Postdoctoral Researcher in Spatial Ecological Modeling and Interdisciplinary Biodiversity Science

About the position

Applicants are invited for a 4-year position as a postdoctoral researcher in spatial ecological modelling in the interdisciplinary Convergence Environment BioM, based at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo (UiO).

The position includes compulsory career-enhancing work, such as project  management and coordination, teaching, curation of collections, and outreach.

Employment is scheduled to start on August 15th, 2026.

The BioM Convergence Environment

BioM - Methods for knowledge-based biodiversity monitoring and management under uncertainty - is an interdisciplinary Convergence Environment under UiO:Life Science, based at the Natural History Museum, and in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics, the Department of Biosciences and the Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas. From Jan 1st  2026, UiO:Life Science is part of the Centre for Global Sustainability.

To respond effectively to the accelerating biodiversity crisis, society urgently needs decision-making systems that are scientifically robust, transparent about uncertainty, and responsive to ecological, ethical, and policy contexts. BioM will unite ecology, statistics, and philosophy to improve the modelling and governance of biodiversity under uncertainty. The project develops process-explicit, hierarchical models that capture key ecological dynamics, integrate diverse and incomplete data sources, and account for uncertainty in ways that are relevant to real-world management. At the same time, it addresses how models are used in practice clarifying the assumptions they carry, how they influence decisions, and how they can be improved to better align with societal goals. This includes philosophical analysis of how evidence is constructed, how ethical trade-offs are handled, and how scientific advice is legitimized in policy.

BioM is committed to creating a high-quality, supportive environment for the training and development of PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows, including individually tailored career development plans with formal supervision and project-based learning tied to deliverables. Secondments, consortium meetings, and workshops will provide hands-on experience in collaborative modelling, scientific synthesis, and science-policy engagement central to enabling young researchers to navigate the complexity of transdisciplinary research and build strong academic identities.  

More about the position

The postdoctoral fellow will be one of four recruitment positions in BioM filled simultaneously (parallel hires: 2 PhD fellows, in population ecology and statistics, and a postdoctoral fellow in philosophy). This position will be affiliated with the Geo-Ecology Research Group (GEco) at the Natural History Museum (NHM), led by Professor Olav Skarpaas. The  postdoctoral fellow will carry out research on spatial processes, environmental drivers and adaptive management, addressing the following aims (WP3 in BioM): 1) develop spatial models for forest ecosystems that integrate ecological processes, including tree demography, with large-scale heterogenous data on species and environment, 2) assess major drivers of spatial dynamics and quantify uncertainty in spatial predictions, and 3) support adaptive management under uncertainty through interpretable biodiversity metrics and devices.

The postdoc will collaborate closely with the project team (PIs, PhDs and postdoc), project partners and stakeholders on demographic analysis (WP2), modelling methods (WP4), and perspectives on nature governance (WP5). The postdoc is expected to co-organize project workshops and seminars, and will lead a synthesis paper, co-authored by recruitment positions and project partners, identifying processes and uncertainties to target to further improve model support for–and learning from–management (aim 3).

During the 4-year postdoctoral period, the successful candidate shall allocate 25% of normal working  hours (i.e. a total of 1 year’s work) to career-enhancing work. This career-promoting work, which is funded by the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, will include training in transferable skills related to research in a museum environment, such as project management and organization, as well as participation in field work, teaching, outreach and curation of collections.

The postdoc will be based at the Natural History Museum most of the time, with shorter secondments to other departments at the University of Oslo involved in the project and includes opportunities for international exchange.

Qualification requirements

We are seeking a skilled early-career researcher with a strong interest in spatial ecological modelling for interdisciplinary biodiversity science. Candidates will be evaluated with particular emphasis on ability to model relevant ecological processes and address uncertainties, as well as relevant interdisciplinary orientation and coordination skills. 

Required qualifications:
•    PhD in ecology, biogeography or related field
•    Documented skills and experience in statistical modelling
•    Skills and motivation for organizing and running project activities such as workshops and joint papers
•    Desire for interdisciplinary collaboration and career development 
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Desired qualifications:
•    Strong background in modelling, including spatial and temporal/dynamic modelling, demographic modelling, Bayesian hierarchical models and/or modelling with multiple data streams
•    Experience with data science and biodiversity informatics, in particular handling of scientific collection data
•    Solid knowledge of R, python and/or similar programming languages
•    Experience with teaching scientific methods
•    Experience with interdisciplinary science
•    Interaction with nature management and outreach
•    Knowledge of Northern European biodiversity and ecosystems, forests in particular
•    Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish or Danish) - a prerequisite for communication with Norwegian stakeholders and institutions

Personal Skills

The successful candidate should also have:
•    Good communicational and relational skills
•    Ability and willingness to collaborate with other members of the project team and communicate with other staff, as well as with Norwegian and international stakeholders and institutions
•    Interest in contributing to a well-functioning, inclusive and productive research environment 

We need different perspectives in our work 

UiO is an open and internationally oriented, comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.

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

We hope you will apply for the position with us. 

We offer

•    A dynamic and friendly working environment
•    Localization close to the city center of Oslo, a vibrant and internationally oriented city, and to nature parks and mountains
•    Funding of the project’s research-related activities, including international exchange
•    Opportunities for presentation of results from the project at international conferences, etc.
•    Opportunities for co-supervision of PhD and/or MSc students
•    Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
•    Attractive welfare benefits
•    Salary NOK 595 000 – 676 900 per annum  depending on qualifications in a position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
 

How to apply

The application must include:
•    An application letter
•    A CV that summarizes and documents education, previous and current positions, research profile and merits, pedagogical qualifications, and other qualifying activities; and that includes a list of all scientific publications, highlighting the most relevant ones and the applicant’s contribution to these
•    A one-page statement explaining the candidate’s motivation for the position and how the position fits into the applicant’s career plan
•    Contact information for two reference persons (name, affiliation, e-mail address, and relation to candidate – no reference letters should be submitted)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “apply for this job”). All documents should be submitted in English. Interviews will be part of the appointment process.

Formal regulations

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.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.

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. 

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