PhD Research Fellow in statistical population ecology

About the position

A 4-year position as PhD Research Fellow in statistical population ecology is available at Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo (UiO), within the Convergence Environment ’Methods for knowledge-based biodiversity monitoring and management under uncertainty’ (BioM).

Starting date: Between August 15th and October 1st 2026.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. 

Job description

The employment will lead to a PhD in statistical ecology, focussing on studying correlated life-history traits, combining different sources of information, and assessing how environmental effects and management actions affect population dynamics and viability. Available data include long term capture recapture data on fish (also including scale samples) and seabirds (also including tracking data). Other relevant data may be suggested by the applicant. Extensive fieldwork is not expected.

As part of BioM, the candidate will work in an interdisciplinary team of biologists, statisticians and philosophers, including one other PhD student (statistics) and two postdocs (spatial forest ecology and philosophy/social science). The candidate is expected to contribute toward developing wholistic adaptive management systems.

BioM is an interdisciplinary Convergence Environment under UiO:Life Science, involving collaborations between the Department of Biosciences, the Natural History Museum, the Department of Mathematics, and the Department of Philosophy. To respond effectively to the accelerating decline in biodiversity, 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. Since Jan 1 2026, UiO:Life Science is part of the Centre for Global Sustainability.

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. 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.

Primary supervisors of the PhD project will be Torbjørn Ergon and Øystein Langangen at the Department of Biosciences, and Geir Storvik at the Department of Mathematics. The candidate will be based at Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences.

The 4-year fellowship includes 25 % compulsory career-developing work, which will include organizing activities within BioM and UiO:Life science, and may include teaching/tutoring, as well as joint supervision of Master’s students.

Qualifications

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Qualification requirements:

• Master’s degree or equivalent foreign degree corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian education system. Applicants without their final diploma have until June 30th 2026 to complete the final exam.
• Strong background in statistical modelling, equivalent to at least one year of university courses
• A strong and genuine interest in ecological research
• A genuine interest in interdisciplinary work
• Strong academic credentials – see formal grade requirements below
• Good oral and written communication skills in English (see https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8)

Desired qualifications:

Although not being strict requirements, the following qualification points will also be carefully evaluated when ranking the candidates.  

• Strong qualifications in ecology, demography and life-history theory
• Strong background in data management and computation
• Strong background in computer programming
• Strong background in relevant mathematical modelling
• Experience with interdisciplinary work 
• A keen interest in natural history, nature conservation, science and society

Grade requirements:
The norm for candidates with a Master’s degree from the Norwegian education system, or equivalent, is as follows:

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better 
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better 
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see:
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

All candidates and projects will be checked against national export controls, sanctions, and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

Evaluation of applicants will be based on a comprehensive assessment of the above qualification points, academic transcripts, and thesis work (and any other publications). The best qualified candidates will be invited for (online) interviews. References will be contacted after the interviews.

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Honesty and high standards for scientific integrity
• Creative thinking and an openminded attitude
• Thorough and careful attitude towards handling data, analysis and results
• A drive to take ownership of your own research project and education
• Ability to handle critique and suggestions in a constructive manner
• A positive attitude and drive for learning skills, methods and theory
• Ability to work in a structured manner, facilitating teamwork
• Ability to prioritize and complete work tasks

We can offer you

• A pleasant and stimulating work environment
• Good welfare schemes
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities
• Career development programmes
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
• Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund 

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 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 (information in 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, an applicant is considered to have a disability if they identify as having a condition that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (information in Norwegian only).

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.

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter, including statements of motivation, background and interests
• A point-by-point list of qualifications for the position, with references to documentation; please address all bullet points under ‘Qualifications’ above
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• Academic transcripts and copies of the original diplomas (see below)
• Your Master’s thesis or equivalent academic thesis (if not available, please forward when it is) 
• Documentation of English proficiency if applicable (see requirements above)
• Documentation of other relevant qualifications
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Applications that do not include all the above items may not be evaluated.

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job".

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

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 (in 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.