About the position

Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD position in soil science.

The PhD candidate will be connected to the project “VIRTUE - A Virtuous Cycle of Phytoremediation, Pyrolysis and Biochar Applications towards Safe PFAS Levels in Soil, Feed and Food” (funded by the Research Council of Norway).

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals”, are among the most persistent pollutants of our time. Found in soil, water, animals, and humans, these substances pose a serious environmental and health challenge. In Norwegian sewage sludge, concentrations have been measured up to 4,000 times above the soil toxicity threshold.

The project goal is to develop a circular, nature-based method for removing PFAS from soil, water, and food systems. We combine three innovative steps:

Phytoremediation: Plants absorb soluble PFAS from contaminated soil.
Pyrolysis: The harvested biomass is burnt without oxygen in a controlled process that destroys PFAS compounds.
Biochar application: The resulting clean biochar is returned to the soil to bind remaining PFAS so strongly that it cannot be taken up in plants and animals.

The project connects soil science, food safety, and public health to deliver a scalable solution for one of the world’s most urgent pollution problems. A Viewpoint paper on the project idea can be found here: A Virtuous Cycle of Phytoremediation, Pyrolysis, and Biochar Applications toward Safe PFAS Levels in Soil, Feed, and Food.

The successful candidate will mainly focus on 1) mapping of PFAS in agricultural and (peri)-urban soils, 2) phytoremediation with local plants and grass, 3) pyrolysis of PFAS-containing biomass, and 4) biochar as feed amendment in animal husbandry. The candidate can select where to place the main emphasis of the work and may also explore life-cycle analysis, human exposure, or cost-benefit modelling.

You will work with NIBIO, NGI, and NMBU, alongside 19 industrial and municipal partners. Fieldwork is based in Norway, with lab/greenhouse tests at NMBU, NIBIO, and Mære agricultural college. Pyrolysis will be conducted using equipment of Norwegian industrial/college partners (VOW ASA, Mære, Lindum, and OBIO).

The applicant is made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.

Main tasks

Two or three elements out of the following:

Analyze the extent of PFAS contamination in Norwegian soils using cutting-edge analytics.
Optimize plant and grass species for phytoremediation through field and greenhouse experiments.
Refine pyrolysis conditions to destroy PFAS in biomass and create effective biochar sorbents.
Investigate biochar as a soil and feed additive to reduce PFAS uptake in crops, meat, and milk.

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

Competence

The applicant must document:

a strong and relevant academic background from previous studies, corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, with 120 ECTS credits at master's degree level. (Read about the ECTS credit system (europa.eu))
a master's thesis/ individual written assignment of at least 20 ECTS credits included in the degree.
an average grade corresponding to grade B or above in the ECTS grading system.
proficiency in both written and oral English.

All applicants are advised to read the section Before applying | NMBU | NMBU, with the NMBU PhD Regulations, the relevant MINA PhD programme description and requirements for documentation of English proficiency.

The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.

Required Academic qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant scientific field, such as soil science, environmental science/chemistry, ecology, or agronomy.
Strong academic record in statistics and data analysis.

The following experiences and skills will be advantageous:

Knowledge of biogeochemical processes and/or organic contamination.
Experience with field experiments and chemical analysis of soil and/or contaminants in the laboratory.
Experience with PFAS and/or biochar.
Knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language.
Have strong skills in written English and experience with academic writing.

You need to:

Be solution-oriented and pragmatic yet thorough
Possess the ability for independent work displaying initiative and careful thought
Have an analytical and academic approach to research questions
Have good collaborative/social and communication skills
Have a credible interest in doing field work

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in position code 1017 PhD Fellow, (NOK 550800). This is a temporary position with a duration of 3 years. Seniority promotion in the position.

Admission to a PhD program is a prerequisite for appointment to the PhD scholarship position.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars, and in accordance with the Civil Servant Act, the Security Act, and the Export Control Act.

For further information, please contact Prof. Gerard Cornelissen, researcher at MINA, NMBU as well as NIBIO. E-mail: gerard.cornelissen@nibio.no; phone +47 97724503.

or Associate Professor Erlend Sørmo, MINA, NMBU. E-mail: erlend.sormo@nmbu.no; phone +47 95248151.

Information for PhD applicants and Information to applicants

Application

Send application electronically via the link "Apply for this job" at the top of this page. 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: 26.04.2026

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

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

Documents that cannot be sent electronically are sent in triplicate by ordinary mail marked still.nr. 26/03126 to NMBU, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 26.04.2026.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

Motivation letter
CV
Certified copies of relevant academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with Forskrift for graden philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) ved Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet - Lovdata
Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

About The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management

The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) works with nature and the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, biological and geological processes.

MINA’s employees undertake teaching, research and dissemination within the fields of geology, hydrology and limnology, soil science, environmental chemistry, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism.

Our vision is to be a key actor in knowledge production and dissemination, and our goal is to deliver research of high, international quality, and varied and excellent teaching. The faculty’s employees are significant participants within their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The faculty is dominated by a vital research culture and high levels of scientific production.

The faculty has about 200 employees, 90 PhD students and 650 students.

Read more about MINA here.

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