Postdoctoral Fellow in Seaweed Biorefinery

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

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

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

     

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

About the position

Are you ready to take your research career to the next level? The Biopolymer NMR Group (https://folk.ntnu.no/aachmann/) is looking for a candidate to be hired for a least three-year postdoctoral position in the “SFI Seaweed - Centre of gravity for industrial seaweed research and innovation” that gives you the opportunity to develop a strong profile as researcher. You will also gain valuable experience that might be relevant for your further career. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and hosted by the Norwegian Biopolymer Laboratory (NOBIPOL) at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU. NOBIPOL is a multidisciplinary research group within NTNU devoted to the field Biopolymer Engineering, with focus on the science and technologies of marine polysaccharides. Based on more than 60 years of continuous research in the field, NOBIPOL possesses unmatched competence and experience in all aspects of science and technology of marine polysaccharides.

The purpose of a postdoctoral position is to build up a researcher profile that qualifies for a position as associate professor. The position may also offer additional skills that are relevant to the postdoctoral fellow's future career.

Apply for this position to become part of our research environment and take the next step in your career with us.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. 

About the project 

The postdoctoral position is part of the SFI Seaweed - Centre of gravity for industrial seaweed research and innovation, headed to SINTEF Ocean. SFI Seaweed aims to expand Norwegian seaweed farming to industrially scale production of new, sustainable, and climate-positive products. These products span four areas: food ingredients, animal feed, soil improvement, and biomaterials. The focus for the postdoctoral is to develop processing methods for seaweeds, with an emphasis on developing zero waste biorefinery for targeted end products in food and feed ingredients, as well as seaweed-based biomaterials. Additionally, the postdoctoral fellow is expected to conduct and further develop characterization of the side streams and materials generated from seaweed biorefinery processes. Collaboration with other project partners is anticipated, and the postdoctoral fellow will also engage with other seaweed-related projects at NTNU.

Duties of the position

• Carry out research of good quality
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Apply for research funding and write applications and report on progress to funding sources 
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and research stays at foreign educational institutions 
• Mentoring students, helping them with their research projects, and advising on methodology and academic writing 

Required selection criteria

• A doctoral degree within biorefinery, preferably on seaweed, recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree. 

  If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.

• Documented practical experience with pre-processing and processing of seaweed or related biomass.
• Good analytical skills
• Experience with analytical chemistry, preferable on polysaccharides. 
• Strong documented experience with biophysical techniques on characterizing polysaccharides (e.g. NMR, SEC, SEC-MALS, HPEAD-PAD, CD, MS and ITC).
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English 
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian 

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations concerning the degrees of philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Chemoenzymatic processes.
• Relevant practical experience.
• Competence with computer based analytical tools.

Personal characteristics

Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you

• Show motivated, creative and ambitious
• Strong ability to work problem-solution orientated both in teams and independently
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity 
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions 
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer 

• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment 
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which containsthe skills and knowledge you will acquire
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)
• Good and healthy work life balance

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633 400,- per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is at least 3 years, depending on whether there is a need to include courses within educational competence (including career promotion work/ teaching duties).

The candidate must start in the position no later than 01.05.2026.

The position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them. 

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application 

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above.

The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. 

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for, Master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• CV
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, you can attach a draft of the thesis. 
• Short letter of Research plan (maximum 400 words/1 page)
• Academic works - published or unpublished (up to 3 items)
• Possible recommendation letters
• Name and contact information of three referees

If all or parts of your education hasbeen taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation requiredcan be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information 

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

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Finn L. Aachmann, e-mail finn.l.aachmann@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Cecilie Skagfjord, e-mail cecilie.skagfjord@ntnu.no.

If you find this position interesting, and in accordance 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: 31.01.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech 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.