Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Algal Microbiome Engineering

UiT- The Arctic University of Norway; Tromsø; On-site; NOK 650,000 - 760,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Pension scheme

Involvement in research projects

Job summary

UiT The Arctic University of Norway seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher to study marine microbiomes and synthetic biology. The successful candidate will develop experimental approaches for studying marine microalgae and associated microbial communities and will have a strong background in experimental and molecular biology.

This position offers excellent career opportunities in an inclusive academic environment with flexible hours and a competitive salary ranging from NOK 650,000 to 760,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Norwegian doctoral degree or equivalent foreign doctoral degree.
• Excellent written and oral English language skills.
• Documented experience in experimental microbiology and molecular biology.

Responsibilities

• Develop experimental approaches for studying marine microalgae.
• Engineer and construct synthetic microbial consortia.
• Conduct transcriptomics and bioinformatics analyses.

Skills

Experimental microbiology

Molecular biology

Synthetic biology

Marine microbiology

Microbial ecology

Microalgae research

Education

PhD in microbiology or related field

Tools

Bioinformatics tools

Programming in R

Programming in Python

Job description

Postdoctoral researcher in Marine Microbiomes and Synthetic Biology at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply experimental approaches for studying mechanistic interactions between marine microalgae and associated bacterial communities within the diatom phycosphere.
• Engineer marine bacteria and microalgae, construct synthetic microbial consortia, and investigate microbial metabolite exchange relevant to nutrient cycling and carbon fixation in marine ecosystems.
• Conduct transcriptomics, genomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics analyses to investigate molecular interactions between diatoms and associated microorganisms.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams, contribute actively to scientific publications, and support external funding development.
• Prepare and submit a 2‑page project proposal outlining how to design diatom phycosphere communities using engineered genetic circuits or other synthetic biology tools, including a progress plan.

Required qualifications

• Norwegian doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, synthetic biology, marine biology, microbial ecology, systems biology, chemical engineering, bioengineering, or another relevant discipline. If you are in the final stages of your PhD, you may still apply by submitting parts of your dissertation and a supervisor statement of the expected completion date.
• Excellent written and oral English language skills.
• Documented experience in experimental microbiology, molecular biology, and scientific publishing, including publication of research in peer‑reviewed international journals.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas is required:
  • Synthetic biology
  • Marine microbiology or marine microbial ecology
  • Microalgae research
  • Molecular cloning and genetic engineering
  • Microbial ecology
  • Microbial co‑cultivation systems

Desired qualifications

• Experience working with non‑model microorganisms and/or developing molecular tools for environmental microorganisms.
• Experience with one or more of the following areas is considered an advantage:
  • Microbial genomics, transcriptomics, or metagenomics
  • Bioinformatics and analysis of omics datasets
  • Metabolomics or analytical chemistry
  • Microbial community analysis
  • Programming/scripting in R, Python, or similar languages
  • Systems biology or computational biology
• Knowledge of a Scandinavian language or willingness to learn Norwegian is considered an advantage.

Benefits

• Involvement in an interesting research project
• Good career opportunities in an academic environment with dedicated colleagues
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund
• Gross annual salary ranging from NOK 650,000 to 760,000 (100% position), with a compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• Member of the National Insurance Scheme providing health care services.

Inclusion and diversity

• UiT The Arctic University of Norway promotes equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and creates an inclusive and safe working environment.
• Applicants with a disability, gap in CV, or immigrant background are encouraged to indicate this in the application. Qualified applicants from underrepresented groups will receive priority if equally qualified.

Application requirements

• Application letter
• Project proposal (max 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Diplomas and transcripts (all degrees)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• Contact information for 2–3 references
• Description of academic production, indicating most important works
• Any published or unpublished academic works to be considered during assessment
• Documentation of educational competence if available

Contact

• Email: [e-mail]