Are you interested in research aimed at increasing sustainability of food sources in the changing world?

About the position

The Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3 year PhD–position related to developmental and stem cell biology.

Norwegian University of Life Sciences

NMBU has a special responsibility for research and education that ensures the basis of life for future generations.

Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we provide knowledge for life.

NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students and is organized in seven faculties. NMBU has a campus in Ås and in Oslo. In the autumn of 2020 we are co-located on Ås. Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.

About BIOVIT

The Faculty of Biosciences is organized into two departments: Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences and Department of Plant Sciences.

The main objective of the Faculty of Biosciences is to contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and food production systems through basic and applied research on plants and animals including fish (aquaculture). The faculty houses Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE) and the research center for Research-based Innovation (SFI) - Foods of Norway.

The faculty is responsible for bachelor- and master programmes in Biology, Animal Science and Plant Science, and international master programmes in Genome Science, Agroecology, Plant Science, Aquaculture, Animal Breeding Genetics and Feed Manufacturing Technology. PhD programmes include Animal Science and Aquaculture, and Plant Sciences. There are currently 480 bachelor and master students, and 90 PhD students, enrolled in these programmes. The faculty has approximately 220 permanent and temporary scientific employees, including technicians, and 18 administrative positions.

NMBU has a special responsibility for research and education that ensures the basis of life for future generations.

Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we provide knowledge for life.

NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students and is organized in seven faculties. NMBU has a campus in Ås and in Oslo. In the autumn of 2020 we are co-located on Ås. Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no

The position is financed with strategic funding from NMBU and will be linked to the RCN funded projects LiceRESIST and GENEinnovate that seek to use genome editing to solve sustainability problems in production animals.

The PhD project will focus on development of cutting-edge stem cell technology in Atlantic salmon.

The main effort will be directed on deprogramming differentiated cells in order to generate induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC). In addition, the candidate will work to develop approaches to culturing Embryonic Stem Cells. Furthermore, genome editing by CRISPR-Cas9 may be utilized to functionally test regulatory mechanisms of pluripotency.

The successful candidate will join CIGENE (https://cigene.no/), a multidisciplinary genome biology research group possessing broad expertise in genetics, genomics, systems biology with recent expansion into targeted genome editing. The center operates comprehensive tissue culture and molecular lab facilities that are supported by an experienced team of engineers.

Main tasks

The main task will be to translate existing methodology for induction and/or maintenance of pluripotent cell culture to Atlantic salmon cells. Subsequently the candidate will carry out functional and molecular analysis of the differentiation potential of generated cells. The candidate will work in close collaboration with other PhD-students and postdoctoral researchers at CIGENE, NMBU

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

Qualification requirements, desired experiences, knowledge and personal qualities

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

• Master’s degree in molecular or developmental biology, genetics or similar field
• Experience with current cell culture methodology
• Familiarity with modern molecular biology techniques
• The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
• Strong molecular biology skills, and relevant experience with the technologies and lab techniques mentioned in this advertisement
• Experience in microscopy-based research
• Proficiency in computational analysis of molecular and phenotypic data
• Ability for independent work displaying initiative and creative views
• Analytical and academic approach to research questions

You need to:

• have good collaborative skills
• be proficient in English, both written and spoken.

Remuneration and information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow. PhD. Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 479.600,-) 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.

For further information, please contact:

• Dr. Victor Boyartchuk, Researcher, E-mail: victor.boyartchuk@nmbu.no; phone +4767232643

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants

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: 22nd of March 2020

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 the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 22nd of March 2020. Please quote reference number 20/00962.

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.

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