One PhD and one post-doctoral position within seaweed processing
Deadline: 31.05.2020
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 2021 we are co-located on Ås. Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.
About The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science
The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) employs about 160 people. Currently about 50 PhD students are enrolled into our PhD program. KBM represents a broad range of scientific fields encompassing basic natural sciences such as microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry as well as the application of these towards food chemistry, technology and safety, biotechnology, bioprocessing and environmental issues. The Faculty is responsible for education, research and information within our fields of expertise and also has state-of-the-art instrumentation to perform research within these fields. KBM collaborates in networks and research projects both nationally and internationally.
The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has vacant a 3-year PhD position, and a 2-year post doctoral position. The positions are part of the Norwegian Seaweed Biorefinery Platform, a national platform for research on valorization of seaweeds funded by the Research Council of Norway.
The positions are funded by this Platform and NMBU. For further information, see: http://seaweedplatform.no/.
Main tasks
Important tasks for the PhD student:
Analysis of fucoidan and degradation products
Bioinformatic analyses
Cloning and production of fucoidan-active enzymes
Enzyme activity assays
Use enzymes as tools for fucoidan valorization
Write and publish scientific papers
The successful candidate must submit a PhD education plan to be approved by KBM within the first months of appointment, and complete the PhD within the PhD scholarship period
Important tasks for the post-doctoral researcher:
Develop processes for biorefining of seaweed
Use of small-scale process equipment
Using enzymes as processing tools
Fermentation of seaweed fractions
Fractionation of alginate, fucoidan, laminarin and proteins
Product development, including food and feed applications
Write and publish scientific papers
These research activities will be carried out in close collaboration with other members of the Norwegian Seaweed Biorefinery Platform, in particular researchers at NTNU in Trondheim, and research stays in other laboratories are envisaged.
Qualification requirements, desired experiences, knowledge and personal qualities
The successful PhD applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master's degree level. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies (B as average grade for the MSc studies, or better) and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.
Applicants for the PhD position must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required Academic qualifications:
Master degree in biotechnology or a related area
Training and experience in enzymology
Training and experience in gene cloning and enzyme production
Training in bioinformatics
The following experiences and skills are desirable:
Experience in handling seaweed biomass and/or seaweed carbohydrates
Experience with applied enzymology
Analytical competence regarding carbohydrates
Student/research exchange abroad
Knowledge of a Scandinavian language
Applicants for the postdoctoral position:
Required Academic qualifications:
Phd degree in biotechnology/bioprocess technology
Training and research experience in (applied) enzymology
Good knowledge of, and preferably practical experience in biomass processing and at least some of the unit operations involved
The following experiences and skills are desirable:
Experience with seaweed processing
General experience with unit operations
Experience with ultra/nano-filtration
Applied enzyme work
Practical skills in handling process equipment
Experience with biorefining and product development
Experience with running fermentations in bioreactors
Personal qualities for both positions:
We are looking for candidates who are ambitious, curious and motivated to work in a strong research environment. The ideal candidates will combine the following personal qualities:
Hard-working, ambitious and accurate.
Creative and independent
Genuinely interested in scientific research and its industrial applications.
Good social and collaborative skills
Good communicative skills, orally and written, in English
Practical skills
Remuneration and further information
The PhD position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD Fellow. PhD Fellows are placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 479.600) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
The post doc position is placed in government pay scale position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow, wage framework 24 (salary grade 59-77) (NOK 523.200-741.300), depending on qualifications. Seniority Promotion in position.
For further information, please contact professor Svein Horn at svein.horn@nmbu.no
To apply for this vacancy, please go to www.jobbnorge.no and register a new user if necessary. Then, find the position, and click the 'Apply for this job' button. This will route you to the online application form. Fill in the required personal information and the application letter. For simplicity, you do not have to complete the academic CV in the online system. Instead, upload your complete CV as a pdf file along with an application letter, degree certificates and transcripts of academic records.
Please specify which position you apply for.
Application deadline: May 31 2020
Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.
