Postdoctoral fellow or researcher within biotechnology
Deadline: 20.06.2024
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
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 Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science
The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) employs about 160 people. Currently about 50 PhD students are enrolled into our PhD program. KBM represents a broad range of scientific fields encompassing basic natural sciences such as microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry as well as the application of these towards food chemistry, technology and safety, biotechnology, bioprocessing and environmental issues. The Faculty is responsible for education, research and information within our fields of expertise and also has state-of-the-art instrumentation to perform research within these fields. KBM collaborates in networks and research projects both nationally and internationally.
Curious about enzymes and the molecular mechanisms of how bacteria affect climate gas emissions?
About the position
The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant three-year position for a post-doctoral researcher related to biotechnology. The researcher will be connected to the ERC-funded project “NOD-AOL: Nitric oxide-driven anaerobic oxidation of lignocellulose” and will be a part of the Protein Engineering and Proteomics (PEP) group, with connections to the NMBU Nitrogen-group.
By examining the intricate breakdown of plant material under denitrifying conditions in freshwater wetlands and biofilters, the project aims to discover mechanisms and enzymes responsible for the turnover of lignocellulose in these habitats. Such conversion has potential links to denitrification, and (gaseous) denitrification intermediates.
Previous microbial enrichments and meta-omics experiments within the research team provide a basis for the discovery of enzymes potentially responsible for key functions during degradation under these conditions. The obtained knowledge will be used to deepen our understanding of how lignocellulose is degraded in denitrifying communities of microorganisms and could eventually contribute to curbing climate gas emissions from agriculture.
The vacant position is funded by a prestigious Consolidator research grant from the European Research Council (ERC).
Main tasks
Contribute to cloning, expression, and purification of (membrane-bound) enzymes from the denitrification chain, and enzymes degrading lignin or cellulose.
In-depth characterization of the catalytic properties of these enzymes using various analytical methods (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS, GC, Stopped-Flow, EPR).
Contribute to developing a systems understanding of lignocellulose degradation under denitrifying conditions, in collaboration with team members doing multi-omics studies.
Competence
The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required Academic qualifications:
PhD degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, or microbiology.
Extensive experience in gene cloning, protein expression, enzyme characterization and in-depth enzymology
An excellent track record, preferably documented by scientific publications (track records will be evaluated in the context of the applicant’s career progression; applicants with fresh PhDs are encouraged to apply)
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Knowledge of (respiratory) redox enzymology and/or the enzymology of polysaccharide degradation
Experience in working with membrane proteins
Knowledge of lignocellulose and how it is degraded in Nature
Knowledge of microbial denitrification and analysis of relevant gases
Experience with bioinformatic analysis including comparing/aligning 3D-structures (PyMOL, Phyre2) and preferentially scripting in R/Python.
Experience with advanced analytics used in enzyme characterization (HPLC, SEC, MALDI-ToF MS, ESI-MS, GC, Stopped-Flow, EPR)
You need to:
Be curious and open-minded
Be ambitious, accurate and self-driven
Be genuinely interested in scientific research
Have good social and collaborative skills
Have good communicative skills, both oral and written, in English
We expect that the candidates will successfully publish research findings in high-impact peer reviewed scientific journals.
Remuneration and further information
The post-doctoral researchers will be placed in government pay scale position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow (salary grade 62-77, NOK 604.900,- to 796.600,-) or in government pay scale position code 1109 Researcher, salary grade 62-84 (NOK 604.900,- to 966.300,-) on the Norwegian Government salary scale, depending on qualifications. The positions follow ordinary meriting regulations.
For further information, please contact:
Project leader Dr. Magnus Ø. Arntzen (magnus.arntzen@nmbu.no; phone: +47 67 23 24 46) and check our website.
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: 20.06.2024
Fill in the required personal information and the application letter. For simplicity, you do not have to complete the academic CV in the online system. Instead, upload your complete CV as a pdf file along with a targeted application letter, degree certificates and transcripts of academic records; enclosing generic application letters non-specific to the announced position could lead to no further evaluation of the candidate.
Up to ten publications selected by the applicant as most relevant must be attached to the application. If it is difficult to identify the contribution of the applicant in multiple-author publications, a short explanation about the applicant’s part of the work is suggested.
Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM), P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås. Please quote reference number (24/02949.)
Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.
