About the position
The Marine Toxicology Section at The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) is seeking a highly motivated and talented 2-year postdoctoral researcher, fixed terms. As part of our group you will join a dynamic research team and work on a collaborative project funded by the Norwegian Research Council, entitled “Does feed‑borne exposure to emerging mycotoxins during the freshwater phase affect salmon growth and health later in life?” (MYTOXA). In this position you will be responsible for in vivo trials on fish exposed to mycotoxins and evaluate effects on fish health and performance in an integrated systems biology framework.
About MYTOXA
The use of plant ingredients in salmon feed has introduced mold toxins (Mycotoxins) orally for the first time to carnivorous marine farmed fish. Mycotoxins are well known to cause production diseases in farm animals on land, similar to those reported in aquaculture. Disrupted health, reduced growth and increased mortality caused by mycotoxin contaminated feed is recognized as one of the most significant hazards and threats to the feed supply chain causing economic losses and impaired animal welfare. The project aims to investigate whether the load of co-occurring mycotoxins in pre-smolt feed make salmon more susceptible to production related diseases and reduce growth later in life. Feeding trials focusing on smolt robustness will be conducted, investigating the effects of mycotoxins prior to and post seawater transfer. Fish performance will be monitored until the end of the production cycle.
About our research group and our work
The Marine Toxicology Research Group consists of around 14 scientists and research fellows who work with a wide range of scientific issues and advisory tasks. The seafood we eat must be safe and our oceans and coastal areas should be clean. Therefore, we contribute to mapping and monitor novel fish feed ingredients, foreign substances in fish, seafood and the environment, as well as studying mechanistic toxicity effects of feed and environmental pollution using legacy and new approach methodologies in key aquaculture and fishery species.
Qualifications and key tasks
For this position we are looking for someone who
- hold a Ph.D. in animal physiology or animal health, biochemistry, toxicology or a related field
- has knowledge on animal physiology/fish health
- has experience with animal trials and sampling
- has strong oral and written English skills
The working language at the IMR is Norwegian, and good communication skills in Norwegian will be beneficial for both the applicant and the IMR. Sufficient progression in learning to speak and write Norwegian is expected during the first two years of employment. If necessary, language training will be offered and costs incurred will be reimbursed based upon completion of the language courses.
Key tasks:
- Designing and conducting experiments related to feed toxicology in farmed Atlantic salmon (mainly in vivo, but in vitro studies might also be applicable)
- Analyzing mode of action and fish health effects within a system biology framework
- Analyzing and interpret complex multivariate experimental data, and prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Contributing to development of MOA and AOP for emerging toxins
- Collaborating with other team members and contribute to the establishment of new international collaborations relevant to the topic
- Contributing to the development of grant proposals
- Presenting research findings at national and international conferences and meetings
Desired competencies
- FELASA Cat. certification
- Experience with immunology and/or hematology
- Experience in toxicological research
- Experience with transcriptomics/proteomics pathway analyses in a systems biology framework
- Experience with mode of action (MOA) and adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework
- Experience with standard molecular biology methods and biochemical assays
Personal competencies
At the IMR we believe that personality affects how we work, communicate and thrive in the work place. For this position we are interested in candidates who
- quickly absorb knowledge, and can use existing knowledge in new ways
- are positive, enthusiastic and works constructively under sometimes stressful conditions
- are motivated by our research group’s goals, and willingly share their knowledge with their collaborators
We offer
- the opportunity to work in one of Europe’s leading research institutions
- facilities centered near Bergen City Center
- a challenging and creative work environment
- flexible work hours
- public sector occupational pension through the Norwegian Public Service Pension Funds
Inclusion, Diversity and Affirmative Action
The Institute of Marine Research welcome all qualified candidates to apply for the position, regardless of age, gender, functional ability, nationality or ethnical background. We are an Inclusive Working Life Enterprise, and we aim to facilitate for applicants with disabilities.
Upon receiving applications from candidates with reduced abilities, gaps in CV or immigrant background, we will invite at least one qualified candidate from each category to an interview. In order to be considered for affirmative action, certain requirements should be met, and you must specify that you wish to be considered for the action when applying. Please read more here.
Your application must include
- A short statement text, with emphasis on your research interests and your motivation for applying for this position. This should be no more than one A4 page.
- Full name, e-mail address and phone number of 2-3 references. You references should be supervisors from your PhD and recent previous positions
- A CV summarizing education, previous positions and other qualifying activity, copies of exam and degree certificates and other relevant certificates
- A complete list of scientific publications
All documents should be in a Scandinavian language, or in English. Candidates from foreign institutions should include the institution’s explanation of its grading system.
Additional information
The Institute of Marine Research offers a governmentally regulated salary as 1352 Postdoctoral Researcher.
Please note that information about applicants may be made public even if an applicant has requested to be exempted from the list of applicants. Applicants will be notified about this in advance.
More information about this opportunity can be found here.