PhD - Investigating R-plasmid-mediated transfer of antimicrobial resistance in major fish pathogens

About the position

Nord University, campus Bodø, has a three-year PhD position tenable at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture. The position is available starting 2nd January 2027. The hired PhD candidate is expected to complete the doctoral work within three years, which should include research training (PhD courses), carrying out laboratory experiments, data analysis, and writing three scientific articles together with summarising all the work into a PhD thesis.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest health threats facing humanity, farm and pet animals including aqua-cultured organisms. Some bacterial fish pathogens have been shown to carry plasmids having AMR genes that render disease control a major challenge in aquaculture. The aim of this PhD study is to investigate the role of plasmid mediated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the spread of AMR genes in major bacterial fish pathogens. 

The PhD candidate will work in a cross-multidisciplinary team combining Microbiology and Bioinformatics skills to gain in-depth understanding of plasmid mediated conjugative transfer of AMR genes. Using archived bacterial isolates, the candidate will characterize AMR genes found in different plasmids followed by conjugative experiments to determine their potential transfer to bacterial pathogens of farmed fish. The candidate will also carry out bioinformatics analysis to elucidate the underlying HGT mechanisms of the AMR genes. The PhD candidate is expected to work with scientists at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), and other Institutions in Norway. 

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Qualification requirements

• You must have a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology or Biotechnology. The grades for the MSc degree must be ‘B’ or better, both for the programme in total and the master’s thesis (ECTS scale from A-E)
• Your education (Bachelor’s and MSc degree) must be equivalent to the five years Norwegian degree program with 120 credits at the MSc degree level 
• Strong background in bacteriology with documented knowledge of antimicrobial resistance is preferred
• Skills in plasmid identification and purification will be an added advantage
• Verifiable good analytical and bioinformatics skills, knowledge about research methods, and R programming are relevant skills to the proposed project
• Proficiency in written and oral English is essential and knowledge of a Scandinavian language is beneficial for the position 
• You must fulfill the admission requirements for PhD positions at the Faculty of Biosciences (FBA) and must participate in the PhD training programs stipulated in the regulations of Nord University. See admission requirements:  PhD in Biosciences 
• Personal suitability and motivation are emphasized in the application. 
• Employment is conditional upon admission to the faculty’s doctoral program. The final project outline must be approved within three months of appointment. Termination may be considered if admission to the doctoral program is not obtained within this deadline, or in cases of failure to submit annual progress reports and/or serious deficiencies in progress or duty work. For admission requirements and regulations, see our web page

 

Project proposal

The applicant is required to prepare a preliminary project proposal for the given research topic explaining the core problem, objectives, methodological approach and expected outcomes. The project proposal must not exceed three pages. The project proposal will be included in the application assessment.

 

Personal qualities

It is highly desirable that the applicant has a high research motivation for the topic, good collaboration and communication skills, ability to work independently and great work capacity. Given that as many people as possible should have the opportunity to obtain high education at PhD level, applicants who already have a PhD are not eligible to apply.

Qualified applicants will be ranked according to the following criteria:

• Themes and perspectives from the applicant's master's degree will be given weight in the assessment of candidates
• The quality of the preliminary project proposal expanding the project idea given in the job advertisement along with a clear plan for implementation
• The cover letter of the application mentioning the motivation for doctoral work and opportunities for implementation
• Relevant experience from previous research work will count positively
• Personal suitability for the position

We offer

The annual salary for doctoral researchers (code 1017) is NOK 565 000,-.

• Advantages within the Government Pension Fund for loans, insurance and pension
• Creative and collegial working environment
• A workplace with progressive development
• Flexible working hours  
• Active university sports team

General information

The state workforce should reflect the diversity of the population. Nord University therefore encourages qualified candidates with disabilities, gaps in their CV, an immigrant background, and otherwise diverse life experiences to apply.

Information regarding disabilities or gaps in a CV may be used for anonymized statistical purposes.

The person appointed must comply with the applicable laws, agreements, and directives. The responsibilities and duties associated with the position may change with future reorganization at Nord University.

Nord University is subject to the Security Act, which imposes requirements for the handling of protected and sensitive information. To enhance the security of recruitment processes, Nord may conduct background checks of relevant candidates.  Security suitability will be considered.

Please note that, in this context, questions may be asked that are necessary to assess the candidate’s security suitability. This may include questions regarding any affiliation with countries that, in the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST)’s annual national threat assessment, are defined as key threat actors.
In such cases, Nord University will be cautious about appointing individuals who have ties to countries classified as key threat actors in PST’s threat assessment.

Contact information

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting:

Professor Hetron M. Munang'andu:

• Tel : +47 48 66 22 98   
• Email : hetron.m.munangandu@nord.no 

Application process

Applicants will be evaluated by an internal expert committee. Relevant applicants will be invited for an interview, trial lecture or other presentations. For more information, see Nord`s website.

The Faculty reserve the right not to hire applicants who may be scientifically qualified but who do not meet other criteria such as language, educational background or personal characteristics.

Application

Applications must be submitted electronically by 30.06.2026The application should include:

• Application letter with description of your motivation for applying for the position
• Complete CV (education, work and teaching experience and overview of any scientific publications)
• Copy of diploma for both bachelor and master education and relevant certificates
• Applicants with education from countries outside Scandinavia with diplomas issued in a language other than English, must enclose witnessed diplomas in both the original language and authorized English translations
• Applicants from outside the EU/EEA must submit HK-dir approval of their master´s degree
• Copy of the applicant’s master’s thesis
• Project description where you explain the idea for the PhD project, theoretical anchoring and methodological approach. The project outline should include a progress plan outlining how the fellowship period is intended to be used
• Name and contact information of 1-3 references (name, your relation to the person, email and phone number)
• Other activity that is considered relevant for the position, and wishes to be taken into account in the assessment

All documents must be uploaded as PDF attachments to the electronic application form.It is the applicant's responsibility to submit the complete documentation within the deadline.

After the application period has expired a list of applicants will be published. Note that, in special cases, the identity of particular applicants to a positi.on may be made public even when that applicant has requested that their application be processed confidentially. Applicants requesting an exemption from publication of their identity must explain their reasons for doing so in their application. In this case, advance notice will be given in the event of a decision to make any information about the applicant public.

Refnr: 30255197