Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Global challenges regarding energy and climate change, the environment, health, food safety, technology and renewable solutions, use and conservation of land and natural resources, and development of the bio-economy, requires greater effort. NMBU is well equipped to conduct further research in these fields. NMBU's expertise spans entire value chains and includes both basic and applied research.

On 1 January 2014, the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science and the University of Life Sciences merged and became –NMBU, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students, and is currently located on two campuses – Ås, about 30 km south of Oslo, and Adamstuen in Oslo. In 2020, the new research- and education-building for veterinary science will be completed and all of NMBU will then be located at Campus Ås.

Further information about NMBU is available on www.nmbu.no.

The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) invite applicants for a vacant position as PhD research fellow within the fields of enzyme engineering and enzymology. The person appointed will be associated with the Natural Product Chemistry and Organic Analysis (NPCO) and The Protein Engineering and Proteomics (PEP) groups at KBM. The main goal of the project is to develop advanced enzyme technology to convert the recalcitrant polysaccharide chitin into products of value. The project is funded by NMBU.

KBM faculty is located at Ås Campus, 30 km south of Oslo, and has approximately 160 employees spread over 12 research groups, including the NCPO group and PEP, group, which together comprise approximately 23 and 30 persons, respectively. The two research groups have a wide research portfolio including organic analysis, biological activity of organic molecules, fundamental and applied enzymology, and enzyme discovery at the cross section between chemistry and biotechnology.

Research project

The overarching goal of the proposed research is to develop sustainable high-tech enzyme technology for a modern biorefinery approach. This includes explorative engineering of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMO) and glycoside hydrolases (GH) to different types of reaction conditions. One target is to use chitin-rich biomass as a highly abundant renewable source to produce products of value. Due to the discovery of LPMOs and their mode of action, major progress has been made in the enzymatic conversion of lignocellulose. Importantly, the novel technologies and insights related to lignocellulose processing have not yet been implemented in chitin biorefining, despite the fact that the impact is huge.

Main tasks

Carry out high-level research relevant for the project, including critical assessment of the literature, planning and performance of experiments, oral presentations and discussion of the work, and writing scientific publications.

More details on the type of work to be conducted may be inferred from the items listed below under “The following qualifications will be considered beneficial for the indicated positions”.

The successful candidate is expected to have a PhD education plan approved by KBM within the first months of appointment, and to complete the PhD by the end of the project period.

Academic qualifications

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master's degree level. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies, and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.

The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.

Required Academic qualifications

• Relevant training and research experience, at MSc level, including experience in the recombinant production, purification and handling of proteins.

The following qualifications will be considered beneficial

• Experience in analytical tools for the analysis of polysaccharides and/or their degradation products.
• Experience in advanced enzyme kinetics and/or biophysical methods for enzyme characterization.
• Experience with protein engineering.
• Experience in working with polysaccharides.
• Experience in working with glycoside hydrolases and/or lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases, and/or redox enzymes.
• Experience in biomass pretreatment and bioprocess development.

Personal skills

We are looking for candidates who are:

• Hard-working, ambitious and accurate
• Genuinely interested in scientific research and its industrial applications
• Good social and communicative skills

Good communicative skills, orally and written, in English, and preferably in a Scandinavian language.

NMBU offers:

• An optimistic academic institution with focus on professional development, dissemination and competence.
• An interdisciplinary and inclusive environment that provides exciting research- and development opportunities.
• Daily contact with inspiring students and skilled colleagues.
• Various welfare schemes.
• Beautiful surroundings just outside Oslo.
• Kindergarten for children of employees

Remuneration

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow, wage framework 20 (salary grade 36-62). PhD Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 51 (NOK 449.400,-) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.

Further information

For further information, please contact Professor Morten Sørlie, E-mail: morten.sorlie@nmbu.no; phone +47 67 23 25 62

Application

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: 28.09.2018

Applications should include (electronically) a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, full publication list, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified), and a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses). Publications should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant NMBU Department may require further documentation, e.g. proof of English proficiency.

Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM), P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 28.09.2018. Please quote reference number 18/04620.

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.

A compulsory contribution of 2 % is made to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. A good working environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of gender, physical ability or cultural background. The workplace will if necessary be facilitated for persons with disabilities.

According to the Freedom of Information Act § 25 the list of applicants for this position may be made public irrespective of whether the applicant has requested that his/her name be withheld.

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