About the job
A three-year PhD position (with the possibility of an one year extension due to teaching duties) related to the project «Plastics as a potential vector for spread of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens from wastewater discharge in the marine environment (PlastiSpread)» is available at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and is hosted by NTNU and will be conducted in collaboration with national and international research partners. For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.
The project aims to investigate the role of urban wastewater effluents and bacterial biofilms on the plastisphere in the spreading of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the marine environment. Microbial biofilms and the potential role of marine plastics as a vector for transmission of resistant bacteria or their genes will be studied in lab- and field scale model systems in the Trondheim Fjord, where bivalve mollusks also will be used as indicators for effects on marine organisms present at the same site.
Your immediate leader is Associate Professor Sunniva Hoel.
Duties of the position
- Characterisation of microbial communities and antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater effluents, sludge and plastic-associated microbial biofilms in lab-scale and field experiments using culture-and sequence-based methods.
- Experiments on horizontal gene transfer and development of bacterial resistance in relevant bacterial culture systems.
- Data analysis, including bioinformatics.
- Publish in scientific journals and conferences and disseminate research to research partners in the PlastiSpread consortium.
- The candidate is expected to be an active and cooperating partner in the research group and project consortium.
Required selection criteria
- You must have a master’s degree in microbiology, biotechnology, or a related field.
- Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master’s level.
- You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master’s degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
- You must meet the requirements for admission to the PhD programme in Biotechnology.
- You must document very good written and oral English skills.
- You must document theoretical knowledge and practical experience in at least one of the following subjects: characterization of microbial communities, antimicrobial resistance, microbial biofilms, sequence-based methods, bioinformatics.
The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistantÂ
Preferred selection criteria
- Preference will be given to candidates with relevant research experience in biotechnology or microbiology.
Personal characteristics
- Adaptive and oriented towards finding solutions
- Good at communication
- Good collaborative skills as the candidate will work closely with research partners in the PlastiSpread consortium
Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.
We offer
- exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
- an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
- favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- employee benefits
Salary and conditions
As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532Â 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
The period of employment is 3 years (with the possibility of one year extension due to teaching duties).
Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Biotechnology within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.
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The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.
The position is subject to external funding.
It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.
About the application
The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.
Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.
The application must include:
- A cover letter containing a summary of research interests, scientific accomplishments, and career goals.
- CV and certificates
- Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not completed the master’s degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master’s thesis has been submitted.
- An abstract of your master’s thesis (maximum 1 page). Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
- Other academic work – published or unpublished – that you would like to be considered in the assessment.
- Name and contact information of three referees.
If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor’s and master’s education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.
We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.
In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.
NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.
For further information about this opportunity, click here.