Global challenges demand new insight, innovative solutions and local legitimacy. Nord University is a young university with strong regional ties and a global perspective. We are committed to delivering relevant educational programmes and research, with a focus on blue and green growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, and welfare, health and education. Nord University has 11,000 students and 1,300 employees at nine study locations in central and northern Norway.
Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA) educates people with the aim of promoting sustainable and innovative development to meet global challenges in food production, climate and environment. The faculty is an international arena for education, research and knowledge dissemination, with employees and students from 31 different countries. The faculty offers a PhD in Aquatic Biosciences. FBA has 800 students and 160 employees in Bodø and Steinkjer. The professional community is organised into the following divisions: Aquaculture, Ecology, Genomics, Animal Science, Production and Welfare, and Algae and Microbial Biotechnology.
A three-year PhD fellowship is available at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University (Bodø, Norway).
The research will provide advice to industry, government, and society about how climate change driven ocean warming will directly and indirectly affect the distribution of suitable environment for species of present and future aquaculture importance globally and in Norway. It would use both empirical data and species distribution models to project which species would be most suitable for aquaculture in future climate scenarios, and assess what adaptation is needed to maintain and increase production. A second part will select species based on the first analysis and assess whether they may have sufficient genetic diversity to adapt to a changing climate such that selective breeding of pre-adapted genotypes may maintain production.
This is a staff salaried position as part of the establishment of a new climate change and biodiversity research unit under the leadership of Professor Mark J. Costello, and in collaboration with aquaculture, genomics and ecology researchers Dr Alexander Jueterbock, Dr Joost Raeymaekers and Dr Ørjan Hagen (at Nord University) and Dr Jorge Assis (University of the Algarve, Faro Portugal).
The position will be available from 1st January 2022.
Qualification requirements
The covering letter and/or CV must clearly state the requirements below. Due to the anticipated large number of applications, details of the potential project will only be discussed with those shortlisted for interview.
Essential
MSc or equivalent in a relevant subject, with at least grade B
Background in aquaculture, ecology, biogeography and/or biodiversity sciences
Strong computational skills (R, python or Julia; ecological data analysis and/or modelling and mapping software)
Proficiency in oral and written English, documented either by the Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification or internationally recognized certificates, such as TOEFL, IELTS, APIEL or similar
We are looking for motivated and systematic candidate applicants with good capabilities of working independently as well as in teams
Desirable
Experience using R, GIS, Species Distribution Models, climate models, and/or other environmental models
Drylab skills in molecular biology (e.g., DNA extraction, PCR)
Experience with analyses in the field of population genetics (diversity, differentiation)
One or more papers published in peer-reviewed journals
Knowledge of a Scandinavian language is beneficial for the position
Eligibility
People of all nationalities, ethnicities and gender are eligible to apply
The faculty is international with English as a common working language
Applicants who already have a PhD in biological and environmental sciences are not eligible
The candidate should fulfill the admission requirements and participate in the training component stipulated in regulations of the PhD program. Application for admission to the program must be submitted within three months after taking up the position. For admission requirements and regulations, see our web page.
We offer
The annual salary for doctoral researchers (code 1017) is set at wage level 54, LR 20, NOK 482.200,- in the Norwegian State Salary Scale. Suitably qualified candidates may be placed in code 1378.
Applications must be submitted electronically by August 1st 2021
The application should include:
A cover letter outlining how your education and experience make you well qualified for this position, and how it fits your career ambitions (maximum 1 page).
A brief outline of a project proposal within the scope of the topic describing key research questions (or hypotheses), and rationale for an intended methodology (maximum 1 page).
A complete CV (education, work experience and publications).
Certified transcripts/diploma for academic degrees (both bachelor and master degree) and other relevant qualifications
Other activity that is considered relevant, such as list of publications and academic work
Contact details for at least two referees
Names and contact details of 1-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
All documents must be uploaded as attachments to the electronic application form.
It is the applicant's responsibility to submit the complete documentation within the deadline.
After the application period has expired a list of applicants will be published. Note that, in special cases, the identity of particular applicants to a position may be made public even when that applicant has requested that their application be processed confidentially. Applicants requesting an exemption from publication of their identity must explain their reasons for doing so in their application. In this case, advance notice will be given in the event of a decision to make any information about the applicant public.
