University of Bergen

The University of Bergen (UiB) is an internationally recognised research university with more than 14,000 students and close to 3,500 employees at six faculties. The university is located in the heart of Bergen.

Our main contribution to society is excellent basic research and education across a wide range of disciplines.

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

Through robust and close interaction with the world around us – globally, nationally and locally – we shall be instrumental in building a society based on knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Do you want to take part in shaping the future?

Research scientist

At the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, a part-time temporary position as researcher is available (80% 21 months starting January 1st 2021). The position is externally financed by the European Union through Horizon 2020, and is part of the international project “Exposome project for health and occupational research” (EPHOR) in which UiB is a partner led by professor Cecilie Svanes. EPHOR is part of the European Human Exposome Network humanexposome.eu.

The EPHOR project aims to develop a working-life exposome toolbox that can be used for evidence-based and cost-effective prevention by scientists, occupational health practitioners and policy makers.

It will contain:

• Improved knowledge on how multiple exposures within the working-life exposome are related to the occurrence of common diseases, including complex interactions of exposures, biological pathways and early signs of health damages, and vulnerability at different life-stages
• Innovative methods for collection, storage, and interpretation of working-life exposome data, including its economic and societal impact.

For more information, see https://www.ephor-project.eu/The researcher position is a part of work package 6 on “Working-life exposome, lung function, and obstructive lung disease among men and women”, being responsible for performing a focused case-study investigating the effects of short-term and long-term working-life exposures on respiratory health in the general population. The work package is led by professor Vivi Schlünssen, Aarhus University, Denmark. The project has a temporary financing for 80% for 21 months.

About the project/work tasks:

The overall task for the position will be to build up competence on exposome-research for the investigation of occupational exposures on respiratory health both in the general population and in specific occupational cohorts.

Specific tasks include, to:

• Contribute in planning the protocol for the case-study.
• Contribute in the planning and performing of the field work for the case-study in Bergen.
• Conduct statistical analysis of population-based data according to the description of the EPHOR-project using the population-based cohorts of ECRHS/RHINE/RHINESSA.
• Write and publish scientific papers.
• Write further applications for funding for projects using the data from EPHOR.
• Collaborate and communicate with the larger network of researchers in EPHOR

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• the applicant must hold a relevant Norwegian PhD or equivalent doctoral degree

• Extensive experience in assessing occupational exposure of chemical agents, including the use of both environmental and biological monitoring is a requirement.
• Experience in planning and performing fieldwork with collection of exposure data and health outcomes is a requirement.
• Familiarity of the concept of the exposome is a requirement.
• Experience with using statistical software such as STATA, SPSS and R is a requirement.
• Experience with working on registry data, population-based cohort studies and job-exposure-matrices is an advantage.
• Relevant research experience and practical clinical experience within respiratory medicine is an advantage.
• Project management experience is an advantage.
• Experience with international collaboration is an advantage
• The applicant must be experienced in counseling, writing manuscripts and grant applications.
• Personal skills, including abilities to work independently and cooperate within a research group and international networks of researchers will be given weight
• The applicant must be motivated and responsible, and also have a great work capacity and enthusiasm for research
• The candidate must be fluent in written and oral Norwegian and English

We can offer:

• An active and engaging research environment in the international research front of
• The opportunity to work on population-based data sets and with a research network of profiled international researchers
• Salary at level 59 - 62 (code 1109/salary scale 24.3 – 24.6), currently NOK 526 000-555 800 gross p.a. for a fulltime position; following ordinary meriting regulations. Salary is under adjustment.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• a brief letter of application stating your motivation for the position, why you are applying and why this position is perfect for you
• an overview of your education and work experience (CV)
• witnessed copies of diplomas and relevant certificates (applicants with education from other countries than Norway must enclose diplomas in both the original language and authorized translations)
• publications and academic work (max 10) and a list of these
• your PhD thesis (in PDF)
• two referees (name and contact information)
• It is very important that each of the scholarly works

The following premise forms the basis for the post as research scientist:

• the researcher will be a member of the research group of which the topic/project belongs to
• the salary shall if possible be 100 % covered by external financing
• the researcher shall actively contribute to attract external funding to the research project, both for her/his own position and other positions, from the Research Council of Norway, EU and other sources
• the researcher is expected to have her/his research activity financed by the project of the researcher and the projects of the associated research group
• the Head of Department may allocate work for the Researcher related to specific research projects
• the researcher may participate in committee work and other administrative tasks within the University of Bergen
• the researcher has no teaching duties, but is expected to supervise master students and PhD candidates when this is a natural part of the research activity of the research group
• the researcher may apply for competence promotion according to the regulations for promotions

• the basis for the position ceases if no further project funding and new law on state officials etc. on dismissal and preferential rights will be applied to permanent employees

General information:

Further information about the position can be obtained from:

• Professor Cecilie Svanes, phone: +4790892762 or e-mail: Cecilie.Svanes@uib.no

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principles of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named in the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

Apply for position