About the PhD position
The Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen (University of Bergen, Norway) opens a vacancy for a PhD position within the field of biosystematics of marine invertebrates. The position is for a fixed-term period of 4 years including 25% (one year) of other compulsory work in the invertebrate collections (e.g. teaching duties, collection management, outreach). The candidate will be working on a research project on the diversity, systematics, phylogeny, and biogeography of siphonophores (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) as part of the Cnidaria and Ctenophora team.
About the PhD position (applies to university PhD positions):
The PhD candidate will be responsible for the development of the research project including fieldwork, taxonomic identifications, phylogenetics, species delimitation and other analyses, as well as writing up.
The PhD candidate must take part in the University’s approved PhD program leading to the degree within a time limit of 3 years. Hence, applicants must meet the formal admission requirements for the PhD program. Application for admission to the PhD study, including progress plan for education and research will be prepared together with the project advisors. A final plan for the implementation of the research training must be approved by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences within 2 months after the candidate has commenced in the position. It is a condition that the candidate satisfies the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen: https://www.uib.no/en/matnat/53972/doctoral-education-faculty-mathematics-and-natural-sciences
About the project/work tasks
Background: Siphonophores are a ubiquitous component of marine zooplankton. Yet, their fragile, gelatinous colonies make them challenging to study, and many aspects of their diversity and ecology remain poorly known. Baseline studies on the diversity of siphonophores are lacking for several regions, and the group is sparsely represented in DNA reference libraries. Many of the ~190 known species are assumed to have wide or cosmopolitan distributions, but closer scrutiny frequently uncovers undescribed, geographically structured genetic diversity within the group.
Objectives: The candidate will use integrative morphological and molecular taxonomic methods to study several aspects of the diversity of siphonophores in Norwegian waters and across wider scales. A combination of analysis of existing preserved samples and collection of fresh material will provide the first description of baseline diversity for siphonophores and other pelagic hydrozoans in the underexplored Norwegian Sea, as well as provide material for molecular work, curated museal reference collections, and DNA reference libraries. Integrative taxonomy will be used to identify and describe cryptic diversity in selected taxa. Existing and novel genetic data will be used to explore distributional patterns of siphonophores at different spatial scales and the extent of cryptic diversity in the taxon. Part of the work will be done in collaboration with the MSCA project Pole2Pole and the Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative project NOAH, focusing on mitogenomics of bipolar species.
Supervisors: Ass. Prof. Aino Hosia (main), Dr. Luis Martell and Dr. Joan J. Soto-Angel (Department of Natural History, University Museum, University of Bergen)
Qualifications and personal qualities
We seek an enthusiastic and highly motivated candidate, ideally with experience in biosystematics of marine invertebrates. The successful applicant must be a good team worker, have the ability to work and develop new skills independently in a structured and goal-oriented manner, and possess excellent social and communication skills.
Required:
- Applicants must have a Master of science degree (MSc) or equivalent education in zoology, evolutionary biology or biosystematics, and must have submitted his/her Master’s thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded
- Experience with molecular laboratory work and phylogenetic analyses
- Availability to carry out fieldwork, participate on cruises, and travel abroad to study biological collections at other institutions
- Good command of English, both oral and written
Preferred:
- Experience in taxonomy and systematics of hydrozoans or other cnidarians
- Experience with sampling and identification of (non-crustacean, gelatinous) zooplankton
- Experience in writing scientific articles and presentation of poster and oral communications at international scientific meetings
- Experience with participation on scientific cruises
- Experience with high throughput sequencing
- Experience with bioinformatics for biosystematics
- Experience with science communication, dissemination and outreach
Offer
- A good and professionally challenging working environment
- Position as research fellow (code 1017) gross annual salary of NOK532.200. Further increases in salary are made according to length of service in the position
- Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- A position in an inclusive workplace (IA enterprise)
- Good welfare benefits
General Information
Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting Associate professor Aino Hosia (aino.hosia@uib.no), University Museum of Bergen, Department of Natural History.
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.
We encourage women to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.
Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
UiB is subject to the regulations for export control and the regulations can be applied when processing applications for the position.
The main working place of the candidate will be at the Department of Natural History at the University Museum of Bergen.
If the applicant has been appointed in a PhD-position previously, a deduction of the appointment period may be required.
The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.
For further information about the recruitment process, click here.
Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically in English and include:
- A motivation letter stating your research background, interests and reasons for applying for the position (maximum one A4 page)
- The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these must be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or the responsible for a research project where the applicant previously had a relevant participation
- CV (maximum 2-pages) with name, contacts, qualifications, working experience, and publication record (if any)
- Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, or official confirmation that the master’s thesis has been submitted
- Relevant certificates/references
- Any publications in your name
- Approved documentation of proficiency in English (if. required)
The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge. Applications sent by e-mail will not be considered.
More information about this opportunity via this link.