Postdoctoral Tenure Track position within Plant Functional Genetics
Deadline: 20.06.2021
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 of which about 250 phd scholarships and 6,000 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 Biosciences
The Faculty of Life Sciences (BIOVIT) aims to help shape the future food- and bio-production of 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, Nutrition and Physiology, Agroecology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Plant Protection and Food Crops, Pant Biology and Biotechnology.
The faculty has seven large and small research centers and laboratories, including a center for outstanding innovation (CFI) - 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 550 bachelor and master students and 90 PhD students. The faculty has about 220 employees and its own faculty administration.
About the position
The Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 6 years Postdoctoral Tenure Track–position within Functional Genetics.
The successful candidate will join the section Genetics and Plant Breeding, a multidisciplinary section possessing expertise in genetics, evolutionary and comparative genomics, crop and stress physiology, molecular plant biology, bioinformatics, high-throughput phenotyping, and plant breeding. Located within the Department of Plant Sciences, this group includes 4 professors, 1 associate professor, 1 adjunct associate professor, 5 researchers, 11 PhD students and 6 research technicians. The research group has a strong research profile, with key strengths in the application of genomics and phenomics to understand the genetic architecture of complex traits in cereal, grass, legume and macroalgae species.
The group has access to excellent wet and dry lab facilities for molecular biology, sequencing, and bioinformatics, in addition to an imaging center (advanced microscopy), greenhouses, controlled growth rooms and a field experimental station.
The person appointed will be offered the opportunity to qualify for a permanent position as Associate Professor. The successful applicant will be obliged to submit a plan describing how competence qualifying for a permanent position as Associate Professor will be achieved within the 6 years of the tenure track position. The faculty and the department are committed to facilitate the development of competence within teaching, research, dissemination, and innovation for the successful applicant.
The section wishes to strengthen the application of functional genetics to better understand the biology underlying specific genotype-phenotype associations in crop plants.
The position holder is expected to:
Build strong research activities within this field through internal and external collaborations, by building a team of students and researchers and by acquiring external grant funding
Participate actively in teaching and development of the course portfolio in molecular biology and genetics, and in supervision of MSc and PhD students.
Complete the NMBU pedagogy course within two years of appointment (unless formal pedagogical training is already in place)
Take a share of administrative duties at the department, faculty and university level
If not fluent in a Scandinavian language; participate in a formal language-training course and, within a two-year period, to learn sufficient Norwegian to be able to participate actively in all functions the position may involve.
Competence
Required qualifications and competence:
PhD degree in plant molecular biology, plant molecular genetics, or similar, obtained within the last 5 years, allowing for any parental leaves.
PhD degree in molecular biology, molecular genetics, or similar, obtained within the last 5 years (allowing for any parental leaves), and with major research experience (equivalent of that in a PhD) within plants.
Broad lab experience within modern functional genetics and molecular biology techniques.
Strong record of peer-reviewed publication and independent research.
Excellent communication skills both to the scientific community and to a broader audience.
Fluency in English (oral and written).
Desired qualifications and competence:
Familiarity with programming languages (R, python, perl, etc.).
Experience with crop plants.
Experience with gene editing.
Teaching experience at the university level, and a track record showing the successful supervision of postgraduate students.
Formal pedagogical training.
Experience in writing successful grant applications.
Proven record in establishing and managing research projects.
Knowledge of a Scandinavian language.
International experience.
Personal skills:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Good collaborative and communicative skills.
Strong, professional commitment to excellence in research and teaching.
Analytical and academic approach to research questions.
Potential for independent and creative thinking
Motivated and committed team-player with the desire to obtain external funding and build a strong research and teaching network
Ability to realize scientific synergies between researchers and research groups.
Remuneration and further information
NMBU offers:
A startup package including a PhD fellowship
An interdisciplinary and inclusive environment that provides exciting research and development opportunities.
Daily contact with inspiring students and skilled colleagues.
Generous employee benefit schemes.
Beautiful surroundings just outside Oslo.
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow, wage framework 24 (salary grade 59-77) (NOK 526.000-744.600), depending on qualifications. Seniority Promotion in position.
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: 20.06.2021
Applications should include (electronically) a letter of intent including a short description of previous research and teaching and a short description of ambitions, 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).
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 of the applicant’s role in the work should be added.
Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.
