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 1,200 employees at nine study locations in central and northern Norway.

The Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA) educates people who promote sustainable and innovative developmentto 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 140 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

A three-year postdoctoral position in epigenetics of fish domestication is available at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University (Bodø, Norway).

About the position

FBA invites applications from outstanding candidates for a three-year postdoctoral position within the project Innovative Epigenetic Markers for Fish Domestication (EPIFISH), funded by the EU H2020 excellence programme ERC consolidator grant. The project leader, professor Jorge Fernandes is affiliated with the Genomics research group

EPIFISH summary and objectivesAquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector in the world, since there is an increasing demand for fish protein to feed a growing global population, which cannot be met by fisheries. In order to ensure the sustainability of this sector it is critical to domesticate and selectively improve the major commercial fish species. To date, the genetic markers used in selective breeding of fish account only for a fraction of the observed phenotypic variation.

EPIFISH is a timely project that will address fish domestication and selection from a new perspective using a multidisciplinary approach. The rapid pace of substantial phenotypic changes during adaptation to new environmental conditions in fish undergoing domestication raises the original hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in this process.

Thus, the overarching aim of EPIFISH is to ascertain the importance of epigenetics in fish domestication using the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as model species. Specific objectives are i) to determine how selection affects the miRNA transcriptome and the epigenetic landscape during domestication, ii) to perform a functional characterization of miRNA variants and epigenetic alleles associated with growth, and iii) to validate them as potential epigenetic markers for future selective breeding programmes.The identification of epigenetic markers will be a ground-breaking element of EPIFISH with major impact on aquaculture biotechnology, since they will enable the development and application of epigenomic selection as a new feature in future selective breeding programmes. Moreover, the project outcomes will provide novel mechanistic insights into the role of epigenetics in fish domestication, which will surely open new horizons for future frontier research in epigenetics, namely transgenerational inheritance and nutritional epigenetics.

Qualifications and requirements

The candidate should have a PhD degree (or equivalent) in bioinformatics, epigenetics, evolutionary biology or genomics. Documented experience in analysis of next-generation sequencing data and/or histone and DNA modifications is a formal requirement.We are looking for highly motivated, creative and ambitious applicants with an excellent academic record and the ability to collaborate with other members of a multidisciplinary team whilst developing their own research project.

The successful candidate is expected to participate in all activities related to EPIFISH and her/ his responsibilities include:

• Designing and performing experiments in close collaboration with the EPIFISH project leader;
• Supervision of graduate and undergraduate students, as well as visiting researchers;
• Collaboration with other members of the EPIFISH team;
• Reporting and publishing results;
• Participation in knowledge transfer and dissemination activities.

A background in aquaculture and training in genome-editing, quantitative genetics, non-coding RNAs and in vitro and in vivo functional assays are advantageous for this position.Proficiency in oral and written English is essential and must be documented either by the Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification or internationally recognised certificates, such as TOEFL, IELTS, APIEL or similar.

Salary and Working Conditions

The salary offered is in accordance with the Norwegian State Salary Scale (Postdoc, code 1352). The Salary is set from wage level 59 - 68 in the Norwegian State Salary Scale (approximately NOK 500 000 - 600 000 per year). Salary will be determined by agreement.As an employee at the Nord University, you become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund and get access to other social benefits. A statutory amount to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will automatically be deducted from the salary.The successful person must abide by the laws, agreements and directives that apply to the position at any time. According to the employment policy of the institution, our staff should reflect the population in general. The University practices moderate allocation according to sex quotas in accordance with the Basic Agreement for the Civil Service, and women are encouraged to apply for the position.

Contact Information

For further information about the position, please contact Professor Jorge Fernandes (e-mail: jorge.m.fernandes@nord.no; telephone: +47 75 51 77 36).

Questions related to the application process should be addressed to the office manager Irene Stork (e-mail: irene.stork@nord.no; telephone +47 75 51 74 42).

Application

Applicants for this position are requested to include the following information:

• Cover letter outlining the candidate’s suitability for this position, relevant experience and how she/ he will contribute to the successful implementation of EPIFISH (maximum 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)
• List of publications and early career achievements (maximum 2 pages)
• Certified copies of academic degree transcripts and English proficiency
• Contact details for at least three referees

Please do not upload any documents that have not been requested (e.g., theses and manuscripts), since these will not be evaluated.

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 expiry of the application deadline a publicly available applicant list will be announced. Here we would like to draw attention to the fact that information about the applicant can be published, even if the applicant wishes this information to be left out. Nevertheless, applicants asking for confidentiality must specifically explain the reasons for this in their application. In this case, the applicants will be given notice prior to the announcement.

Ref.nr. 30076958

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