Associate Professor in molecular/cellular animal physiology

This is NTNU

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus on professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

. Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0

About the job

The Department of Biology at NTNU has an opening for an Associate Professor position in the area of animal physiology. Scandinavia has a strong tradition in comparative research, using both model and non-model organisms to investigate key questions in animal physiology. The position to be filled will be at the Department of Biology and we aim to hire a new colleague with an excellent research and teaching track record who has the ability to acquire third-party funding and sustain the high teaching quality at the Department.

The hired academic should fit into the scientific and research environment of the Department of Biology, by applying molecular, genetic/genomic and/or biochemical techniques to animal research. A strong emphasis will be placed on the ability of the new colleague to collaborate with the other research groups at the Department. With several new hires in recent years, the Department of Biology is an ambitious, inclusive and interdisciplinary place with excellent infrastructure, creating the unique opportunity to build an excellent research team and develop a creative teaching program. 

We are aiming to hire an excellent academic with a strong research track record addressing any animal group, organ system, or research question within the fields of molecular physiology, comparative physiology, developmental physiology, evolutionary physiology, or animal ecophysiology. The position is in principle open for all research topics and animal models within the field of animal physiology, with the exception of clinical and aquaculture-related research topics. Teaching duties for this position will include Animal Physiology and Cellular and Molecular biology courses at both Bachelor and Master level. More information about the Department can be found at http://www.ntnu.edu/biology.

The position is permanent and reports to the Head of Department.

Duties of the position

You will be expected to:

• Develop your own independent research program supported by external funding. 
• Initiate and/or expand interdisciplinary research projects.
• Build an active research group, including MSc and PhD candidates.
• Strengthen and contribute to the department’s research and teaching activities in animal physiology and cell and molecular biology
• Teach in accordance with the relevant curriculum, and assist in developing teaching programs, including postgraduate courses. 
• Participate in science communication, strategic development and management of the department, the faculty, and NTNU.

Required qualifications 

You must have the qualifications required for the position of Associate Professor in the field of animal physiology, as outlined in the Regulations for the universities and Colleges Act

• A PhD, or competence at an equivalent level documented by scientific work of the same scope and quality within the field of animal physiology or a comparable, related field.
• A minimum of five years of relevant research experience in addition to PhD is required.
• Documented track record in animal physiology as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Potential for building a successful research group.
• Teaching and supervision experience in higher education.

The Department focuses on developing integrated research groups where researchers within related fields can establish collaborative research and teaching units across the Department of Biology and NTNU. It is preferable that the new faculty member has a research profile that is complementary to that of the current staff (i.e. not identical but with potential for collaboration), particularly within animal physiology but also to the rest of the Department of Biology.

You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the Norwegian national Regulations. If this cannot be documented, you will be required to complete an approved course in university pedagogy within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses. 

New employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level three of the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU.  

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with and ability for collaboration across research fields.
• Experience with and the ability to lead their own research program and group, supervise BSc and MSc students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral fellows.
• Experience with and the ability to initiate projects and attract funding.
• Research independence, including publications without PhD supervisors.
• Pedagogical training and/or experience in student-centered and active learning methods.

Personal qualities

We are looking for a new colleague who:

• Enjoys leading their own research program and group, teaching and supervising BSc and MSc students, PhD candidates and postdoc fellows. 
• Promotes an inclusive, and supportive work environment.
• Is ambitious and open to tackling new scientific challenges.

Candidates will be evaluated based on documented qualifications. We are looking for qualified candidates regardless of their gender, gender identity, functional ability, or cultural background. We especially encourage excellent, upcoming academics from underrepresented groups to apply.

We offer 

• exciting and challenging tasks in a strong international academic environment 
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues 
• favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 
• employee benefits 
• a generous sabbatical program

The new Associate Professor will as a start-up package be offered a PhD position and a start-up grant. The Department of Biology has excellent animal housing facilities, suitable for performing experiments on terrestrial and aquatic animals. Furthermore, research groups at the Department run several experimental and non-experimental long-term studies of wild animal populations which are suitable for physiological research. Projects that can use these existing facilities are encouraged but not mandatory.

Application Process

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

. Video: https://youtu.be/bwfNPj8HxHw

Salary and conditions

The position as Associate Professor (code 1011) comes with a starting package for new research staff and is remunerated according to the Norwegian State salary scale. depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.   

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis. 

About the application

Your application and supporting documentation must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

Your application must include:

• A complete CV including information about previous funding (if available), interdisciplinary research projects (if applicable), professional network/collaborators (if applicable), a complete publication list, and an overview of teaching, administrative and outreach activities.
• The six most relevant publications – published or unpublished – that have relevance to the evaluation of qualifications; describe your contribution to the publication and its importance for you and for the field.
• Research plan (max 5 pages).
• A teaching portfolio, in which your teaching competence is compiled and presented systematically (see guidelines for applicants: Documentation of teaching qualifications in applications and appointments to academic positions at NTNU).
• Details of projects for which you have served as project manager, including information on financing, duration, and scope.
• Other documents which you would like to present (e.g. certified copies of relevant certificates or diplomas).

You are encouraged to use the NTNUs competence matrix as a guide for  documentation of your competence.

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. Our assessment of the pedagogical skills will be based on documented pedagogical material, forms of presentation in your academic works, teaching experience, PhD, and Masters supervision, and any other relevant pedagogical background. Both quality and scope will be taken into consideration, and an open scientific practice will be recognized.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA and The obligations in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA) on responsible assessment of research and recognition of a wider range of academic contributions to science and society. This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects. Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight.

Your application will be considered by an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial teaching session.

General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given the expert evaluation of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and is stipulated to rules of confidentiality.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Associate Professor Lena van Giesen for information about the scientific aspects of the position, e-mail: lena.van.giesen@ntnu.no, tlf: +47 46283143, or Head of the Department (from August 1st.) David Weissbrodt for more general questions, david.weissbrodt@ntnu.no (please refer to the position in the title). 

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Ranveig Nerhoel, e-mail ranveig.nerhoel@ntnu.no 

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: September 1st, 2025