Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Algal Microbiome Engineering

Arbeidsplassen; Tromsø; On-site; NOK 500,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career opportunities for academic positions

Flexible working hours

Pension scheme

Health care under National Insurance

Job summary

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a project on programmable marine microbiomes in Tromsø. The role emphasizes synthetic biology and microbial ecology, requiring strong experimental design and analysis skills.

The successful candidate will conduct groundbreaking research into microbial interactions and contribute to scientific publications. The position includes a strong emphasis on collaboration and the potential for academic career development, along with flexible hours and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Norwegian doctoral degree or equivalent foreign degree required.
• Final-stage PhD candidates may apply with dissertation parts.
• Experience in experimental microbiology and scientific publishing.

Responsibilities

• Develop experimental approaches to study marine microbiomes.
• Cultivate and engineer bacteria and microalgae for research.
• Perform analyses to explore interactions between diatoms and microorganisms.

Skills

Experimental microbiology

Molecular biology

Scientific publishing

Synthetic biology

Microbial cultivation

Marine microbiology

Microalgae research

Bioinformatics

Programming in R or Python

Education

PhD in microbiology or related field

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Algal Microbiome Engineering

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Overview

The postdoctoral project focuses on programmable marine microbiomes and mechanistic interactions within the diatom phycosphere, with a strong emphasis on synthetic biology, microbial ecology, and molecular interactions between marine microalgae and their associated bacteria. The role involves developing experimental model systems to study metabolite exchange, community interactions, and engineered consortia in marine environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply experimental approaches to investigate mechanistic interactions between marine microalgae and bacterial communities within the diatom phycosphere.
• Cultivate and engineer marine bacteria and microalgae, construct synthetic microbial consortia, and study microbial metabolite exchange relevant to nutrient cycling and carbon fixation.
• Perform transcriptomics, genomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics analyses to explore molecular interactions between diatoms and associated microorganisms.
• Contribute actively to scientific publications, collaborative research activities, and external funding development.
• Prepare and submit a 2‑page project proposal that outlines your scientific contribution, state‑of‑the‑art assessment, and a progress plan.
• Work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary research team, demonstrating motivation, scientific creativity, organizational skills, and communication abilities.

Qualifications

• A 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. Final‑stage PhD candidates may submit dissertation parts and a supervisor statement of expected completion.
• Excellent written and oral English language skills.
• Documented experience in experimental microbiology, molecular biology, and scientific publishing in peer‑reviewed international journals.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: synthetic biology; microbial cultivation; marine microbiology or marine microbial ecology; microalgae research; molecular cloning and genetic engineering; microbial ecology; microbial co‑cultivation systems.
• Desired: experience with non‑model microorganisms or development of molecular tools for environmental microorganisms; microbial genomics, transcriptomics, or metagenomics; bioinformatics and omics data analysis; metabolomics or analytical chemistry; microbial community analysis; programming/scripting in R, Python, or similar; systems biology or computational biology.
• Knowledge of a Scandinavian language or willingness to learn Norwegian.

Benefits

• Involvement in a cutting‑edge research project.
• Career opportunities and preparation for academic positions.
• Academic environment with dedicated colleagues.
• Flexible working hours and state collective pay agreement.
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund.
• Health care under the National Insurance Scheme.

Contact

Group Leader Hans Christopher Bernstein – email: [e-mail]

Head of Department Bjørn Petter Finstad – email: [e-mail]

Inclusion and Diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway promotes equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students. Employees with different competencies, professional experiences, life experiences and perspectives are highly encouraged. Candidates with disabilities, gaps in CV, or immigrant backgrounds are encouraged to indicate this in their application; qualified applicants will receive fair consideration.

Application Process

Submit your application via Jobbnorge before the deadline. The application must include an application letter, a 2‑page project proposal, CV, diplomas and transcripts for all degrees, documentation of English proficiency, reference contact information, documentation of educational competence (if available), a description of your academic production, and any works you wish to be considered.

General Information

The appointment is a fixed‑term of 3 years, located at UiT in Tromsø. The successful candidate must be able to start within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.