Job description

Position as a postdoctoral research fellow is available at the Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology (AQUA), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo (UiO).

As part of the Nansen Legacy, the available PD is within the task Pollution, within the project “Multiple stressors and sub-letheal effects of oil and contaminants in the northern Barents Sea zooplankton and fish”. The Arctic is susceptible to local pollution from petroleum activities and shipping, as well as long-range transported pollutants (e.g., persistent organic pollutants, metals, and emerging contaminants). The project is composed to two major activities i) To investigate how key Arctic zooplankton respond to multiple stressors, combinations of ocean acidification, temperature and oil components. The targeted responses are sub-lethal effects on physiology (respiration), oxidative stress coupled with membrane integrity and DNA strand breaks, as well as energy allocation. ii) To identify sensitive life stages of Calanus sp. and ecologically relevant fish species using effect endpoints, such as short-term exposure studies with Calanus sp. and cells extracted from fish (lymphocytes). Sub-lethal endpoints will include biotransformation capacity and oxidative stress coupled with membrane integrity and DNA strand breaks and exposure assessed using analyses of bile PAH metabolites (fish) and bioaccumulation (zooplankton).

We seek candidates that have a completed PhD-degree (or other corresponding education equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree) in ecotoxicology or marine ecology. The successful candidate should have experience with experimental studies with marine organisms.

We seek a highly motivated, enthusiastic person with the ambition to gain insight and publish papers in leading, international journals. The successful candidate must be prepared to spend periods at other Norwegian institutions than UiO for training and experiments.

Host institution and international partner institution.

The PD project and training will be based at the Aquatic Biology and Toxicology (AQUA), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, with collaboration and research stays at The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norwegian Polar Institute, University of Bergen and University of Tromsø.

Toxicological research at AQUA aims to understand how organisms and ecosystems are affected by environmental changes and stressors, and how we can manage the environment and resources. Research at AQUA integrates observational and experimental field studies, laboratory experiments and analyses, as well as statistical and mechanistic modeling.

The PD will be under the supervision of Prof. Ketil Hylland and Prof. Katrine Borgå.

More about the position

The appointment is a fulltime position and is made for a period of three years, with 10% compulsory work (e.g. teaching responsibilities at the Department).

Tentative starting date 01.01.2020, or before.

The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

The position is affiliated with the research project The Nansen Legacy . The Nansen Legacy is the Norwegian Arctic research community’s joint effort to establish a holistic understanding of a changing marine Arctic climate and ecosystem. The project will provide a scientific knowledge base needed for future sustainable resource management in the transitional Barents Sea and the adjacent Arctic Basin. It is a collaborative project between ten Norwegian research institutions, and will run from 2018-2023. Activities in the project will include international cooperation, and several cruises with the new, ice-going research vessel Kronprins Haakon.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. Candidates for this fellowship will be selected in accordance with this, and is expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

We ask applicants to provide a numbered list in their application letter corresponding to these criteria, explaining whether and how they meet each point:

• 1. Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degreein ecotoxicology or marine ecology, relevant to this PhD project. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the public defence of the doctoral thesis being approved.
• 2. Academic qualifications (grades and relevant research experience).
• 3. A background and/or strong interest in one or more of the following topics: i) ecotoxicology, ii) multiple stressors, iii) marine ecology.
• 4. Strong practical and analytical skills.
• 5. Ability to perform high quality laboratory and field work, chemical analyses and statistical data treatment.
• 6. Personal suitability and motivation for the position.
• 7. Good social and collaboration skills and ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary scientific environment.

Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

We offer

• salary NOK 523 200 – 605 500 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• a professionally stimulating working environment
• attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• Application letter, including a pointwise explanation of how the applicant fits the selection criteria detailed above.
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications).
• Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation.
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee.
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number).
• A short text that outlines the candidate´s motivation and ideas for a project within the described field of research (1-2 pages).

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo. Likewise, a person can only receive one postdoctoral fellowship from the Research Council of Norway (RCN).

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

For further information please contact:

• Professor Ketil Hylland, e-mail: ketil.hylland@ibv.uio.no , Phone +47 22857315 or
• Professor Katrine Borgå, e-mail: katrine.borga@ibv.uio.no , Phone +47 228599156

For questions regarding the recruitment systen please contact: HR-officer Nina Holtan, e-mail: nina.holtan@mn.uio.no, Phone +47 22854424

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