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UNIS UNIVERSITETSSENTERET PÅ SVALBARD

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UNIS

UNIS is a state-owned limited company with five of Norway’s universities represented on the board. UNIS is located in a modern working environment in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and is well equipped with both technical and scientific equipment and laboratories. The institution has an infrastructure for both marine and terrestrial field research in Svalbard.

The Department of Arctic Geology at UNIS is seeking applicants for a 2 year and 9 months Postdoctoral research fellowship in microbial ecology of near-surface polar ice. Currently the department constitutes 4 professors, 5 associate professors, 5 PhD students, 9 Adjunct positions and 1 technical / administrative staff. The department conducts research and education in Arctic marine and terrestrial geology, and currently provides 24 courses at bachelor, master and PhD levels. The department focuses on six main areas, all with an emphasis on High Arctic systems: marine geology, Quaternary geology, permafrost and periglacial geomorphology, glaciology, sedimentology, and structural geology. Additional information about the department can be found at www.unis.no.

Description of the vacant position and qualifications

The post.doc. will conduct novel research in both polar regions that involves i) collection of shallow ice cores for detailed microbiological analysis; ii) characterization of the physical and chemical conditions that enable microorganisms to remain viable within them, and then iii) the systematic comparison of the entombed microbial habitats and their communities to those in fresh snow and melt pools. For i) you will have experience of ice coring, aqueous biogeochemistry and cell enumeration. For ii) you will be able to measure the means by which the surface energy balance of glacier ice, the propagation of photosynthetically active radiation through it and the biogeochemical conditions all enable cell growth. For iii) you will be required to assess rates of biological production in watery habitats known as cryoconite holes and establish whether their communities resemble those derived from the snow or the ice cores. You will conduct field research in both Svalbard and Antarctica (Troll Station) and so experience of planning and executing field campaigns in these regions will be a distinct advantage. You will also have a PhD and publication track record that demonstrates these competences.

Essential Criteria

• Experience of polar field work, including the planning and implementation of own research, preferably in Antarctica.
• Proven skills in biogeochemical analysis of snow, ice and meltwater.
• Proven skills in routine microbiological analysis of the above samples, including cell enumeration by microscopy and/or flow cytometry.
• Lead authorship publications in cold regions biogeochemistry or microbiology.

Desireable criteria:

• Experience with ice coring (collection, processing and analysis).
• Experience with winter fieldwork in Svalbard (travel, safety).

Employment conditions for post doc positions at UNIS

The duration of the Post Doc position is 2 years and 9 months. All salaries are set in accordance with the Norwegian government’s University salary scale. Post doctoral research fellows start at a gross salary of NOK 514 800 annually. The salary will depend on experience/seniority. As a resident in Svalbard an annual allowance of NOK 34 560 (Svalbardtillegg) will be added to the salary. A Social Security contribution of 2 per cent, to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, will be deducted from the salary. Income tax on Svalbard is 8 per cent, plus 8,2 per cent toward National Insurance coverage. UNIS offers a membership in the Norwegian Public Pension Fund.

Selection and appointment

A committee appointed by the Managing director of UNIS will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants, and invite the highest ranked person(s) for an interview. The appointment will be made by the Director of UNIS based on the recommendation from the committee.

ApplicationInquiries about this position may be directed to:Professor Andrew Hodson, e-mail: Andrew.hodson@unis.noHead of Department of Arctic Geology, Prof. Hanne Hvidtfeldt Christiansen, email: hanne.christiansen@unis.no

The application, submitted electronically in www.jobbnorge.no, must include:

• a brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• the names and contact information for two referees.
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the master's and PhD degrees, or official confirmation that the PhD's thesis has been submitted
• relevant certificates/references
• a full list of publications & previously held grants

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded in Jobbnorge.

Deadline for application is 29.03.2019.

You can request to have your application kept from public access cf. the open files act § 25. The request must be explained. UNIS will determine if the application will be kept from public access or not, based on the explanation and the regulations from the open files act. If the application will not be accepted, the candidate will be contacted.

About us

UNIS is a state-owned limited company with five of Norway’s universities represented on the board. UNIS is located in a modern working environment in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and is well equipped with both technical and scientific equipment and laboratories. The institution has an infrastructure for both marine and terrestrial field research in Svalbard.

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