Job description

A 2-year position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow is available at Institute of Biosciences at University of Oslo from August 2019 onwards.

The position is part of the international project “Scenarios of freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem services in a changing Arctic”, funded by Belmont Forum and BiodivERsA. The project comprises partners from Canada, US (Alaska), Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The Norwegian partner is the Institute of Bioscience at the University (IBV) of Oslo and the recently started Centre for BioGeoChemistry in the Anthropocene (CBA). The CBA is a recently started collaboration between departments of Biosciences, Chemistry and Geosciences at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The centre has a core staff of ca 12 faculty members (employed at their respective departments) and a number of PhDs and postdocs.

This advertised postdoc position will conduct research on existing phyto- and zooplankton data from the Arctic and subarctic localities, and field experiment in the Norwegian Arctic (Svalbard and Finnmark). The field work will consist of bioassays testing nutrient limitation and nutrient responses in bacteria and phytoplankton in high Arctic lakes and ponds (primarily Svalbard), and also sampling for multi-OMICS (DNA, RNA and protein sequencing) along a range of Arctic freshwaters. This latter part of the project will be conducted in close collaboration with PhD and master students which are part of the project.

We seek a highly motivated candidate that will work interdisciplinary in close collaborations with the project consortium at IBV and CBA.

More about the position

Starting date no later than 01.10.2019, but preferably from start of August.

The appointment is a fulltime position and is for a period of 2 years.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

Qualification requirements

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

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in a scientific field relevant for Biogeochemistry. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment.
• The candidate should be competent in statistics and handling of large data
• The candidate should have experience in field-work and/or experiments
• Experience in molecular biology and/or experimental ecology is desirable
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Documented ability to write scientific manuscripts (one or more first author papers from Ph.D. and postdoctoral studies will be highly valued)
• Ability to operate as a team player in a multi-disciplinary environment

Personal skills

We are seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic and hard-working candidate with the ambition to gain new insights and publish papers in leading, international journals. Applicants must show good interpersonal skills and be willing to work in close collaboration with the project PIs and other members of the project team, as well as have the ability to work independently.

We offer

• Salary NOK 515 200 – 597 400 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral development programs
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• A brief account (one page, as a separate file) of the applicant’s interest and motivation for applying for the position
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

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).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented academic qualifications and the candidate's motivation and personal suitability. 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 as Postdoctoral Fellow for more than one specified period at the same institution.

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:

• Dag Hessen, phone: +47 22854553, e-mail: d.o.hessen@mn.uio.no
• Alexander Eiler, phone: +47 22854527, email: alexander.eiler@ibv.uio.no

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR-officer Nina Holtan, phone: +47 22854424, email: nina.holtan@mn.uio.no

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