About the position

A PhD fellowship is available at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University (Bodø, Norway) on the project: Disease risks in capture-based marine aquaculture - focus on VHS virus.

The position is for 3 years and will be available from September 1st. 2019.

Nord University

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 12,000 students and 1,400 employees at nine study locations in central and northern Norway.

The Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA) educates people who promote 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 25 different countries. The Faculty offers a PhD in Aquatic Biosciences. The Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture has 900 students and 150 employees in Bodø and Steinkjer. The professional community is organised into the following divisions: Aquaculture, Ecology, Genomics and Animal Science, Production and Welfare.

Read more: www.nord.no/en/fba

The project aims to investigate risks associated with the transmission of the VHS virus from wild caught to farmed Atlantic salmon.

Capture based aquaculture (CBA) represents a big potential to increase value of cod fisheries in Northern Norway. The main cod fishery takesplace during a few hectic months, however, the value creation can be improved if fresh cod is offered to the marked throughout the year.Pathogens present in wild fish represent a threat for fish welfare. In particular viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus is considered abottleneck for the establishment of new CBA sites. Prevalence of VHS virus in wild populations is not known – and the risk for transmission ofVHS from wild cod to farmed salmon is not known. This PhD project will therefore be connected to a project funded by RRF Nord aiming to:

1)Screening of wild-caught cod over two seasons to investigate the prevalence of virus,

2) genotyping and characterizations of viruses and

3)experimental infection trials. The project is in collaboration with industry partners and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.

Qualification requirements

At the time of taking up the appointment, the candidate should have an MSc degree (or equivalent) in one or more fields relevant to the project - fish diseases, fish virology, fish histology.

Preferably, the candidates should have hands-on experience with fish experiments, and particularly with infection trials. It is also advantageousto have knowledge of or experience with molecular biology techniques and / or fish histology.

Proficiency in oral and written English is essential and must be documented either by the Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification or internationally recognized certificates, such as TOEFL, IELTS, APIEL or similar. Skills in Scandinavian language is an advantage for the position.

The selected candidate will join the PhD programme in Aquatic Biosciences at Nord University and is expected to complete a doctorate within the three-year project period. The candidate should fulfill the admission requirements of this PhD programme at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture and participate in the training components stipulated in regulations of the PhD program. Application for admission to the programme must be submitted within three months after taking up the position. For admission requirements and regulations, see our see our web page.

We offer

The annual salary for doctoral researchers is set from wage level 51 (449.400) in the Norwegian State Salary Scale.

• Advantages within the Government Pension Fund for borrowing, insurance and pension
• Creative and collegial working environment
• A workplace with steady progressive development
• Flexible working hours
• Active university sports team

General information

The person who is appointed must abide by the applicable laws, agreements, and directives. The responsibilities and duties associated with the position may change with future reorganization at Nord University.

The public sector workforce is expected to reflect the diversity of the population in general. Nord University therefore encourages qualified candidates with disabilities, gaps in their CV, immigrant backgrounds or different life experience to apply. Nord University practices moderate allocation according to gender quotas in accordance with the Basic Agreement for State Employees.

If applicants indicate they have disabilities or gaps in their CV, their details may be used anonymously for the purposes of recording whether this target is achieved or not.

Contact information

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting :

• Associate professor Ioannis Vatsos, e-mail: ioannis.vatsos@nord.no, telephone: +47 75 51 74 17
• Office Manager Irene Stork, e-mail: irene.stork@nord.no

Application

Applications must be submitted electronically by 24th May 2019.

The application should include:

• Cover letter outlining the candidate’s suitability for this position (one page)
• Project outline based on the project (one page) must be submitted.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications (maximum 3 pages)
• Certified copies of academic degree transcripts and any other relevant qualifications
• Contact details for 2 - 3 references
• All documents must be uploaded as attachments to the electronic application form.
• Signed consent form PhD (if relevant)

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 deadline, an applicant list will be announced publicly. Applicants asking for confidentiality must specifically explain the reasons for this in their application. Even so, the information can be published if the reasons for confidentiality are not found relevant. In such the case, an applicant will be given notice prior to the announcement, and he/she will have opportunity to withdraw the application

Refnr. 30071235

Application deadline: 24.05.2019

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