UiB – Knowledge that shapes society
Through robust and close interaction with the world around us – globally, nationally and locally – we shall be instrumental in building a society based on knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Do you want to take part in shaping the future?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=oyaThmIq6Kg%3Fautoplay%3D0%26modestbranding%3D1%26playsinline%3D0%26rel%3D0%26start%3D0%26enablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.jobbnorge.no%26widgetid%3D1
PhD position
There is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow within the Ecological and Environmental Change Research Group at the Department of Biological Sciences. The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years with the possibility of a 4th year with compulsory other work (e.g. teaching duties at the Department). The position is associated with Trond Mohn Stiftelse and UiB funded project called Past, Present, and Future of Alpine Biomes Worldwide (PPF-Alpine).
Tentative starting date is January 1 st 2023.
Interviews will be held in the beginning of October.
Please note that PPF-Alpine has a second PhD position currently open for application: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/228950/phd-research-fellow-in-alpine-macroecology-and-global-change-biogeography-related-to-biodiversity
About the project/work tasks
Alpine biomes are present on all continents and at all latitudes worldwide. They comprise biodiversity hotpots, fulfil a crucial role in hydrological and climate regulation, and provide vital support for the livelihoods and wellbeing of billions of people. Importantly, alpine biomes and their diversity are characterized by a dynamic past. Indeed, during the Quaternary glacial-interglacial cycles, they underwent multiple expansion-contraction pulses, which resulted in recurrent episodes of connection and fragmentation that likely shaped present-day biodiversity and mountain hotspot patterns. The main aim of PPF-Alpine is to decipher the role of Quaternary climate dynamics in driving present-day alpine biodiversity based on the notion that their dynamic past may hold key insights for their future resilience. The cross-disciplinary team of PPF-Alpine will do so by integrating expertise, tools, and data from glaciology, glacial geomorphology, paleoecology, biogeography, macroecology, and landscape modelling.
The candidate will develop innovative models of the spatial distribution of global alpine biomes during the late Quaternary, and estimate landscape connectivity and isolation dynamics through time for mountains worldwide. A key task is to find ways to reconstruct the dynamic elevational fluctuations of alpine biomes as a result of climate change by integrating information from paleoecological and paleoclimatic data, and paleoglacier reconstructions. The development of an R package to model and automate spatio-temporal connectivity dynamics of systems with insular character may become part of the position, depending on the candidate’s interests and skills. The candidate’s outcomes are aimed to provide key insights into the alpine biome’s resilience to future climate change effects in mountains and the identification of priority regions for conservation. Working with PPF-Alpine’s team members on different science outreach products to divulgate the overall project’s outcomes will be part of the candidate’s tasks.
Qualifications and personal qualities:
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent education in biology, ecology, geography, or similar discipline. Master students can apply provided they complete their final master exam before 15.10.2022. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
- Applicants must be proficient in both written and oral English
- Strong interest in biogeography, landscape modelling and global change biology in mountains is a requirement
- Applicants must have strong programming skills, while experience working with geographical information systems (GIS) should be highlighted
- Applicants must have good communicative skills, enjoy teamwork, and be open for outreach activities and presentations over the course of the project.
One or more of the following qualifications will be an advantage:
- Motivation and some experience in conducting integrative analyses that combine data and approaches from different disciplines, such as paleoecology, biogeography and movement ecology
- Willingness to combine field-based and modelling approaches to reconstruct past mountain ecosystems
- Experience from relevant research projects related to landscape connectivity models and/or paleoecological reconstructions of ecosystems.
- Background knowledge of Quaternary paleoclimate
- Applicants must enjoy working in a cross-disciplinary team and specifically at the interface between alpine ecology, paleoecology, and spatial analysis. Team and project meetings will often consist of researchers with different expertise and backgrounds, alongside expert-focused meetings, and such environment must appeal to you.
Please note that applicants rarely fulfil all qualifications considered an advantage so please apply as we value personal and relational qualities, and highly motivated candidates.
About the PhD Research Fellow
The fellowships will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year, consisting of 25 % compulsory work (e.g. teaching responsibilities at the department) distributed over the employment period. The 4th year is contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the head of department upon appointment. The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a qualifying post (e.g. research fellow, research assistant).
About the research training
As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is 2 months after you start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that you satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen.
The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a qualifying post (e.g. research fellow, research assistant).
We can offer:
- a positive, inclusive, cross-disciplinary and professionally stimulating working environment with great opportunities for collaboration within a network of high-profile researchers as well as scientific exchange during workshops, conferences, and retreats
- salary at pay grade 54 (Code 1017/Pay range 20, alternative 10) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 501 200. Further promotions are made according to length of service in the position.
- enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- affiliation to the Department of Biological Sciences and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, and related expert research groups with additional strong working links to the Department of Earth Science.
- opportunity to stay for a duration of 3 months at a project partner institute of choice.
- opportunity to do fieldwork visits for model validations and partner institute visits.
- opportunity to bring in and develop own ideas.
- good welfare benefits
Your application must include:
- a brief account of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying for the position. (Why do you want to do a PhD? Why this one? Why in this group?)
- the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis
- CV
- transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not yet completed your master’s degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your master’s degree. Your master’s degree must be documented with transcripts and/or diploma, alternatively a confirmation from your institution on completed degree and your grade, by 15.10.2022
- relevant certificates/references
- approved documentation of proficiency in English (if required, cf. English language requirements for PhD admission)
- a list of any works of a scientific nature
- any publications in your name
The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at JobbNorge.
General information:
For any questions or informal queries, please contact Dr. Suzette Flantua, Dept. of Biological Sciences, suzette.flantua@uib.no.
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.
Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.
For further information about the recruitment process, click here.
Life as a PhD candidate at UiB
Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nrtp6VxMeJ4%3Fautoplay%3D0%26modestbranding%3D1%26playsinline%3D0%26rel%3D0%26start%3D0%26enablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.jobbnorge.no%26widgetid%3D2
About UiB
The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.
There are seven departments and several centres at Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments.