PhD scholarship in plant pathology and metabolic modeling
Deadline: 29.05.2024
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 Biosciences
The Faculty of Biosciences (BIOVIT) aims to help shape the future food- and bio-production through teaching and research within biology and sustainable production and use of plants, livestock and fish. The faculty has an annual turnover of approx. 250 million kroner. The faculty is organized into nine research sections: Genome Biology, Breeding and
Quantitative Genetics, Ruminant Nutrition and Physiology, Ethology and Animal Environment, Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Agroecology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Plant Protection and Food Crops, Plant Biology and Biotechnology. The faculty has seven large and small research centers and laboratories, including a Center for Outstanding Innovation - Foods of Norway. The faculty is responsible for bachelor's and master's degrees in Aquaculture, Biology, Animal Science and Plant science as well as English-language master's degrees in Agroecology, Plant Sciences, Feed Manufacturing Technology and Genome Sciences.
The faculty is responsible for PhD degrees in animal science and plant science. The faculty currently has about 690 bachelor and master students and 90 PhD students. The faculty has about 240 employees and its own faculty administration.
Do you want to unravel the secrets of microbe-microbe interactions and combat plant disease?
About the position
The Department of Plant Science (IPV), Faculty of Biosciences (BIOVIT) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD position related to modelling bacterial interactions including plant pathogens.
This position will be part of a growing working group within microbiome interactions connected to plant pathology at IPV. Community interactions among bacterial plant pathogens are key to disease outcomes.
The candidate will contribute to the development of a toolkit to rapidly identify and model pathogen communities to predict disease outcomes in potato, one of the most important food crops in Norway.
The applicant should be aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD program at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.
Main tasks
Genome analysis and comparison of multiple genomes
Metabolic modeling of bacteria and their interactions
Contribution to R package development
Analysis of high-throughput diagnostics data
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with the objective to complete a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Competence
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 master’s degree or a cand.med.vet. degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background relevant to the position 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 applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required academic qualifications:
Master’s degree in molecular biology, microbiology, plant pathology, computational biology, or a similar field.
Good scientific writing skills in English.
Experience with computer programming, preferably in R or Python
Candidates finishing their education within the spring/summer of 2024 can also apply but must provide documentation of their degree before employment.
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Basic knowledge of linear algebra
Experience with analyzing next-generation sequencing data
Experience with genome-scale metabolic modeling
Experience with molecular laboratory techniques
Publicly shared code primarily authored by the candidate
Significant contributions to scientific publications
Demonstrated skill in public communication
You need to:
Be interested in microbe-microbe interactions and plant pathogens
Be able to work independently and collaboratively
Be able to solve problems
Be motivated by learning new skills and methods
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow. PhD. Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 532 200) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
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: 29.05.2024
Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.
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.
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)
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.
Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
