Deadline: 2024-02-29 at 23:59
Unit: Health/Life sciences

Read the job description at the university homepage or apply.