UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research university and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.

Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners. 

The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE) consists of Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH) and School of Business and Economics.

The main task of BFE is to conduct teaching and research dissemination at a high national and international level within all relevant fields. Prioritized research areas are aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, climate, life in the arctic, marine bioprospecting, fish health, seafood products, business and macroeconomics, resources and environment, markets and management of marine resources. The interdisciplinary profile of the faculty provides good opportunity to develop research projects involving several research groups at the faculty according to its strategy.

Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics

The position

A PhD position is available at the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheriers and Economics.

We are a young, international research group working on theoretical analysis of biological processes and are located in Tromsø, Norway. We have a full-time PhD position (100%) available with earliest start in the second half of 2025 and latest start end of 2025. The position is affiliated with the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology and is available in the context of the European Horizon funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - doctoral network NUCLEAR that is uniting European experts in chromatin regulation, nutrition, drug development and mass spectrometry. The aim of the research network is the elucidation of the metabolic regulation of genome function. In this project 17 PhD students at 14 partner institutions in more than 10 countries will develop tools for the detection of metabolism in the nucleus, to understand how metabolism regulates functions of the chromatin template and to test metabolism-chromatin interactions as targetable vulnerabilities for disease treatment.

The position is for a period of three years. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.

The position’s field of research

The PhD student to be recruited at the University of Tromsø will be responsible for the development of tools for the analysis of PTM dynamics as this is at present is laborious and thus currently self-limiting to a few targeted peptides.

To overcome this limitation the candidate should:

• Establish an automated data analysis pipeline for identification of PTMs including PTM labelling and respective natural isotope correction.
• Derive acyl-CoA sinks and sources based on metabolic flux analysis (MFA) of central metabolism and through that develop a modelling based mechanistic understanding of the interdependence of acyl-CoA metabolism and related PTMs.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Ines Heiland

Qualifications

Suitable candidates should have: 

• Either a M.Sc. in bioinformatics, biomathematics, or biostatistics with a solid background in biology/biochemistry/chemistry/mass spectrometry 
• Or a M.Sc. in biology/biochemistry/chemistry or related fields with a good knowledge of metabolism and/or mass spectrometry.
• Documented skills in oral and written English. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma. 
• Programming skills, preferentially in Python are advantageous but are not required. However, it is expected that the candidates develop the required programming skills within the course of the project as a large part of the project is programming based.
• Applicants should have scientific experience and must, at the date of recruitment, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers.

If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply. See "Application" for further information about required documentation.

In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant's potential to complete a research education based on the master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.

We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. 

We are looking for candidates who:

• Have good collaboration skills
• Have good communication and interaction with colleagues
• Wants to contribute to a good working environment

As many people as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

Mobility rule

Applicants can be of any nationality, but are required to undertake physical, transnational mobility (i.e., move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment.

Additionally, researchers shall not have resided or carried out their main activity (i.e. work, studies) in the country of their host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date (including remote studies).

Researchers who are refugees in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country according to the Geneva Convention are exempted from the mobility rules above if they fulfil the other eligibility conditions.

Admission to the PhD programme 

For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Admission normally requires:

• A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS. 
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master's degree of 120 ECTS. 
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS. 

Grade requirements applies both to the master thesis as well as courses part of the master’s degree. The minimum requirements are grade B or better on the master’s degree, and an average grade of B or better on courses that are part of the master’s degree, or the last two years in an integrated master's degree. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.

If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position. 

Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor's degree and a 2-year master's degree. UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project 
• Good career opportunities 
• A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund 
• PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 536 200 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.

More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here.

Application 

Your application must include: 

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV
• Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree
• Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor's and master's degree
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma. 
• References with contact information
• Master’s thesis, and any other academic works

Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must still submit your transcript of grades for the master’s degree with your application.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline. 

Assessment 

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position. A copy of the assessment report will be sent to all applicants. 

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position. 

General information 

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants. 

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years. 

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure. 

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