About the position

The Section of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental Sciences (MINA) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 2-year PostDoc position within Nanoecotoxicology/electron microscopy, with possibility of extension. The position is linked to the CERAD Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity.

Norwegian University of Life Sciences

NMBU has a special responsibility for research and education that ensures the basis of life for future generations.

Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we provide knowledge for life.

NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students and is organized in seven faculties. NMBU has a campus in Ås and in Oslo. In the autumn of 2020 we are co-located on Ås. Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.

About MINA

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.

Read more about MINA here.

The CERAD Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity is integrated in the Section for Environmental Chemistry.

This Centre of Excellence was established in 2013 at NMBU in collaboration with the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, the Meteorological Institute, the National Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Institute of Water Research, and is funded until 2022 by the Research Council of Norway. CERAD has initiated long term basic research to improve the ability to accurately assess the radiological impact and risks from environmental radioactivity, also combined with other stressors. By focusing on key factors contributing to the overall uncertainties, state-of-the- art tools and methods are developed to better manage those risks.

Read more about CERAD here.

Main tasks

The work will be connected to new (E)SEM-EDX and analytical TEM (purchase process ongoing) and existing (ESEM-EDX and TEM) electron microscopy equipment and other infrastructure at NMBU or at partners/collaborators nationally and abroad. The work will include:

• Creative and independent research as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Contribute with method development and sample analysis in scanning and analytical transmission electron microscopy with special focus on exposure characterization related to toxicological evaluation experiments involving nanoparticles of radionuclides (such as U) or stable analogues (such as Ce, Co).
• Perform ecotox experiments of environmentally relevant radionuclide nanoparticles using model organisms such as C. elegans and D. magna.
• Performing bench-top micro-XRF at NMBU and participating in micro- and nanoanalytical experiments at collaborating institutions nationally and abroad (e.g., nano TOF-SIMS, analytical TEM).
• Publish results in peer reviewed journals and present research at national and international meetings.
• Collaboration with other scientists within ongoing national and international science projects.

Academic Qualifications and personal skills

Required academic qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD in nanoecotoxicology, analytical chemistry, environmental radioactivity/radioecology or environmental chemistry. Experience from work with ionizing radiation or radionuclides is an advantage. For candidates without competence within ionizing radiation, the Radiation protection course (KJM350) offered at NMBU will be mandatory. Experience from using C. elegans and D. magna in biotest experiments would be beneficial. Experience with programming and image and data analysis is an advantage.

Required personal skills

• Enthusiasm and creativity in research and education
• Ability to work individually and in teams
• Ability to work in a result-oriented environment
• Flexibility with respect to work tasks
• Ability to create a positive working environment
• Good capabilities in English, both orally and in writing

Remuneration and information

The position is placed in government position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow, wage framework 24, salary grade 59-65 (NOK 523.200 – 583.900), depending on qualifications.

For more information contact:

• Head of section Professor Lindis Skipperud, email: lindis.skipperud@nmbu.no or
• Associate Professor Ole Christian Lind, e-mail: ole-christian.Lind@nmbu.no

Information to applicants

Application

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: September 8th, 2019

Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of relevant diplomas and certificates.

Up to ten publications should be selected by the applicant, and three copies of the selected articles should be attached to the application or the selected articles should be easily available electronically.

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 (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Sciences (MINA), P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, before September 8th 2019. Please quote reference number 19/03424.

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