Ledig stilling på Universitetet i Oslo

Blindern og Urbygningen (Foto: Wikimedia og Colourbox)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in evolutionary genetics of venom

Deadline: 16.04.2023

Job description

Universitetet i Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.


Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES) is a research centre and a section at the Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo. CEES combines a broad spectrum of disciplines (population biology, genomics, statistics, mathematical modelling) to foster the concept of ecology as a driving force of evolution via selective processes, with a corresponding influence of evolutionary changes on ecology. CEES has over 180 members (Professors (20), postdocs/researchers (60), PhDs (35), Master’s students (40) and technical and administrative staff) and many guest researchers. The members represent 30 nationalities and constitute a vibrant and creative research environment. CEES coordinate several international networks. The budget = 170 million NOK (about 55 externally funded research projects). CEES successfully completed its 10 year status of Centre of Excellence (CoE) in 2017.

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow is available at the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences (IBV), University of Oslo. The fellowship will be for a period of three years.

Preferred starting date is no later than 01.09.2023. No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.

The Undheim group is interested in questions in evolutionary biology that relate to how evolutionary innovations and novelties emerge and how they interact across levels of biological complexity. Animal venoms are excellent models for this purpose: They are cocktails of bioactive polypeptides (“toxins”) that often potently and selectively target important physiological processes in their victims, and that have evolved through the modification of existing “housekeeping” proteins and peptides.

As relatively simple complex traits, venoms also offer unique opportunities for studying molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of traits to respond to selection, i.e. their evolvability. This is a major focus of the group, which recently received funding from the European Research Council to study the molecular genetic underpinnings of evolvability using the venoms from lacewings (order Neuroptera) as models.

The successful candidate will be working mainly on the microevolutionary aspect of this project, studying the effects of trait integration and mutations on the evolvability and population-level divergence of venom and venom-associated molecular traits. The person will work in the interface between molecular evolution, evolutionary bioinformatics, and evolutionary quantitative genetics and use approaches such as analyses of venom- and non-venom-associated transcriptomic expression traits, venomics-guided gene regulatory network analyses, and analyses of mutation-accumulation experiments. Sampling and data analyses will be primarily based on from already collected samples or in-house lab cultures of lacewings, but the person will also have the opportunity to contribute to field-collection and breeding of lacewings as well as be involved in other aspects of studying venom evolvability.

They will also be working closely with persons focusing on other aspects of evolvability of venom as part of a concurrent and complementary project that is funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The project will also involve collaboration with Prof. Thomas Hansen (CEES, UiO), Prof. Christophe Pélabon (NTNU), as well as other research groups both nationally and internationally (e.g., Florida State University).

Development plan:

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition is to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this aim, and will be expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

The following qualifications are required:

  • Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in a field within biology or a biology-related field. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and completed defence are eligible for appointment.
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
  • At least two of the following additional qualifications:
    • Molecular evolution
    • Comparative transcriptomics
    • Protein-protein interaction or gene regulatory network analyses
    • Population genomics
    • Broad knowledge about evolutionary theory

Experience in more than two of the additional qualifications is an advantage but not a requirement.

The following skills are also desirable:

  • Entomology, particularly lacewing biology
  • Venom biology
  • Quantitative proteomics or mass spectrometry

Personal skills

  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Ability to work in an interdisciplinary scientific environment
  • Ambition and drive to conduct high-quality research

We offer

  • Salary NOK 544 400 – 563 500 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (position code 1352)
  • Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
  • Professionally stimulating working environment
  • Vibrant international academic environment
  • Postdoctoral development programmes
  • Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

  • Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
  • CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
  • Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records and letters of recommendation
  • A complete list of publications
  • Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented academic qualifications, as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months ( thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

For further information please contact: Eivind A. B. Undheim, e-mail: e.a.b.undheim@ibv.uio.no

For technical questions regarding Jobbnorge, please contact HR Adviser Nina holtan, e-mail: nina.holtan@mn.uio.no.

Apply for this job

Powered by Labrador CMS