NMBU will contribute to securing the future of life through outstanding research, education, communication and innovation. We have the country's most satisfied university students, who receive research-based education in a unique student environment. Our graduates gain a high level of competence in interdisciplinary collaboration and are popular in the labor market.
NMBU has internationally leading research environments in several subjects. Together with our partners in society and business, we contribute to solving some of the biggest societal challenges of our time. We focus on innovation, communication and entrepreneurship because we believe these challenges are best solved with joint efforts. We believe that a good working environment is characterized by diversity.If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no/en
About the position
The Protein Engineering and proteomics (PEP) group at the Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant three-year PhD–position within the SalmoPro project. The goal of this PhD project is to identify the protein- degrading and carbohydrate-degrading enzymes in the salmon digestive system that are involved in breaking down different feed ingredients. It will also determine natural microbes or enzymes that are especially good at depolymerizing specific ingredients, with the aim of developing microbial or enzyme mixtures that improve feed use and support fish health. Possible biotechnological applications of the enzymes will be explored, in collaboration with other projects. We will use (meta)omics techniques to identify the enzymes, as well as protein purification and recombinant protein expression to get hold of the enzymes.
with high professional competence and a pleasant working and social environment. Currently, the group has about 40 members, including 16 PhD students; members of the group come from more than 15 countries. The group has access to in-house state-of the art (meta)genomics, (meta)proteomics and enzymology facilities. The group publishes highly cited, multidisciplinary research in the fields of biomass processing, bacterial pathogenicity, microbial ecology and vaccine development. The PhD student will collaborate closely with another PhD student in the project, and there will be synergies with several adjacent projects related to biotechnology, applied microbiology, bioinformatics, fermentation and fish nutrition.
Main tasks
Sample preparation (proteins) from salmon gut contents.
Mapping enzymes in the salmon gut, with focus on known and unknown digestive enzymes, using quantitative proteomics/metaproteomics.
Production of recombinant enzymes in bacteria or yeast cells.
In-depth characterization of individual enzymes, with focus on their biotechnological applicability.
Isolation of bacteria from the salmon gut and cultivation on selected substrates.
Participate in meetings with research partners and industry.
At least 3 publications in high quality international scientific journals and presentations at international scientific conferences.
The successful candidate is expected to develop a progress plan towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, targeted at completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Competence
Applicants are made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD program. The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master’s degree level. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.Required Academic qualifications and experience
The successful candidate must hold (or expect to complete within June 2026) a relevant MSc degree, for example in biotechnology, biochemistry or microbiology.
Training at MSc level in topics like protein chemistry, enzymology, proteomics, microbiology and/or process biochemistry.
Hands-on wet-lab experience with protein purification, recombinant production of proteins, and/or enzymology
Grades that are sufficient to be admitted to NMBU’s PhD program (minimum B as average grade for the courses included in the MSc studies; the MSc thesis must have the grade B or higher).
Applicants with one or more of the following experiences and skills will be prioritized:
Experience in working with carbohydrate active enzymes and proteases
Documented skills in relevant analytical methods
Experience in (meta)proteomics
Experience in bacterial cultivation
Bioinformatic skills to handle large scale omics data
Proficiency in at least one programming language (preferably R).
Experience in statistical data analysis and visualization.
Knowledge of salmon and salmon physiology
The ideal candidate will combine the following personal qualities:
Hard-working, ambitious, and accurate.
Strong motivation and ability for academic writing.
Creative and independent, but capable of collaborating in a team.
Good communicative skills, orally and written, in English (candidates will be required to give a research presentation in English as part of the recruitment process).
Good social and collaborative skills documented, e.g. by successful international collaboration.
We expect that the candidate will publish research findings in high-impact peer reviewed scientific journals. Applicants must be proficient in both written and spoken English.
Proficiency in Norwegian may be considered an advantage and will open up for the PhD student to participate in teaching with concomitant extension of the contract beyond three years.
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD Fellow and is remunerated with a starting annual salary of NOK 550 800, - per annum.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
For further information, please contact Associate Professor Sabina Leanti La Rosa (sabina.leantilarosa@nmbu.no)
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: (03.04.2026)
In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process. Please note that applications that do not provide the information needed for NMBU’s admission process will be discarded.
Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
The following documents must be attached to the application:
Motivation letter (maximum 1 page). Please note that applications that lack a motivation letter clearly stating why the candidate is qualified and motivated for this particular project will be disregarded.
Complete CV.
Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3).
Names and contact details for two references.
Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, a list of scientific works).
About The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science
The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) has about 180 employees, 80 PhD students and 500 BSc and MSc students. The faculty has 11 research groups within chemistry and biochemistry, microbiology and microbial gene technology, bioinformatics and data analysis, food science and nutrition. The Faculty has a state-of-the-art infrastructure for research and education: A biorefinery lab, proteomics platform, fermentation lab, a murine facility, platform for studies of microbial regulation of GHG release and a small-scale pilot plant for processing of food, incl. a microbrewery. Additionally, KBM has a strong competence in enzymology, fermentation and biorefining. KBM aims at a strong research position and collaborates in networks and research projects both nationally and internationally.
