The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 26 500 students and 7 200 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.
The Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo is Norway’s most comprehensive natural history collection. For almost 200 years, specimens of animals, fungi, plants, rocks, minerals and fossils have been collected, studied and preserved here. The museum is located at Økern and in the beautiful Botanical Garden, which is not only popular for recreation, but is a scientific collection in itself.
About the position
A 4-year position as PhD Research Fellow in Systematic Botany is available at the Natural History Museum. The 4-year fellowship includes 25% Career-Enhancing Work.The successful candidate will study diversity at multiple taxonomic levels in space and time of selected groups within the petaloid monocots. The candidate will use an integrative approach to these studies, using a molecular phylogenetic framework to study a range of biodiversity aspects, such as taxonomy, character state evolution, historical biogeography, phylogenetic diversity, and speciation. Aims with this project are to use new methodologies to explore the evolution of taxa and characters and to infer centres of species/phylogenetic diversity and –origin, as well as dispersal trajectories.
The candidate will work in a research team with several master students studying similar aspects of related taxa and habitats. The research project will involve fieldwork in tropical and southern Africa, and the career-enhancing work will offer opportunities to work with curation of the vascular herbarium. The results of this project will have direct implications for both taxonomy and thus biodiversity management. The position belongs to the research group Integrative Systematics of Plant and Fungi (ISOP).The project is supervised by Prof. Charlotte Sletten Bjorå (NHM) and Prof. Mika Bendiksby (NHM).
What skills are important in this role?
Qualification requirements: • A Master’s degree in biology (relevant themes: systematics, taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics, conservation genetics, or bioinformatics). • Documented experience with DNA-based wet lab work • Documented experience with bioinformatics• Excellent written and verbal communication ability in English. English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8
Desirable experience (in ranked order): • Research in biosystematics (i.e., phylogenetics, historical biogeography, species delimitation, and taxonomy)• Experience with field collection, handling, identification and curation of specimen• Bioinformatics for biosystematics (e.g., HTS data handling and analysis) and ecoinformatics (e.g., distribution modelling using R) • Field work in the tropics• Experience in chromosome cytology and/or morphometrics
The evaluation of applicants will focus on the following: • Relevance and quality of the MSc thesis • Relevance and quality of scientific publications (not necessarily expected at this level) • Grades at relevant university-level courses (floristics taxonomy, phylogenetics, biodiversity conservation, bioinformatics, field inventories, wet-lab molecular techniques) • The fit of the applicant’s career plan and interests as formulated in the cover letter and one-page statement (see How to apply below).• Personal suitability (incl. collaborative skills) and motivation for the position • An interview, including a 15 minute presentation of your MSc thesis (only short-listed candidates).
Grade requirements:The norm is as follows:
The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational systemThe purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see: http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/
What are we looking for in you?
Personal skills:
Honesty and high standards for scientific integrity
Ability to give and receive scientific criticism in a constructive manner
A positive attitude and drive for learning skills, methods and theory
Ability to work in a structured manner, facilitating teamwork
Ability to prioritize and complete work tasksEmployment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.
We need different perspectives in our work
UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.
We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?
We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.
If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps, we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).
The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.
We hope you will apply for the position with us.
We can offer you
Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
Committed colleagues in a good working environment
A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse (SPK), which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow (position code 1017) in salary range NOK from 550 800 - 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund (SPK).
How to apply
The application must include (as separate and numbered documents): 1. Cover letter2. CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work, scientific publications, and other relevant experience) 3. Pdf of Master thesis (or equivalent) and potential publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluating committee 4. A one-page statement explaining how a PhD in systematic botany will fit into the applicant’s career plan 5. Copies of educational certificates and transcripts of records 6. Names and contact details of 2-3 references (i.e., name, affiliation, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). The references will be contacted if necessary. Letters of recommendation are therefore not required for the initial application.
Applicants should deliver the application with the requested attachments (numbered as above) through our electronic recruiting system. Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job".When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Foreign applicants are advised to include an explanation of their University’s grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.
General information
The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.
Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.
