PhD Research Fellow in Soil Invertebrate Ecotoxicology

About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in Soil Invertebrate Ecotoxicology available at the Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo.

The fellowship period is three years.

A fourth year maybe considered and it will involve 25 percent of other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

Starting date no later than October 1, 2026.

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

Place of work is the Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of Biosciences at Blindern, Oslo.

Job description

With a rapidly changing climate combined with increased use of pesticides, it is imperative to understand why toxicity increases with temperature. To understand the observed responses in life history traits (fecundity, age at first reproduction, growth, survival), we need to address underlying changes in energy cost and allocation, and how this varies with species and population adaptation. Metabolic rate is essentially a measure of the energetic cost of living, its function being to provide the ATP that fuels all processes within the organism. Thus, metabolic efficiency likely has a significant influence on organism fitness. 

We will quantify metabolic rate as a proxy for the energetic cost of living and test how metabolic efficiency influences vulnerability to pesticide exposure. To link molecular responses to whole-organism effects, we will combine targeted physiological measurements with multi-omics (proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics) and phenotypic end-points. 

As our model system, we study springtails (Collembola), key terrestrial ectothermic invertebrates of the soil community.

This PhD project is complementary to the novel research project SoilStress, which is funded by the Research Council of Norway (project number 358314). In SoilStress, we address mechanisms underlying cumulative effects, recovery, and ecophysiological tip-ping points from multiple stressor disturbances (climate change and pollution). We will study complex questions of WHY key biological responses to multiple stressors (climatic stress and agricultural used pesticides) differ between populations, micro-climate, and climatic regions; WHY tolerance to pesticide exposure decreases with temperature stress; and IF the tipping point to disturbance by temperature and pesticides, and recovery from disturbance removal, depends on the populations phenotypic plasticity and/or genetic adaptation. 

We have cultured springtail species and populations from several Temperate and Arctic sites, which will form the backbone of the PhD project and ensure feasibility. As part of the RCN-SoilStress, we also plan both Temperate and Arctic field work, where the PhD can be included for understanding the immediate responses in fresh populations. Therefore, the PhD candidate is expected to work closely with the postdoc, researcher, and collaborators within the SoilStress project.

What skills are important in this role?

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.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in (eco)toxicology, ecology, or physiology
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Documented experience in laboratory organismal experiments
• Documented proficiency in statistical understanding and analysis to evaluate sublethal effects
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English or a Scandinavian language

Candidates without a master’s degree have until June 30, 2026 to complete the final exam.

Desired qualifications:

• Basic knowledge about bioinformatics
• Experience working with invertebrates, preferably the soil invertebrate springtails
• Driver license Level B

Language requirement:

• Good oral and written communication skills in English
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:
  https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8

Grade requirements:
The norm is as follows:

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

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 have to undergo a check versus national export, 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.

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work precise in a structured manner and swiftly adapts to new tasks
• Good data management skills and structured workflow
• Good communication and collaboration skills
• Positive attitude and the ability to handle hectic periods

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

• 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 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.

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests, including a pointwise explanation of how the applicant fits the required and desired selection criteria detailed above
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records (see below)
• A short research proposal (1-2 pages) addressing the topic of the call
• Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job". Foreign applicants should attach an official explanation of their University's grading system.

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 can't, 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.