The position

The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries an Economics (BFE), UiT The Arctic University of Norway seek a highly motivated PhD candidate in marine ecotoxicology. The position is temporary for 4 years and attached to Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB). The candidate will address the biological effects of crude oil pollution in fish species from the Barents Sea and work within a dynamic and international research team.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE) consists of Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH) and School of Business and Economics. The main task of BFE is to conduct teaching and research dissemination at a high national and international level within all relevant fields. Prioritized research areas are aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, climate, life in the arctic, marine bioprospecting, fish health, seafood products, business and macroeconomics, resources and environment, markets and management of marine resources. The interdisciplinary profile of the faculty provides good opportunity to develop research projects involving several research groups at the faculty according to its strategy.

The PhD position is for a fixed term, with the objective of completion of research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD Candidate shall participate in the faculty’s organized research training, and the PhD project shall be completed during the period of employment. Information about the application process for admission to the PhD programme and regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) are available at the following address Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics PhD web pages.

Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) includes 6 research groups distributed across several buildings. Research and teaching at AMB have a broad span, from molecular mechanisms at cellular/subcellular levels via studies of adaptations at the organismal level, to ecological interactions in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The institute is an exciting and cutting-edge academic and research unit in biology that addresses important questions in basic, applied and management-oriented research with a strong focus on the high North.

The Department has extensive national and international research collaborations including regional institutions like Fram Center, Institute of Marine Research and NIBIO. It plays a leading role in the Norwegian national Nansen Legacy Program. The staff consists of 52 permanent scientists, 23 technicians, 9 administrative positions and 65 temporary employees (researchers, postdocs, PhD students, and technicians).

Contacts

For further information about the position and project, contact:

• Jasmine Nahrgang jasmine.m.nahrgang@uit.no tlf : +47 77645896

Research area

The PhD project addresses the biological effects of crude oil pollution in fish species from the Barents Sea. The project will deal with biological effects on both early life stages and adults as well as short and long-term effects. Endpoints of interest will be related to adverse effects on life history traits including growth and reproduction. The scope of the PhD work will be further defined together with the successful candidate. Thus, applicants are encouraged to make suggestions in their cover letter and project description, of research approaches that could be considered as part of the PhD thesis. We seek a highly motivated candidate to conduct experiments in challenging conditions (Arctic environment, low temperature, darkness, cold seawater), but also at ease in the analytical laboratory (e.g. experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, histology) and analyzing data (statistics).

The candidate will be integrated in the Arctic Marine System Ecology group at the Institute of Arctic and Marine Biology. The candidate will also be associated to the Research Centre for Petroleum activities ARCEx (arcex.no) and the ARCTOS PhD School (www.arctos.uit.no) at UiT and will work in collaboration with several national and international Institutions.

Qualifications required

The candidate should have a Master degree or equivalent in ecotoxicology or marine biology.

The candidate should have a good background in the ecotoxicology of organic contaminants, preferably related to petroleum compounds.

Knowledge in fish biology, experience in animal experimentation, working knowledge in statistical analyses are considered advantages. It is also an advantage if the candidate has previous experience using analytical methods proposed in the PhD project, e.g. behavioral ecology, histological and immunohistochemical, molecular biology analyses.

We seek a person that can work both autonomously, but also function well in a larger team of students and researchers. Personal qualifications and potential to fit into the existing research group will be prioritized. We ask the candidates to present all their relevant experience in their application letter and especially consider the qualifications mentioned in the job announcement.

The successful applicant must have a fluent command of English, both written and verbal. The PhD position will be part of an international project where the working language is English. The application should therefore be written in English. How to document languages proficiency.

We offer

Remuneration for the position of PhD Candidate is in accordance with State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Sector Pension Fund will be deducted.

About the PhD programme

Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment in a PhD position; cf. Section 6 of the Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The PhD programme must be approved and the contract signed no later than six week, after the starting date. In connection with this, the person who is appointed can receive a period of up to two month in which to submit a draft of their project description/reworked project description and a proposal of courses for the instruction component. In the event that the PhD contract is not completed within the stipulated deadline, the employer may annul the contract; cf. Section 1-3(8) of the Regulations relating to conditions of employment for positions of Postdoctoral Fellows, PhD Candidate, Research Assistant (only in Norwegian).

Application

Submit your application in www.jobbnorge.no

To be assessed by the Committee it's important that enclosed documents mentioned below, attaches in Jobbnorge within the expiration of the application deadline. Documents to considered have to be translate and certified to Scandinavian or English.

Attachment to letter of application:

• CV (containing a complete overview of education, supervised professional training and professional work)
• diploma and transcript from your Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• diploma and transcript from your Master’s degree or equivalent
• Master’s thesis or equivalent
• diploma supplement for completed degrees
• documentation of Norwegian / Scandinavian language proficiency
• documentation of English language proficiency
• reference letter and contact information
• List of works and description of these
• project description (short 1/2-1 page)

The list of works shall contain the following information:

• author(s), the work’s title
• for articles: the journal’s name and volume, the first and last page of the article, year of publication
• for publications: publisher, printer, year of publication, number of pages

The applicant have to attach the published or unpublished work he/she wish the Committee be take into consideration during the assessment process.

Application and attachment in e-mail can not be approved.

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. During this assessment process, emphasis will be attached to the applicant’s potential for research as shown by the Master’s thesis or equivalent and any other academic works. In addition, consideration may be given to work experience or other activities of significance for the implementation of the PhD studies, and to any teaching qualifications. This includes teaching education, teaching experience, from popularization and experience/education from other types of dissemination. The best qualified assessed applicants will be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability for the position.

Applicants bring original certificates/diplomas and reference letter (work) to an interview.

Information

Information and guidelines referenced in our announcement are available here.

We make the appointment in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway has HR policy objectives that emphasize diversity, and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their age, gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background. The university will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act. You may request to not be registered on the public list of applicants, but the University may decide that your name will be made public. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.

We are looking forward to receiving your application!

In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.

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