PhD Candidate in bryophyte evolutionary biology

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About the position

The NTNU University Museum is seeking a highly qualified, ambitious, and motivated PhD candidate for a position in bryophyte evolutionary biology.

Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) were the first land plants, establishing in the early Ordovicium. Despite seeming morphological stasis over geological time, they have had a tremendous evolutionary success, today found in the widest range of habitats, from polar regions to tropical rainforests. Bryophytes constitute major components of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide.

Nevertheless, the taxonomy of many groups remain poorly known, and despite substantial progress over the last decades, the evolutionary histories and dynamics of major groups remain unclear or unknown. Besides cryptic speciation, a fundamental theoretical challenge is how to interpret genetic and genomic data in organisms with virtually unknown evolutionary rates, migration rates and generation times.

In this project, the main focus will be on understanding rates and patterns of molecular evolution and speciation in selected species. Key questions that will be addressed include different approaches to estimations of generation times, and estimation of rates of speciation. An overall aim is to better understand factors contributing to survival and adaptability of a major plant group in changing environments over substantial periods of time.

The successful candidate will be employed at the NTNU University Museum’s Department of Natural History. The NTNU University Museum is the natural and cultural history museum of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. The Department of Natural History conducts research in systematics and taxonomy, as well as phylogeography, population genetics, and ecology with an emphasis on conservation biology.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

The project is within the field of bryophyte systematics and evolutionary biology. The team of supervisors will consist of Prof. Hans K. Stenøien (main supervisor), as well as Prof. Kristian Hassel and Senior researcher Magni Olsen-Kyrkjeeide (co-supervisors).

Duties of the position

The work of the PhD candidate will likely consist of both field work, herbarium work, green house experimental work, DNA lab and bioinformatics in an international interdisciplinary team. For a position as a PhD candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. Publication of the project results in peer-reviewed journals is expected. 

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the bryology research group 
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a Master's degree in in biology or equivalent with specialization in biosystematics (systematics and taxonomy), population genetics, phylogeography, evolutionary biology, or closely related fields. 
• Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 20.06.2025.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the Doctoral Programme at the Faculty of Natural Sciences 
• Very good written and oral English language skills
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PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience at the master’s level with analyses of genetic/genomic data to answer evolutionary questions
• Modern statistical techniques using relevant scripting languages (R, python etc)
• Experience with field work 

Personal characteristics

The PhD candidate should be self-motivated, enthusiastic, goal and solution oriented. Good cooperative skills and a desire to work collaboratively with people having diverse research interests are essential.

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: 

• Work independently
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity 
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions 
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

• A strong international research environment highly relevant for career development in both basic and applied research and public sector
• Exciting and stimulating tasks
• Scientific and technical support provided by large research groups with long-term experience in bryology, systematics, evolutionary genetics, and ecology
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• As a public employee, you have favourable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts. 

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, constructive and 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.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK  536 200,-  per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work in addition to 1 year of career promotion work, altogether 4 years.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Biology within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

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

For the necessary academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance withthe principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control(legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technologyand services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates The application must include: 

• A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) stating specifically why you believe you meet the selection criteria
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV, certified copies of certificates and diplomas
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Publications or other relevant research work if you have such 
• Names and contact information of two relevant 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, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also 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 work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and 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 applicant list, 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 think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Hans K. Stenøien (email: stenoien@ntnu.no) or Professor Kristian Hassel (kristian.hassel@ntnu.no). 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Senior Adviser HR Aaste Line Strand, email: aaste.l.strand@ntnu.no 

Application deadline: 11.05.2025

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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, and a population of a little more than 200,000 inhabitants. 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.