PhD scholarship within (eco)toxicology and heritable effects caused by ionizing radiation
Deadline: 14.10.2020
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
NMBU has a particular responsibility for research and education that secures the basis for the life of future generations. Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we deliver knowledge for life. NMBU has 1,800 employees and 5,200 students. The university is divided into seven faculties and has campuses in Ås and Oslo. We will be co-located in Ås from 2021.
NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.
About The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) works with nature and the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, biological and geological processes.
MINA’s employees undertake teaching, research and dissemination within the fields of geology, hydrology and limnology, soil science, environmental chemistry, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism.
Our vision is to be a key actor in knowledge production and dissemination, and our goal is to deliver research of high, international quality, and varied and excellent teaching. The faculty’s employees are significant participants within their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The faculty is dominated by a vital research culture and high levels of scientific production.
The faculty has about 200 employees, 90 PhD students and 650 students.
Section of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD–position related to transgenerational effects of chronic exposure to ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation exposure of parents induces harmful effects in their unexposed progeny. The effects include developmental disturbances, reproduction impairments and neurological disorders that may persist for several generations.
This project will investigate the molecular toxic effect mechanisms in the C. elegans model organism with emphasis on three connected topics.
Effects on epigenetic programs related to defects in spermatogenesis.
DNA repair and DNA damage tolerance mechanisms conferring resistance to genotoxic stress in C. elegans embryos.
The influence of radiation exposure on development of ageing phenotypes and models of age related disease (Parkinson disease) in irradiated nematodes and their offspring.
The project is a collaboration between CERAD Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (MINA/NMBU & Norwegian Institute of Public Health/NIPH) and The Institute of Clinical Medicine (EpiGen), Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, UIO, Akershus University Hospital.
Main tasks
The main tasks of the PhD will be:
To plan and execute irradiation experiments using C. elegans
Quantify genotoxic, reprotoxic and neurological effects
Perform microscopy analysis of molecular and phenotypic effects
Analyze expression of key epigenetic regulatory genes
Analyze RNAseq data
The experimental work will take place at both NMBU and EpiGen.
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 a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Competance
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.
Required Academic qualifications
The successful applicant must have a MS degree in molecular biology, (eco)toxicology, or radioecology, which is preferably obtained within the last 5 years
Experience and competence with relevant molecular methods
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Experience in genomics and bioinformatics
Experience from work with C. elegans or similar model organisms as well as with ionizing radiation or radionuclides
Experience within (eco)toxicology
Dissemination skills
For candidates without competence within radiation, the Radiation protection course KJM350 will be mandatory.
You need to have:
Good knowledge of the English language – both written and oral
Good communication skills, both related to research and presentations in general
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 479.600,-) 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: 14.10.2020
Applications should include (electronically) a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, full publication list, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified), and a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses).
Publications should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant NMBU Department may require further documentation, e.g. proof of English proficiency.
Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 14.10.2020. Please quote reference number 20/03592.
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.
