PhD candidate position in metabolic modelling of marine biomass conversion at The faculty of Biosciences, Fishery and Economics
Application deadline: 13.03.2017
Applications shall be marked: 2016/7213
The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics(BFE), UiT The Arctic University of Norway has a PhD candidate position vacant on the project “MARVAL: From unexploited marine biomass to high value products”. The position is attached to the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) and the research group of Microbes and Plants.
The MARVAL project aims at studying conversion of marine biomass (harvested and by-products) to higher value products. The project is a joint effort among 4 faculties and is connected to the thematic strategic topic “Sustainable use of resources” at UiT – the Arctic university of Norway. The project is divided into several work packages, covering analysis of biomass (characterization of biomolecules), microbial conversion of biomass, identification and development of enzymes for biomass conversion, theoretical modelling of enzyme mechanisms and enzyme design, application of biomolecules, and responsible research and innovation (RRI) in the field. The PhD candidate will be attached to one of the work packages, but he/she is expected to contribute also in others and to work closely with researchers and fellow PhD-students in different parts of the project, providing the candidate with interdisciplinary training in the field.
Department of Arctic and Marine Biologyincludes 6 research groups. Research and teaching at AMB has a broad span, from molecular mechanisms at cellular/subcellular levels via studies of adaptations at the organismal level, to ecological interactions in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The staff
counts 53 permanent scientists, 26 technicians, 7 administrative positions and 60 temporary employees (researchers, postdocs, PhD research fellows, technicians).
The appointment is for a period of four years.
The PhD position is for a fixed term, with the objective of completion of research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD Candidate shall participate in the faculty’s organized research training, and the PhD project shall be completed during the period of employment. Information about the application process for admission to the PhD programme, application form and regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) are available here.
Further information about the position is available by contacting professor Ines Heiland,
+4777646889, ines.heiland@uit.no, or professor Arne Smalås, 77644070, arne.smalas@uit.no
The position’s field of research
The PhD-student will have her/his main work within mathematical modelling approaches to analyse metabolic pathways of marine bacteria especially with respect to polymer production and degradation. The project will be performed in close collaboration with other research groups at UiT that are involved in e.g., the experimental approaches targeting relevant metabolic pathways or the theoretical analysis of catalytic mechanisms.
Different methods including metabolic pathway analysis and ordinary differential equation based modelling approaches in combination with comparative sequence analysis will be used to analyse and integrate existing experimental data as well as data generated during the project.
Qualifications requirements
Applicants should have a master in biology, biochemistry, biophysics, biomathematics, bioinformatics or related fields. Candidates with a background in biology/biochemistry have to proof sound knowledge in mathematics, computational sciences or mathematical modelling. Candidates with a master in biophysics, biomathematics and bioinformatics have to proof sound knowledge and previous interest in biochemistry, especially with respect to metabolic pathways. Students should have very good analytical skills, good writing abilities and have a broad scientific interest. Personal suitability is important.
The applicant must have a fluent command of English, both written and verbal. How to document language proficiency.
Emphasis is attached to personal suitability.
Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment in a PhD position; cf. Section 6 of the Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The plan for the PhD programme must be approved and the contract signed no later than six week, after the starting date. In connection with this, the person who is appointed can receive a period of up to two month in which to submit a draft of their project description/reworked project description and a proposal of courses for the instruction component. In the event that the PhD contract is not completed within the stipulated deadline, the employer may annul the contract; cf. Section 1-3(8) of the Regulations relating to conditions of employment for positions of Postdoctoral Fellows, PhD Candidate, Research Assistant .
Working conditions
The normal period of employment is four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year, distributed as 25 % of each year, shall be used for teaching or other duties for the university cf. Guidelines for the PhD candidate’s duties.
The position will especially be assigned teaching duties related to the research group of microbes and plants.
A shorter period of employment may be approved if the PhD Candidate has already implemented parts of the PhD programme or when the appointment is based on previous appointments in teaching positions (PhD candidate, Research Assistant or the equivalent), such that the total time of the PhD programme is three years.
Remuneration for the position of PhD Candidate is in accordance with State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Sector Pension Fund will be deducted from the gross salary.
Assessment
The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. During this assessment process, emphasis will be attached to the applicant’s potential for research as shown by:
Master’s thesis or equivalent
any other academic works
In addition, consideration may be given to work experience or other activities of significance for the implementation of the PhD studies, and to any teaching qualifications. This includes teaching education, teaching experience, from popularization and experience/education from other types of dissemination. The applicants, who assessed as the best qualified, will be called to an interview.
The interview shall among other things aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability for the position.
Apply for the position in www.jobbnorge.no
The application shall include:
Letter of application
CV (containing a complete overview of education, supervised professional training and professional work)
diploma and transcript from your Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
diploma and transcript from your Master’s degree or equivalent
diploma supplement for completed degrees
Documentation of English language proficiency
reference letter and contact information
List of works and description of these
The list of works shall contain the following information:
author(s), the work’s title
for articles: the journal’s name and volume, the first and last page of the article, year of publication
for publications: publisher, printer, year of publication, number of pages
Works- The applicant has to attach the published or unpublished work he/she wish the Committee be take into consideration during the assessment process
All documentation must be certified and translated into English or a Scandinavian language.
It is required that the documents mentioned above will be enclosed in Jobbnorge before the specified deadline.
Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to bring original certificates and diplomas.
General Information
Applicants shall also refer to the Supplementary regulations for appointment to postdoktor (Postdoctoral Fellow), stipendiat (PhD) and vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant) positions at UiT and to the Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of postdoktor (post-doctoral research fellow), stipendiat (research fellow), vitenskapelig assistent (research assistant) and spesialistkandidat (resident).
Questions concerning the organization of the working environment, such as the physical state of the place of employment, health service, possibility for flexible working hours, part time, etc. may be directed to the telephone reference in this announcement.
UiT The Arctic University of Norway has HR policy objectives that emphasize diversity, and therefore encourages qualified applicants to apply regardless of gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background.
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is an IW (Inclusive Workplace) enterprise, and will therefore emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.
Personal data given in an application or CV will be processed in accordance with the Act relating to the processing of personal data (the Personal Data Act). In accordance with Section 25 subsection 2 of the Freedom of Information Act, the applicant may request not to be registered on the public list of applicants. However, the University may nevertheless decide that the name of the applicant will be made public. The applicant will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.
In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.
UIT THE ARCTIC UNIVERSITY OF NORWAY
NO– 9037 TROMSØ