Postdoctoral Fellow in Metabolomics

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At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

     

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About the position

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions. We have a 3-year position in the Sugar Mama project on early prevention of childhood obesity via maternal exercise. The overall aim of the project is to discover bioactive components that are induced by exercise during pregnancy and after childbirth.

The postdoctoral fellow will focus on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analyses of blood and breast milk samples and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses of short-chain fatty acids in faecal samples from clinical trials in our research group (the Before the Beginning and ExMilk projects). 

The position is available at the Exercise, Cardiometabolic Health and Reproduction (EXCAR) research group. Your immediate leader is Senior Researcher Trine Moholdt.

Duties of the position

The main responsibility will be to undertake the analyses described above.

The position will also involve the following tasks:

• Carry out good-quality research within the framework described above
• Interpret the data obtained by NMR and MS analyses, in conjunction with the other data we have in the Before the Beginning and ExMilk project.
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination.
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign academic institutions.

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree, or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in a relevant field of natural sciences, such as organic chemistry, molecular medicine, biotechnology, biology, or related topics. If you can document that the PhD thesis has been submitted or will be submitted soon, your application can be assessed even if you have not yet defended your dissertation. Documentation of the obtained doctoral degree must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Documented experience with practical wet lab work
• Excellent written and oral English skill 

As a result of the new Act relating to universities and university colleges with associated regulations of 01/08/2024, NTNU has, during a transitional period (for decisions on employment in recruitment positions before 1 August 2025), chosen to use the terms of employment in the old regulations of 31 January 2006 no. 102 on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, research fellow, scientific assistant and specialist candidate. 

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience in metabolomics analyses
• Experience in biological interpretation of metabolomics results
• Experience with hands-on chromatography (GC/HPLC)
• Experience with interpretation of NMR and/or MS spectra.
• Experience working with faecal samples and/or biofluids.
• Training in molecular biology

Personal characteristics

• Ability to work independently and with scientific, experimental, or technological creativity.
• Motivated and excellent team player with a positive attitude and high ambitions on behalf of yourself and the group.
• Curious, with ambitions of acquiring new knowledge and skills.
• Ability to adjust approaches to overcome setbacks or solve challenges.

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer 

• Exciting tasks in a strong international academic environment
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• 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, constructiveand 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.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

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

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 594 500 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years. The position needs to start before 01.09.2025.

The position is funded by NTNU Health and Life Sciences.

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

About the application 

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The application must include: 

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-,Master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• CV and certificates
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position 
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 10 items)
• Name and contact information of three 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. Description of the documentation required can 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 works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in 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 list of applicants, 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 Senior Researcher Trine Moholdt phone: +47 970 98 594, email: trine.moholdt@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-consultant Helene Berri, email: helene.b.berri@ntnu.no.

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 be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. 

Please note that the person hired will work with critical infrastructure and areas affected by controls on the export of strategic goods, services and technology. Candidates who do not meet the requirements for the necessary security clearance, access clearance and authorization as described in the National Security Act, the Export Control Act and the Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions (the Sanctions Act) cannot be considered (e.g. candidates from, among others, Russia, Iran, North Korea, China (to be adjusted).

NB: Current countries are listed as examples so that the list is not complete (as a result of any changes in the world situation, other countries may be added at short notice).

If you find this position interesting, and in accordance with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 01.03.2025

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

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.