PhD Research Fellow in Reproductive Biotechnology

About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in Reproductive Biotechnology is available at the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Inland Norway.  The candidate will be enrolled in INN’s PhD program in applied ecology and biotechnology, with workplace at Campus Hamar.

Starting date is 01.08.2026 and runs for three years. 

About the project

The position is associated with a four-year Collaborative Project to Meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges financed by FFL/JA and The Research Council of Norway, entitled “Advancing Livestock Reproduction for Sustainable Breeding Through Integrative Functional Analysis of Gametes”. 

The project will combine advanced reproductive biotechnologies and cutting-edge methods to address critical issues in sperm and oocyte biology, fertilization, and healthy embryogenesis. Using an interdisciplinary approach including multi-parameter analysis of sperm function and multi-omics, the project will identify key sperm properties essential for achieving high fertility and healthy embryo progress. The project is in close collaboration with the breeding companies Geno SA, Tyr SA and Norsvin SA, and University of Oslo. 

For more information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Anne Hege Alm-Kristiansen, anne.almkristiansen@inn.no

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a master’s degree in biotechnology, cell biology, molecular biology or closely related discipline, with an average weighted mark for the Master’s degree programme of at least a B. Applicants with a Master's degree from another subject area, or with lower average mark, may be admitted after special review.

Qualification requirements:

• Interest in fertility and reproductive biology
• Practical laboratory experience in analysis of sperm (flow cytometry, Computer Assisted Sperm Analyzer)
• Practical experience with molecular biology techniques (i.e DNA isolation, RNA isolation, RT-qPCR)
• Experience with R 
• Good communication skills in English 

Desired qualifications:

• Experience from AI breeding, semen preservation or reproductive biology research
• Highly motivated for bioinformatic analysis of omics data
• Statistical analysis 
• Ability to work independently as well as in multidisciplinary teams

A further preference will be given to candidates with good teamwork characteristics and communication skills and documented scientific publications or other writing experience.

How to apply

Your application must include:

• Application letter including a brief summary of the candidate’s motivation and how he/she meets the position requirements
• CV detailing your relevant educational background and experience 
• Copies of academic diplomas and transcripts
• A list of publications
• The names and contact information for two referees

Attachments must be uploaded as separate files. If the attachments exceed 30 MB, they must be compressed prior to upload. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all attachments are uploaded. Documents submitted after expiry of the deadline will not be considered in the evaluation of your application.

We offer

• An exciting and challenging position at a developing institution
• Position is paid and placed in position code 1017, PhD candidate in the Government Salary Scale
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension, with among other things, good pension and insurance schemes.

For more information about INN University as an employer, please see here.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0FVnszhpJY

General information

INN believes that there is strength in inclusion and diversity. We desire employees with different competencies, professional combinations, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to an even better way of solving problems. We will facilitate for employees who need assitance to realise their goals. Relevant adaptations can be, for example, technical aids, adapting furniture or adjusting routines, work tasks and working hours.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in the CV or immigrant background, we shall call at least one applicant in each of these categories for an interview. In order to be considered as an applicant in these groups, the applicants must meet certain requirements. You can read more on this here: https://arbeidsgiver.difi.no/positivsaerbehandling.

We encourage applicants to tick in Jobbnorge if they have a disability, a gap in their CV or immigrant background. The ticks in the jobseeker portal form the basis for anonymised statistics that all state-owned enterprises report in their annual reports

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.