Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN University) is home to over 14,000 students and 1,000 employees, and has campuses in Lillehammer, Hamar, Elverum, Rena, Evenstad and Blæstad.

INN University aspires to build strong and enduring academic and research environments that will spearhead regionally, nationally and internationally. We are developing a new and better institution with high academic and pedagogical quality, aiming at achieving university accreditation by 2020.

Our vision is "Stronger Together".

About the position

A 100% PhD position in applied ecology is available at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN), Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology. The position will run for 3 years, starting in 01.01.2022 The candidate will be enrolled in INN’s PhD program in applied ecology and biotechnology, with workplace at Campus Evenstad.

This position is one of two PhD positions available as part of a four-year interdisciplinary research project (326843 – Forests and wildlife under pressure – systems analysis for sustainable solutions) financed by the Norwegian Research Council. The PhD will be supervised by a researcher team from HINN and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria, with the opportunity of spending up to 6 months at IIASA.

The project aims at developing wildlife population models to be used in a larger context of ecological, economical and societal impacts of alternative land management policies under a changing climate. The candidate will compile information on wildlife ecology and management and build models for future management of wildlife resources. Specifically, the candidate will compile existing data on demographic drivers and management of large herbivores in Scandinavia (i.e. moose, red deer, roe deer, wild boar) as a basis to map interacting, direct and indirect pathways between climate change and population demography. The candidate will also assess climate-mediated changes of herbivore browsing impacts on biodiversity and forestry. The findings will be incorporated in spatial wildlife population models to be used to assess the impacts of different management options under different climate scenarios. The candidate will work in close collaboration with the project’s multi-disciplinary and international team.

The candidate will be supervised by Associate professor Simen Pedersen (HINN, main supervisor), Professor Barbara Zimmermann (HINN), Researcher Cecilie Dyngeland (HINN), and Researcher Oskar Franklin (IIASA, Austria)

Questions about the position or work environment can be directed to associate professor Simen Pedersen, e-mail: simen.pedersen@inn.no

Qulifications

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in ecology or other relevant disciplines, such as conservation biology, forestry or statistics, with an average weighted mark equivalent to B or better on the ECTS scale. Applicants with a Master's degree from another subject area, or with lower average mark, may be admitted after special review.
• Skills in data handling of large datasets and statistical modelling
• Strong experience with statistical software like e.g. R
• Collaborative with the ability to develop a network and at the same time being capable of working independently.
• Results-oriented and with a strong motivation for successfully carrying out a PhD
• Oral and written fluency in English

Preferred:

• Previous experience from population modelling is advantageous
• Experience in doing research and publishing peer-reviewed scientific articles is considered an important merit
• Scandinavian language skills count positively due to stakeholder involvement in the project
• Experience using GIS

We emphasize personal qualifications when appointing personnel to the faculty. The evaluation of candidates will consider education, experience, publishing, personal traits, motivation and the qualifications required and desired in the announcement.

How to apply

• The application and attachments must be submitted electronically and include the following:
• Application cover letter that summarizes how the candidate’s motivation and how they meet the position requirements.
• CV (summary of education and work experience).
• Copies of academic certificates/transcripts.
• List of minimum 2 references with full contact information.
• A complete list of scientific and other publications.

Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences aims to balance gender composition in the workforce and recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds. According to the Norwegian Law "Offentlighetsloven §25.2 ledd", information about the applicant can be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the public list of applicants.

We offer

• A place in an ambitious, expanding and highly international environment
• Challenging and exciting project with opportunities of personal and scientific development
• Independent and flexible work setting that the successful candidate may to a large extent influence her/himself
• Daily contact with inspiring skilled colleagues in a cross-disciplinary environment
• Fantastic nature just outside campus
• The candidate is expected to be an active member of the research environment at Campus Evenstad

Apply for position