Researcher within molecular biology and protein biochemistry

About the position

The Protein Engineering and Proteomics (PEP) group at the Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a researcher position (2.7 years, starting August 2025) available within a project that will investigate the roles of ulcer-causing bacteria in farmed Atlantic salmon. The project is funded by the Norwegian Research Council and is a collaboration between KBM (Prof. Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad of the PEP-group and Assoc. Prof. Morten Kjos in the Molecular Microbiology group) and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Prof. Øystein Evensen), also at NMBU. 

The aim of the project is to obtain a deeper understanding of how bacterial ulcer infections develop and to develop strategies, including novel vaccines, that can promote ulcer healing or even prevent ulcers from forming in the first place. The role of the KBM researcher is to determine how the main ulcer causing bacteria (e.g. Moritella viscosa and Tenacibaculum sp.) colonize the skin and ulcer and withstand the host immune system. The main focus will be on the study of virulence factors such as secreted proteins and exopolysaccharides. Production of pure virulence factors will enable design of novel vaccines that may prevent bacterial attachment and colonization. This will be investigated by immunization of Atlantic salmon followed by challenge experiments.

Main tasks

• Clone, express and purify proteins.
• Cultivate bacteria and extract and purify exopolysaccharides
• Basic protein characterization including analytical methods like HPLC and colorimetric assays.
• Genetic engineering of bacteria using CRISPR-Cas9 or similar methods for creating deletion variants (in close collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Kjos).

Contribute to Atlantic salmon challenge experiments (will be done in close collaboration with Prof. Evensen).

Competence

Required academic qualifications and experience

• A PhD degree in a field relevant to the main tasks.
• Training and research experience in protein biochemistry (this includes basic gene technology, protein expression and purification, basic enzymology).
• Training and research experience in genetic engineering of bacteria using CRISPR-Cas9 or similar methods.
• Basic training and research experience in relevant analytical methods, such as HPLC.

One or more of the following additional experiences and skills are desirable

• Knowledge of and experience with bacterial pathogens
• Knowledge of and experience within infectious fish diseases
• Knowledge of and experience within immunology, preferably fish immunology
• Experience with extraction, purification and characterization of polysaccharides
• Basics skills in proteomics

The following is applicable for both positions

Personal qualities:

The ideal candidates will combine (and be able to document) the following personal qualities:

• Hard-working, ambitious and accurate.
• Genuinely interested in scientific research and its applications.
• Good social and collaborative skills documented, e.g., by successful international collaboration. 
• Good communicative skills, orally and written, in English (candidates will be required to give a research presentation in English as part of the recruitment process).

We expect that the candidates will publish research findings in high-impact peer reviewed scientific journals. Applicants must be proficient both written and spoken, in English, and, preferably, also in a Scandinavian language.

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1109 Researcher, NOK 604900 - 966.300 on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment depending on qualifications. The position follows ordinary meriting regulations.

For further information, please contact Prof. Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad

E-mail: gustav.vaaje-kolstad@nmbu.no.

General Information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 03.03.2025

Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.

Up to ten publications selected by the applicant as the most relevant must be attached to the application. 

If it is difficult to identify the contribution of the applicant in multiple-author publications, a short explanation about the applicant’s part of the work is suggested. 

Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 03.03.2025. Please quote reference number 25/00703.

Please note that the report from the expert committee will be sent to all applicants.

About The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science

The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) has about 180 employees, 80 PhD students and 500 BSc and MSc students. The faculty has 11 research groups within chemistry and biochemistry, microbiology and microbial gene technology, bioinformatics and data analysis, food science and nutrition. The Faculty has a state-of-the-art infrastructure for research and education: A biorefinery lab, proteomics platform, fermentation lab, a murine facility, platform for studies of microbial regulation of GHG release and a small-scale pilot plant for processing of food, incl. a microbrewery. Additionally, KBM has a strong competence in enzymology, fermentation and biorefining. KBM aims at a strong research position and collaborates in networks and research projects both nationally and internationally. 
 

For further information please follow this link: https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/kbm