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Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KHQjc4ndas&t=41sAbout the position
The Department of Biology (IBI) at NV faculty has a vacant 3-year PhD position for a marine macroalgae research in the Marine Sciences section The position is part of a NTNU well known niche nationally using enabling technology for research and education of algal (phytoplankton, ice algae, macroalgae) dynamics to provide knowledge needed for better ecosystem function and management. This position will be shared with researchers at Department of Biotechnology and Food Science (IBT) focusing on biochemistry (also at NV faculty at NTNU). In addition, the PhD will also collaborate with SINTEF Industry (Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine) focusing on industrial applications.
The overarching aim of the Marine Sciences section is focused on sustainable management, production, and utilization of biological marine resources. The announced position will be important in utilizing the momentum in educating the next NTNU generation of marine scientists using enabling technologies to understand, monitor and improve ecosystem health including reduction of human induced stress in the environment. Our departments do work with industry to find solutions and enhance the understanding of ecosystem function to utilize resources in a benign manner to provide “good ecology = good economy”.
The PhD candidate will be part of the EU Horizon project “Restoring ocean and waters in waterfront cities and their ports”. The specific objectives are to 1) protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, 2) prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters and 3) make a blue economy sustainable, carbon neutral and circular.
In Trondheim, our major environmental challenge is sewage and industry wastewater discharge into the Trondheimsfjord, inducing multiple stressors for marine production and biodiversity. Cascade effects, including replacements of kelp species with filamentous algae (“turf”), loss of fish and poor water quality.
Remedies approach: Restore declining population and habitats, including cultivation of kelp to remove excessive nutrients, heavy metals and provide biomass for products in the new blue economy. Our goal is to contribute to reduced pollution, better restoration, maintenance of biodiversity and improved water quality.
The main activities for the PhD will be to contribute to ensure habitat functions in macroalgae along coastal areas near Trondheim (restoration) which also include cultivation of seaweed at sites with different degrees of pollution level (e.g. nutrient loads and heavy metals). Identification, mapping and monitoring macroalgal growth zones and key environmental variables such as light, temperature, salinity, nutrient loads (e.g. nitrate, phosphate, silicate) by using different robotic platforms (using the operation pyramid comprising mini satellites, aerial drones, autonomous surface and underwater vehicles and moorings) in collaboration with Applied Underwater Robotic laboratory (NTNU) and Fjordlab (part of Ocean Space Centre in Trondheim of (NTNU & SINTEF) will be carried out.
The seaweed elemental composition will be analyzed for using cultivated seaweed as bioindicators (uptake of nutrients and pollutants), and biorefinery, including product development, for selected applications will be part of the project.
The hired candidate will be able to join a dynamic, cross-disciplinary team that is working on the development of new techniques to provide ecological, physiological and biochemical information needed for enhanced environmental monitoring and corresponding industrial applications.
The primary workplace will be at the Trondheim Biological Station, but changes in the place of work may occur during the project period.
Your immediate leader will be the head of the department of Biology.
Duties of the position
- Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
- Provide time-series of Key Environmental Variables (KEV) in Trondheimsfjord and corresponding growth dynamics of selected macroalgal species comprising brown, red and green macroalgae
- Model species for natural habitats and growth cultures will be the kelp species Saccharina latissima and Alaria esculenta and the brown wreck Fucus vesiculosus
- Combine information on elemental composition and ecophysiology (eg. photosynthetic parameters and pigment composition) in model species to use the algae as bioindicators of water quality and habitat stress level
- Chemical characterisation of seaweed biomass (cultivated, from restoration areas and from wild populations)
- Development of sequential biorefinery on cultivated biomass (several end-products for increased valorisation)
- Separation of heavy metal rich fractions from biomass
- Communicate with stakeholders along the entire cultivation seaweed value chain and stay updated on national/international regulations (monitoring, restoration)
Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.
Required selection criteria
- You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme, see Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
- You must have a relevant Master's degree in marine biology, biochemistry or biotechnology for ecological or biochemical studies of marine micro- and/or macroalgae. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis
- You must have hands on experience with methods for in in situ and laboratory methods/observations to measure phytoplankton/macroalgal biomass and health status with focus on one/several topics related to biodiversity, biochemical composition, primary production and function)
- You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works
- Excellent written and oral English skills
The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.
Preferred selection criteria
- A MSc with experience from cross disciplinary work using enabling technology for marine ecology
- Experience in algal systematics, pigment and sugar chemistry, statistics methods, user/making codes in R or Python
- Experience using of underwater mobile platforms (e.g. pilot experience using Remotely Operated Vehicles) is beneficial
- Experience with seaweed hatcheries and cultivation
- Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian equivalent level A2
Personal characteristics
To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are/have:
- Hands on and highly motivated to use your PhD project as a contribution for a better marine nature management locally and internationally (core of Remedies project)
- Demonstrated teamwork skills with ability to work closely as part of collegial teams, and to contribute to a good and inclusive working environment
- Excellent communication skills
Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.
We offer
Evaluate and remove/add what is relevant for the position.
- Exciting and challenging tasks in a strong international academic environment
- Opportunity to join the NTNU Observation Pyramid team that includes several departments and faculties, working locally, nationally and internationally
- An exciting job with an important mission in society
- Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
- Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
- Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
- Working capital that can be used to implement the project
- Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
- Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
- Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)
As a PhD Candidate 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.
Candidates will be evaluated based on documented qualifications. We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of their gender identity, ability status, or cultural, ethnic, or religious background. We especially encourage upcoming early career academics and candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. To develop an inclusive and vibrant departmental culture, the Department of Biology maintains a standing committee focused on diversity, equality, and inclusivity.
Salary and conditions
In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.
The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work.
For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Biology within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.
As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and 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
Your application and supporting documentation must be in English. Please address all required and preferred selection criteria in your application.
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:
- A cover letter explaining your interest and fit for this position max 1 page
- CV, diplomas, and certificates
- Copy of Master's thesis, else an abstract of 1000 words. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
- Academic works that you consider to be most relevant and which you wish to be considered during assessment of your application (up to 5 items)
- A list of your previous works, with details on where they have been published
- Names and contact information for three relevant referees
If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also 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 work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.
When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.
NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to
The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and
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 applicant list, 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 think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.
If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Geir Johnsen, Professor in marine ecology at IBI geir.johnsen@ntnu.no, or Finn L. Aachman, Professor in biopolymer interaction at IBT finn.l.aachmann@ntnu.no. If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Alexander Nilsen Skomakerstuen (HR at IBI, NTNU) alexander.skomakerstuen@ntnu.no.
Application deadline: 25.11.2026
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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.