PhD position in rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in poultry meat
Deadline: 06.05.2025
Publisert
University of Inland Norway is home to around 15,000 students and 1,500 employees. We have campuses in Lillehammer, Hamar, Elverum, Rena, Evenstad and Blæstad, and offer some courses at Kongsvinger, Tynset and in Oslo.
Campus Hamar is less than one hour by train from Oslo Airport and has easy access to Oslo and the beautiful mountain areas of Rondane and Jotunheimen. The city of Hamar is situated in the open and fertile cultural landscape along the banks of Lake Mjøsa. With almost 3000 students, the Hamar campus provides a vast selection of research-based study programs in humanities, social sciences, teacher education, animation, game technology, and biotechnology.
Our vision is "Stronger together - we build the university in an interdisciplinary community, together with the communities and the industries"
PhD Research Fellowship in biotechnology
About the position
The Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology at University of Inland Norway (INN) invites applications for a PhD research fellowship in the field of biotechnology.
The duration of the PhD Research Fellow is 3 years, starting in August 2025. The candidate will be enrolled in INN’s PhD program in applied ecology and biotechnology, with a workplace at Campus Hamar.
About the project
This project is part of the OH-AMR-Diag project, which the Norwegian Research Council recently founded. This project aims to improve the turnaround time for campylobacter detection and its associated antibiotic resistance in poultry products. The current methods for detecting pathogens and antibiotic resistance rely primarily on culture-based techniques. These methods are time-consuming and delay the clearance of slaughterhouse carcasses for market until results are available. During this waiting period, carcasses are stored in chilling rooms, which can negatively impact meat quality. Therefore, developing rapid detection methods is essential. This project explores the possibility and implementation of culture-independent methods for pathogen detection and antibiotic resistance identification in raw poultry meat. This novel approach will reduce the turnaround time for the current diagnostic method and potentially reduce the surveillance program and industrial costs. Improved industrial logistics will minimize waste, reduce consumers' exposure to Campylobacter from poultry meat, and eventually increase sales of fresh poultry products.
Supervision team
The PhD candidate will join the bioinformatic, biodiscovery, and biorefinery group led by Prof. Rafi Ahmad at the Department of Biotechnology. In this project, Associate Professor Abdolrahman Khezri will be the candidate’s main supervisor. Professor Rafi Ahmad (INN) and Dr Ole Alvseike from the Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Center (Animalia) will be co-supervisors for the PhD student.
Qualifications
It is a requirement that the PhD research fellow qualifies for admission to the University's PhD programme in Applied ecology and biotechnology. Applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered. Applicants who submitted their master's thesis and are waiting for defense can also apply.
To be admitted to the doctoral program, the applicant must normally have a minimum master's degree or master's level (120 credits, §3 master's in the Norwegian system) or equivalent education, within molecular biology, biotechnology, microbiology, or similar subjects.
Furthermore, you must have a strong academic background from your previous studies, ie. the average grade should normally be B or better from the master's program (120 credits) or equivalent education. Calculation of the average grade is based on the credits for each course and for the master's thesis. Applicants with weaker grades than what is normally required for admission must document that they will be able to complete a doctoral degree. In cases where the education has been approved with the use of the grades passed / failed, the applicant is admitted after an individual assessment. If you have education from abroad, you can contact herefor approval of your education, alternatively a similar assessment will be made in connection with the application process.
The following qualification are also required for the position:
Previous experience with routine microbiology techniques such as bacterial culture, colony morphology, performing Antibiotic resistance tests, and CFU counting.
Hands-on with relevant molecular biology skills, such as DNA isolation from complex matrices, PCR, qPCR, and experience with Nanopore sequencing (loading, running, and data analyses).
Furthermore, emphasis is placed on the following attributes:
Experience working with bioinformatics analyses, specifically at the metagenome level
Good knowledge of Bash scripting and programming.
Documented scientific publications.
In addition, we are looking for a solution-oriented person with enthusiasm for new technology and how it can be implemented. Candidates with good teamwork characteristics, communication skills, and critical thinking will be given preference.
Applicants who cannot document skills in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at level A2 upon employment must complete training corresponding to at least 15 credits during the scholarship period.
Evaluation of candidates for the position will be based on a total assessment of educational background, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation and other eligibility requirements, as defined in the advertisement.
The position and associated tasks must be carried out in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations for government employees, including also the Act on Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology, etc. Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, come into conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to take up the position at University of Inland Norway. Necessary approvals must be maintained throughout the employment relationship.
How to apply
The application and attachments must be submitted electronically and include the following:
Application letter that summarizes the candidate’s motivation and how they meet the position requirements.
CV detailing your relevant educational background and experience (registered in Jobbnorge's form).
Copies of academic diplomas and transcripts (A certified English translation of all educational documents is required unless the documents are in Norwegian.)
A list of publications.
The names and contact information for two referees.
Any other documentation you would like us to consider.
Attachments must be uploaded as separate files. If the attachments exceed 30 MB, they must be compressed prior to upload. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all attachments are uploaded. Documents submitted after expiry of the deadline will not be considered in the evaluation of your application.
We offer
A place in an ambitious and highly international environment
A challenging and exciting project with opportunities for personal and scientific development
An independent and flexible work setting in which the successful candidate may largely influence herself/himself. Daily contact with inspiring, skilled colleagues
A campus setting surrounded by forests and mountains with opportunities for outdoor recreation
Position is paid and placed in position code 1017, PhD candidate in the Government Salary Scale
Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension, with among other things, good pension and insurance schemes.
For more information about INN University as an employer, please see here.
General information
For further details about the position, please contact:
INN believes that there is strength in inclusion and diversity. We desire employees with different competencies, professional combinations, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to an even better way of solving problems. We will facilitate for employees who need assistance to realise their goals. Relevant adaptations can be, for example, technical aids, adapting furniture or adjusting routines, work tasks and working hours.
If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in the CV or immigrant background, we shall call at least one applicant in each of these categories for an interview. In order to be considered as an applicant in these groups, the applicants must meet certain requirements. You can read more on this here.
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Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
