Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Evolutionary and Comparative Genomics

About the position

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow available at the CEES - Centre for Eco-logical and Evolutionary Synthesis (Department of Biosciences)

Starting date no later than 01/06/2026, or as soon as possible.

The appointment is a fulltime position and is for a period of three years (10% of which is devoted to required duties, usually in the form of teaching activities). A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent up-on the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

Postdoctoral fellows who are appointed for a period of four years are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency in the course of their fellowship period within the duty component of 25 %.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.
 

Project description/Job description/Development plan

Some of the most diverse lineages on our planet (e.g. Darwin's Finches and Hawaiian Silverswords), are found in oceanic archipelagos. Paradoxically, species in these regions often have small population sizes, frequently experience bottlenecks and founder events, and are prone to inbreeding—all factors typically detrimental to genetic diversity. How, then, can these remotely located lineages, subject to such genetic constraints, maintain enough diversity to radiate and evolve? This project aims to explore this fascinating paradox.

This Postdoc project will incorporate ecology, genomics, and evolutionary biology to investigate the evolution of genetic variation on three lineages within the Asteraceae family in the Galápagos: Scalesia, Lecocarpus, and Darwiniotham-nus. There may be opportunities for fieldwork in the Galápagos, and research visits abroad (Australia, Canada, Ecuador) as part of this research project.

The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop their own research di-rection within the broader framework of the project and alongside international collaborators. 

This project study will integrate a variety of molecular and bioinformatic approaches, benefiting from a large herbarium collection. We will focus on

• The impact of structural variants in local adaptation;
• Pangenome approaches to detect variation in gene content across individuals;

The position provides an exciting opportunity to join a friendly, diverse and very active research group with a focus on close mentorship, skills and career development. We conduct regular lab meetings, group discussions and provide hands-on training for all group members. The group is situated with the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES) which is a vibrant interdisciplinary research cluster with an active and welcoming research culture. There will be possibilities for supervision of PhD and MSc students.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in biology, bioinformatics, genomics, ecology, evolutionary biology, or alike. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defense are eligible for appointment. 
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with whole genome data and computational biology or bioinformatics (genome assembly and annotation, pangenome graphs, population genomics) using Nanopore, PacBio and/or Illumina data
• Strong interest in biodiversity genomics

Personal skills

We are seeking a candidate who is ambitious, motivated, goal-oriented, and collaborative.

We offer

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Attractive welfare schemes. and a generous pension agreement 
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral development programmes 
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities. 
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 579 700  to 657 300, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

Application

Your application should include:

• A well-justified cover letter including a statement of interest, briefly summarizing your scientific work and interests, and a personal assessment focusing on how you fit the description of the person we seek.
• Documentation of English proficiency, if applicable
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity) 
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records 
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee (PDFs should be attached in the application)
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
• [Optional, but beneficial] A 1-2 page research proposal outlining research questions, and an experimental design focusing on structural variants, pangenomes and Galápagos plants.
• [Optional, but beneficial] A previously submitted grant application (e.g. MSCA or any other grant) by the candidate, so the committee assesses interests and merits    

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. 

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months (thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years).

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian).

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.