Om stillingen

Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord University, Norway, invites applications from highly motivated candidates for a three-year  PhD Fellowship position within experimental approaches for better breeding microalgae.  

The PhD position is connected to the ‘Algal and Microbial Biotechnology’ division and is to be located in Bodø.

Microalgae offer enormous benefits for producing food, feed and energy due to their rapid growth combined witht their extensive biodiversity and alternative life histories. As part of a Norwegian Research Council funded research project we aim to develop strategies for producing improved strains and selection techniques leading to more efficient higher-yielding cultivations. The PhD canadidate will develope a thesis based on studies utilizing new laboratory-scale bioreactor technologies and the life history and reproductice strategies of diatoms. 

The position will be available from 6th of January 2026. 

The application deadline is 13th of July 2025

Candidates must comply with Nord University’s residency requirements.

Qualification requirements

The candidate is expected to:

• Have an MSc degree and thesis at grade A/B (or equivalent score)  in a field relevant for the position
• Experience in microalgae cultivation, bioreactor technology, genomics and microscopy are an advantage
• Commitment to laboratory work, high quality writing and scientific excellence at the highest level
• Work independently and professionally, and also in collaboration with other researchers, internationally
• Have a positive and creative approach to research-based problem solving
• Applicants from outside the EU/EEA must submit NOKUT approval of their master’s degree
• The grades at the qualifying MSc examination needs to be B or better (ECTS scale from A-E) to be admitted to the PhD program.
• See admission requirements:  PhD in Biosciences
• It is assumed that the person who is hired is admitted to the faculty’s doctoral program Final project outline with plan for the doctoral work must be approved and agreed upon no later than 3 months after accession. Termination may be considered if admission to the doctoral program is not available within this deadline, due to lack of annual reporting of progress and/or serious failure in progress and in duty work. For admission requirements and regulations, see our web page
• It is an advantage that the applicant masters Norwegian (or a Scandinavian language) both written and oral. For the position, good English skills are required both written and oral. The thesis must be written in English

Candidates who already have a PhD degree will not be considered for the position.

Qualified applicants will be ranked according to the following criteria:

• Theme and perspectives from the applicant’s master’s study. Project outline with description of project idea and plan for implementation
• The applicant’s description of motivation for the doctoral work and opportunities for completion
• Relevant experience from research work
• Ability to work independently, goal-oriented and systematically
• Personal suitability

We offer

The annual salary for doctoral researchers (code 1017) is set at wage level,  NOK 532 200,- in the Norwegian State Salary Scale.

• Advantages within the Government Pension Fund for borrowing, insurance and pension
• Creative and collegial working environment
• A workplace with progressive development
• Flexible working hours  
• Active university sports team

General information

The person who is appointed must abide by the applicable laws, agreements, and directives. The responsibilities and duties associated with the position may change with future reorganization at Nord University.

The public sector workforce is expected to reflect the diversity of the population in general. Nord University therefore encourages qualified candidates with disabilities, gaps in their CV, immigrant backgrounds or different life experience to apply. 

If applicants indicate they have disabilities or gaps in their CV, their details may be used anonymously for the purposes of governmental annual review.

Contact information

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting :

• Associate Professor  Christopher J. Hulatt, christopher.j.hulatt@nord.no , Phone: (+47 Norway) 9009-8564

Application process

Applicants will be evaluated by an internal expert committee. Relevant applicants will be invited for an interview, trial lecture or other presentations.

The Faculty reserve the right not to hire applicants who may be scientifically qualified but who do not meet other criteria such as language, educational background or personal characteristics

Application

Applications must be submitted electronically by 13th July 2025.

The application should include:

• Application letter with description of your motivation for applying for the position
• Complete CV (education, work and teaching experience and overview of any scientific publications)
• Copy of diploma for both bachelor and master education and relevant certificates
• Copy of the applicant’s master’s thesis as a PDF file
• Project description of maximum 2 pages where you explain the idea for the PhD project, theoretical anchoring and methodological approach
• The project outline should include a progress plan A plan for how the fellowship period is intended to be used
• Name and contact information of 2-3 references (name, your relation to the person, email and phone number)
• Other activity that is considered relevant for the position, and wishes to be taken into account in the assessment

All documents must be uploaded as attachments to the electronic application form.

It is the applicant's responsibility to submit the complete documentation within the deadline.

After the application period has expired a list of applicants will be published. Note that, in special cases, the identity of particular applicants to a position may be made public even when that applicant has requested that their application be processed confidentially. Applicants requesting an exemption from publication of their identity must explain their reasons for doing so in their application. In this case, advance notice will be given in the event of a decision to make any information about the applicant public.

Refnr. 30237314