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The PhD position is for a period of 3 years. Desired start date: 1st of April
The PhD project is part of project KERANOR ‘’Efficient bioconversion of poultry feather into highly digestible protein products for fish and animal feed’’. The highly innovative research project, funded by the Research Council of Norway, aims to develop an efficient and scalable microbial-based bioconversion process for poultry feathers into highly digestible protein product.
The position involves training through formal courses, active participation in research activities, collection and processing data, publication in international peer-reviewed journals, and finally writing a PhD dissertation to be defended at a doctoral disputation for the PhD degree.
For your professional and social interactions, it is important that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.
Main tasks
Description of tasks or PhD project:
Develop and optimize microbial hydrolysis of feather and possibly other keratinous materials at different scale (100 mL, 3L, 42L, 100L).
Perform vibrational spectroscopy analyses and chemical reference analyses of different samples obtained during microbial hydrolysis of keratinous materials.
Prepare samples for proteomics and cooperate with the proteomics team at NMBU.
Perform analysis of the obtained data.
Perform high-quality scientific research and disseminate the results through relevant channels (such as peer-reviewed scientific journals and international conferences).
Work cooperatively and constructively within the project team and collaborate with other project partners.
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD contract period.
Competence
Required qualifications
A Master's degree or equivalent in Applied Biotechnology, Biotechnology or Microbiology. Foreign degrees must correspond with the admission criteria for the PhD program.
Documented knowledge and experience in microbiology
Personal suitability and motivation for the position.
Grade requirements
The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system.
The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system.
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Documented experience with analytical chemistry methods, in particular spectrophotometry and chromatography
Documented experience with data analysis
Documented experience in analyzing and interpreting omics data, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, or phenomics
Documented experience in operating and managing bioprocesses at either laboratory or higher scale.
Demonstrated academic and personal ability to successfully complete the project within the time frame
Demonstrated ability to successfully complete research trainingPersonal qualities:
Good social and collaborative skills
Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively
If possible, with documented teamwork in interdisciplinary academic environment
Good written and verbal communication skills for effective presentation of research findings.
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.
Remuneration and further information
We offer:
Salary 550 800 NOK per annum. For exceptionally well qualified candidates a higher salary may be considered.
The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Norwegian Security and Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter laws will be prohibited from recruitment.
Contact information
For further information, please contact Volha Shapaval, Professor
E-mail: volha.shapaval@nmbu.no; phone +47 98418248 (do not use this e-mail for application, it is only for questions)
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: 01.03.2026
Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.
By applying the candidate confirms that information and documentation submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process to the PhD program.
Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
The application must include:
Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
Curriculum Vitae (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications)
Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Di-ploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
About The Faculty of Science and Technology
The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) develops research-based knowledge and educates civil engineers and lecturers needed to reach the UN's sustainability goals. We have approximately 150 employees, 70 PhD students and soon 1500 students. The education and research at REALTEK cover a broad spectrum of disciplines.
This includes data science, mechanics and process engineering, robotics, construction and architecture, industrial economics, environmental physics and renewable energy, geomatics, water and environmental engineering, applied mathematics as well as secondary school teacher education in natural sciences and use of natural resources such as in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. The workplace is in Ås, 30 km from Oslo.
What is it really like to work at the Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) at NMBU?
