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PhD Research Fellowship in Systematic Mycology (lichens)

Deadline: 24.11.2019

Natural History Museum offers PhD Research Fellowship in Systematic Mycology (lichens)

Universitetet i Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.


The Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo is Norway’s most comprehensive natural history collection. For almost 200 years, specimens of animals, fungi, plants, rocks, minerals, and fossils have been collected, studied and preserved here. The museum is located in the beautiful Botanical Garden, which is not only popular for recreation, but is a scientific collection in itself.

Flere stillinger fra Universitetet i Oslo

Job description

A PhD fellowship (SKO 1017) is available at the Natural History Museum (NHM), University of Oslo. The position is part of the “Integrative Systematics of Plants and Fungi (ISOP)“ research group.

The fellowship period is 4 years, of which 3 years are devoted to carrying out a research project and one year (25%) for compulsory work consisting of teaching and supervision duties, collection work, outreach activities, and research assistance.

Please note that one cannot be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than 01.04.2020.

More about the position

The successful candidate will study molecular systematics and spatial phylogenetics of the lichen genus Psora (Psoraceae, Lecanorales, Lecanoromycetes). The candidate will use an integrative approach to assess diversity at multiple levels in space and time, using molecular phylogenetics in combination with phenotypic analyses, distribution modelling, ancestral area analyses, and spatial phylogenetics. Aims with this project are (1) to establish a more natural classification based on an integrative approach to obtain universally accepted taxon limits from family level to that of evolutionary significant units (ESUs), including “cryptic species”, (2) to compare various spatial diversity estimates based on species richness vs phylogenetic diversity and seek their causal mechanisms, (3) to infer centres of diversity and -origin as well as migration trajectories and dispersal vs vicariance events, and (4) to study how results coming from the spatial phylogenetics analyses relate to sample size.

The candidate will work in a group with master and PhD students studying similar aspects of related taxa and habitats. The research project will be largely based on fungarium material, but also involve fieldwork in western North America and possibly Australia. The results of this project will have direct implications for both taxonomy and biodiversity management.

The project is supervised by assoc. prof. Einar Timdal (Natural History Museum, University of Oslo; main supervisor) and assoc. prof. Mika Bendiksby (NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim).

Qualification requirements

  • A Master’s degree in biology (relevant themes: plant/fungal taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics, conservation genetics, ecoinformatics, or bioinformatics for biosystematics).
  • Excellent English writing and verbal communication skills.

Desirable experience:

  • Experience with DNA-based wet-lab work
  • Research experience in biosystematics (taxonomy, phylogenetics, biogeography)
  • Experience with field work
  • Good computing skills (e.g. distribution modelling or other ecoinformatics)
  • Production and handling of high throughput sequencing (HTS) data
  • Knowledge and interest in lichen systematics and diversity.

Evaluation of candidates will focus on the following:

  • Relevance and quality of the MSc thesis
  • Scientific publications (not necessarily expected at this level)
  • Grades from relevant university-level courses
  • Application/cover letter including a description of how this position fits the career plan and interests of the applicant
  • Collaborative skills
  • Personal suitability and motivation for the position
  • An interview, including a 15 minutes presentation of your MSc thesis (only short-listed candidates)

Grade requirements for admission to the PhD program:

  • The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must correspond to C or better in the Norwegian educational system
  • The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must correspond to B or better in the Norwegian educational system
  • The Master’s thesis must correspond to the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. The fellowship requires admission to the PhD program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Appointment to a PhD research fellowship is conditional upon admission to the Faculty’s research training program. A plan for the research training must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position, and the admission approved within three months.

We offer

  • Salary NOK 479 600 - 504 700 per year depending on qualification and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
  • Challenging research questions and a friendly working environment
  • Full funding of the project research-related activities, including field work, lab work and presentation of results at international conferences
  • Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
  • Attractive welfare benefits

How to apply

The application must include (as separate and numbered documents):

1. Application/cover letter

2. A separate one-page statement explaining how this position fits the career plan and interests of the applicant

3. CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work, scientific publications and other relevant experience)

4. Copies of educational certificates and transcripts of records

5. List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluating committee

6. Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, affiliation, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number). The references will be contacted if necessary. Letters of recommendation are therefore not required for the initial application.

7. Pdf of Master thesis (or equivalent) and potential publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluating committee

Applicants should deliver the application with the requested attachments (numbered as above) through our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to include an explanation of their University’s grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

In assessing applications, particular emphasis will be placed upon educational and scientific merits and the maturity and potential of the candidates to complete the project successfully within the given timeframe. Interviews with selected candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of 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 appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Contact information

About the position and project details:

About administrative questions and the application procedure: HR advisor Thomas Brånå

Apply for position

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