PhD Research Fellow in Plant Evolutionary Genomics

About the position

The Natural History Museum (NHM) at the University of Oslo, is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join an exciting project exploring the evolutionary genomics of Arctic plants. This position is a part of a broader research initiative investigating how plants adapt genetically to the Arctic - one of Earth’s most challenging environments.

The project aims to uncover the genomic basis of convergent adaptation across independently evolved Arctic plant lineages, using a combination of population genomic analyses, common garden experiments, and comparative methods. More broadly, the research will contribute to our understanding of how plants adapt to contrasting climates at the genetic level - an increasingly urgent question in the face of global environmental change.

The fellowship is for a period of four years, which includes one year of compulsory duties/career-enhancing work at the museum, such as teaching, curation, or other academic-related work. These duties are intended to support the candidate’s career development and will be planned in alignment with their skills and goals, where possible. 

Learn more about career support and career-enhancing work available at NHM

The position is fully funded and based at NHM’s interdisciplinary and highly international research group Evolution, eDNA, Genomics and Ethnobotany (EDGE). Opportunities for networking across evolutionary biology, genomics, and environmental science are extensive, both within the NHM and externally.

More about the position

The PhD project will explore whether convergent Arctic traits, such as cold tolerance and flowering time, are underpinned by similar genetic mechanisms in distantly related plant species. The candidate will compare population-level genomic data from different Arctic taxa, conduct controlled common garden experiments, and analyze the molecular pathways involved in adaptation to extreme environments.
While a core project framework is in place, there is flexibility to tailor specific research questions to the candidate’s interests and background in consultation with the supervisors. This allows the successful applicant to shape the direction of their PhD within the broader thematic scope of Arctic plant adaptation.

Possible research objectives include:
•    Reconstructing the biogeographic and demographic histories of Arctic-adapted species
•    Assessing the roles of phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation via experimental trials
•    Identifying genes and pathways involved in convergent adaptation to Arctic environments

The project will involve fieldwork, greenhouse experiments, and advanced bioinformatic analyses of genomic data. The candidate will join a collaborative and interdisciplinary team with expertise in Arctic biology, genomics, and evolutionary theory, and will have the opportunity to conduct a research stay abroad during the PhD.

Duties and training:
The position is for four years, including one year (25%) of compulsory duties/career-enhancing work at the Natural History Museum. These duties are intended to  support professional development and may include:
•    Assisting with university-level teaching in botany and systematics
•    Supporting curation in the NHM herbarium
•    Co-supervising Master’s students
•    Participating in outreach and contributing to public engagement with the museum’s plant collections
•    Involvement in museum committees and academic events

Key responsibilities and task

•    Conduct independent and collaborative research on the genetic basis of plant adaptation to Arctic environments, with a focus on genomic convergence.
•    Carry out population genomic analyses, including demographic inference, selection scans, and gene-environment and gene-phenotype association studies.
•    Plan and conduct fieldwork to collect plant material across Arctic locations, and manage sample processing for sequencing and phenotyping.
•    Design and execute common garden experiments to assess phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation.
•    Analyze and interpret high-throughput sequencing data using relevant bioinformatic tools and statistical approaches.
•    Collaborate with national and international research partners.
•    Present research findings at conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
•    Contribute to teaching, supervision, and outreach activities as part of the PhD duty work.
•    Participate actively in the scientific and social environment of the EDGE research group and the Natural History Museum.

Qualification requirements

Required
Applicants must have:
•    A master’s degree (or equivalent) in evolutionary biology, genomics, bioinformatics, population genetics, plant sciences, or related fields, see admission requirements: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc3 
•    Experience with bioinformatics 
•    Familiarity with high-throughput sequencing data and genome analysis.
•    Excellent written and spoken English skills, see requirements:
https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8 

Desirable qualifications
We also value:
•    Experience in Arctic biology, plant ecology, or experimental studies.
•    Proficiency in one or more relevant programming or scripting languages (e.g., Bash, R, Python) for data processing, statistical analysis, and bioinformatics workflows. Experience working in high-performance computing environments is an advantage.
•    Field or laboratory experience in plant science.
•    Interest in convergent evolution and evolutionary theory.

Personal qualities

We are looking for a candidate who demonstrates
•    Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with team members and external partners.
•    Highly self-motivated with a strong commitment to research goals.
•    Demonstrated ability to work diligently and independently on complex tasks.
•    Resilient and adaptable when facing research challenges and changing project demands.
•    Excellent organizational and time management skills.

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.

We can offer you

•    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.
•    An inspiring academic setting at the Natural History Museum, where science, history, and public engagement intersect.
•    Access to state-of-the-art lab and computing facilities.
•    A stimulating research environment with strong support for professional and academic development.
•    A strong support system available for PhD candidates, including access to wide-ranging career support for both academic paths and jobs outside academia.
•    Possibilities for a research stay abroad with international collaborators.
•    Good welfare schemes.  
•    An attractive start-up package. NHM follows UiO´onboarding programme to ensure a smooth transition for new employees.
•    A workplace located in Oslo, a dynamic city that offers a family-friendly environment rich in opportunities for cultural and outdoor activities.
•    Support for international staff moving to Norway
•    Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow (position code 1017) in salary range NOK from 550 800 to 595 000, 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/NHM

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:

•    Cover letter detailing your motivation for applying, research interests, and how your background and skills make you a strong fit for the position.
•    CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
•    Copies of original bachelor’s and master’s degree diplomas and transcript of records
•    Lists of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee 
•    Documentation of English proficiency if applicable: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8 
•    Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to the candidate, e-mail, and telephone number)

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.

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews. 

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 cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian),  Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

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