PhD Candidate in Seaweed Biology and Land-Based Cultivation

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU); Trondheim; On-site; NOK 551,000 - 633,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentor programme

Public pension SPK

Free Norwegian language training

Job summary

NTNU's Department of Biology in Trondheim invites applications for a PhD Candidate position within the SFI Seaweed project, focusing on Palmaria palmata reproduction and land-based cultivation in IMTA systems. The appointment is for 3 years and based at NTNU with SINTEF Ocean facilities, under Professor Kjell Inge Reitan.

The successful candidate will complete a PhD, publish results, participate in international conferences, and contribute to the green transition through marine algae research in

Qualifications

• Master's degree in marine biology, marine biotechnology, aquaculture or related field with 120 credits at master's level.
• Strong background in cultivation of marine macroalgae; marine microalgae experience valued.
• Excellent English; public language test if from a non-English-speaking country may be required.

Responsibilities

• Complete the doctoral education and obtain a PhD.
• Carry out high-quality research within the project scope.
• Publish academic articles and disseminate science to a broader audience.
• Participate in the Marine Sciences division and international activities.

Job description

About The Position And Project

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and pursue exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will work towards achieving your doctorate whilst gaining valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, both in and outside academia.

Program Details

At the Department of Biology, NTNU, there is a vacant PhD position in the field of Marine Science, within the research team of Prof. Kjell Inge Reitan. This is an educational position that will give promising research recruits the opportunity for professional development. The PhD position has a duration of 3 years. The position is funded by NTNU in collaboration with the research project "SFI Seaweed - Centre of gravity for industrial seaweed research and innovation" funded by the Research Council of Norway.

The PhD position is linked to the "SFI Seaweed - Centre of gravity for industrial seaweed research and innovation" project financed by Research Council of Norway. SFI Seaweed is a strategic long-term project with aim to solve the existing and future bottlenecks across the seaweed value chain in Norway and Europe. Future seaweed cultivation is based on understanding and control of environmental factors, technology developments of land-based cultivation for further growth in the sea. This SFI brings together an interdisciplinary team from research, industry and public body partners.

The PhD position will focus on the reproduction and early life-stage development of the red alga Palmaria palmata, alongside the optimization of vegetative cultivation in land-based, fish farm effluent-based IMTA systems.

The position is based in Trondheim, with experimental work carried out at NTNU and SINTEF Ocean facilities. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department of Biology, NTNU.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a PhD degree
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the Marine Sciences division at the Department of Biology, NTNU
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required Selection Criteria

• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme, see Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have a relevant Master's degree in marine biology, marine biotechnology, aquaculture, or an equivalent biological/environmental science discipline. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year university study, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Students can apply, but the Master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position, and no later than October 01, 2026
• A strong background in the cultivation of marine macroalgae is required; experience with marine microalgae will also be considered.
• You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• Excellent spoken and written English skills are required. Candidates from non-English-speaking countries outside the Nordic countries must present a public language test report. Approved tests are TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred Selection Criteria

• Candidates with experience working with Palmaria palmata are strongly encouraged to apply
• Upper knowledge (equivalent to B2 or higher level) in a Scandinavian language is an advantage, but not a prerequisite, to interact with local project partners and students. The successful candidate will be encouraged to learn Norwegian and utilize the basic Norwegian language training offered by NTNU

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

• Show curiosity and strong motivation for the subject
• Work independently and in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• Exciting and developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment at NTNU, SINTEF Ocean, and industry partners
• Exciting research in a highly interdisciplinary project contributing to the green transition
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities at NTNU and SINTEF - RI Seaweed
• https://norwegianseaweedcentre.com/
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is 3 years. It is a prerequisite that you can be present at and available to the institution on a daily basis.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in [subject area] (link to possible website)within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About The Application

The application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The Application Must Include

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV and certificates
• Copy of Master's thesis (if this is accepted by your former supervisor) else a 1 page summary. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications or other relevant research work
• The candidates from non-English-speaking countries outside the Nordic countries must present a public language test report. Approved tests are TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
• Names and contact information of three relevant 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. If your institution uses "diploma supplement" (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Kjell Inge Reitan at NTNU ([e-mail]) or Dr. David Aldridge ([e-mail]) at SINTEF Ocean.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Alexander Skomakerstuen ([e-mail]).

Application deadline: 21.09.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.

The city of Trondheim

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Biology

We work with global challenges in natural diversity, climate, the environment, health and nutrition. Our expertise in biological processes at all levels - from molecules to ecosystems - contributes to a sustainable society. The Department educate graduates for a wide range of careers in public administration, business and academia. The Department of Biology is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Questions About The Position

Kjell Inge Reitan

Professor

[e-mail]

Alexander Skomakerstuen

HR-konsulent

[e-mail]