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 1,900 employees of which about 300 phd scholarships and 6,700 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.
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.
Are you eager to explore the importance of forestry for biodiversity and ecosystem functions?
About the position
Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year Post Doc-position in forest ecology.
The position is part of the project EcoForest “Forestry effects on biodiversity, carbon stocks and ecological processes in mature boreal forests” funded by the Research Council of Norway running from 2021-2025. EcoForest is a unique collaboration between MINA and several research institutions (UiO, NINA, NIBIO), the forest industry (Norges skogeierforbund, Norskog, Oslo kommunes skoger/bymiljøetaten) and NGOs (Sabima, WWF) which will provide much needed knowledge guiding future management of boreal forests as well as ecological insight at the research front. Five PhD-candidates and two postdocs are employed in the project.
To approach the importance of forestry for biodiversity, carbon stocks and ecological processes, we compare stands from near-natural forests which have not been impacted by clear-cutting, with mature stands that have been through one cycle of clear-cutting. The successful candidate for this position will focus on how ecosystem functions (decomposition and nutrient release) and relevant decomposers (fungi/microeukaryotes and arthropods) are affected by forestry.
The starting date for the position will ideally be August 2022, but for the right candidate, both earlier and later starts are negotiable.
Main tasks
The main activities will be related to the following tasks:
Follow up spruce wood and litter transplant experiments, measure respiration and mass loss through time with and without arthropod exclusion.
Identify arthropod/fungi/other microeukaryotes from soil/wood by use of DNA metabarcoding
Analyse, write and disseminate results
The main purpose of the post-doctoral position is to qualify for work in high-level scientific positions.
Competence
Required Academic qualifications
PhD in a relevant scientific field such as forest science, ecology, biology or similar
Excellent knowledge in ecology
Documented proficiency in both written and oral English
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Motivation for the outlined research project
Experience with DNA-metabarcoding
Experience with decomposition/respiration measurements
Documented experience with statistical analyses
Experience with field- and laboratory work
Personal characteristics important for the positions are:
Strong scientific capacity and analytical skills
Good social and collaboration skills
Ability to work independently in field and lab
Creativity and ability to find solutions to practical problems
Driving license
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow, wage framework 24 (salary grade 61-77) (NOK 553 500 – 752 800), depending on qualifications. The position follows ordinary meriting regulations.
For further information, please contact:
Professor Tone Birkemoe, E-mail: tone.birkemoe@nmbu.no; phone +47 67231759 / 92049331
The successful candidate will also work with Johan Asplund, Line Nybakken and Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson at NMBU in addition to a large team at UiO.
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: May 20th, 2022
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 environmental sciences and natural resource management, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 20.05.2022. Please quote reference number 22/01680.
Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.
