Ledig stilling ved NMBU

Researcher position adapting functional genomic approaches to advance European aquaculture

Deadline: 05.05.2019

About the position

Department of Animal- and Aquacultural Sciences (IHA), Faculty of Biosciences (BIOVIT), at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) is inviting applications for two 1-year researcher positions (with possibility of extension) developing functional genomic approaches for their use in fish species.

Norwegian University of Life Sciences

NMBU has a special responsibility for research and education that ensures the basis of life for future generations.


Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we provide knowledge for life.


NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students and is organized in seven faculties. NMBU has a campus in Ås and in Oslo. In the autumn of 2020 we are co-located on Ås.


Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.

About BIOVIT

BIOVIT is organized into two departments: Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences and Department of Plant Sciences.


Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences provides fundamental, innovative research and practical solutions to improve productivity and sustainability across the agriculture and aquaculture sector. Currently, disciplines within the department include Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Ethology and Animal Environment, Breeding and Quantitative Genetics, and Genome Biology.


The main objective of BIOVIT is to contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and food production systems through basic and applied research on plants and animals including fish (aquaculture). The faculty houses Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE) and the research center for Research-based Innovation (SFI) – Foods of Norway.


The faculty is responsible for bachelor- and master programmes in Biology, Animal Science and Plant Science, and international master programmes in Agroecology, Plant Science, Aquaculture, Animal Breeding Genetics and Feed Manufacturing Technology. PhD programmes include Animal Science and Aquaculture, and Plant Sciences. There are currently 480 bachelor and master students, and 90 PhD students, enrolled in these programmes. The faculty has approximately 220 permanent and temporary scientific employees, including technicians, and 18 administrative positions.

The successful candidates will be working on the EU funded AQUA-FAANG project which seeks to generate genome-wide maps of functional elements for six commercially important fish species within European aquaculture and exploit their contribution to variation in traits of commercial relevance, focusing on improved resistance to disease.

The successful candidate will join CIGENE, a multidisciplinary genome biology research group possessing expertise in genetics, evolutionary and comparative genomics, bioinformatics and systems biology. Located within the Department of Animal- and Aquacultural Sciences, this group includes 2 full-time professors, 2 associate professors, 1 center coordinator, 11 researchers, 4 postdocs, 8 PhD students and 10 research technicians. CIGENE has a strong aqua- and agri- research profile, with key strengths in the application of ‘omics’ data to understand the genetic architecture of complex traits.

The group wishes to use functional genomics technologies, including gene editing, to better understand the biology underlying specific genotype-phenotype associations. CIGENE has excellent wet and dry lab facilities for automated high-throughput omics, and bioinformatics.

Main tasks

A key activity in AQUA-FAANG is (within a limited timeframe; <1 year) to develop robust protocols for functional assays (ChIP- and ATAC-Seq) that can be used in different fish species and in samples from different tissues. Protocols will be established in tissue samples (as opposed to cell cultures) collected from Atlantic salmon and representing a variety of organs, and in the case of ChIP-Seq, multiple antibody assays must be optimized.

In early 2020 the successful candidates will need to coordinate and lead a hands-on training of technical staff from other European partner organizations. Partners will return to their laboratories and implement the protocols in various fish species.

If necessary, the successful candidates are expected to provide troubleshooting assistance and may be required to travel and perform onsite training/trouble shooting.

The post will provide a unique opportunity to ambitious individuals that enjoy a creative, interactive, interdisciplinary and international academic environment and seek personal development.

Qualifications and skills

Required academic qualifications

  • Doctoral (PhD) degree in functional genomics, molecular biology, cell biology, or similar
  • Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) to the scientific community and to a broader audience

Desired academic qualifications

  • Practical experience with functional genomic methods such as ChIP- and ATAC-Seq.
  • A broad understanding of genomic/transcriptomic/epigenomic techniques and data

Required personal skills

  • Highly motivated and enthusiastic, willing to take personal responsibility for the success of the activities
  • Analytical and academic approach to research questions
  • Prepared to perform independent work displaying initiative and careful creative thought on a day-to-day basis, but within a larger team structure
  • Excellent leadership, collaborative and social skills
  • Proficient in English, both written and spoken. Proficiency in Norwegian is not required but is advantageous

The optimal candidate will be open to new ideas, flexible, engaged and goal-oriented.

Remuneration and information

The positions are placed in government pay scale position code 1352; postdoctoral fellow, wage framework 24, salary grade 61-77 (NOK 534.100 – 731.400) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment depending on qualifications. The positions follow ordinary meriting regulations.

For further information, please contact:

Information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: May 5th 2019

Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.

Applications should include (electronically) a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, full publication list, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified), and a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses). Publications should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant NMBU Department may require further documentation, e.g. proof of English proficiency.

If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

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