There is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow in fish immunology at the Department of Biological sciences. The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years with the possibility of a 4th year with career-promoting other work (e.g. teaching duties at the Department). The position is funded by the University of Bergen and is subject to the externally financed project “Developing mRNA vaccines to fight viral diseases in Atlantic salmon” funded by the Research Council in Norway.
About the project/work tasks:
Viral diseases present as great a challenge to fish as to humans – and it is difficult to make efficient vaccines protecting against viral diseases whether for humans or fish. Farmed fish are at particular risk for viral diseases due to intensive rearing practices and high stocking densities. More effective vaccines than those currently available can contribute to reduced mortality among the fish and thus contribute to several of the UN’s sustainability goals, including goal no. 2 which is to eradicate hunger. In this PhD project, we will develop an mRNA vaccine for salmon. We will tailor the vaccine for salmon, optimize the individual components of the vaccine and investigate how the salmon’s immune system responds after vaccination. Various methods such as in vitro transcription, cell and transfection work, flow cytometry, immunostaining, cloning, isolation of leukocytes and in vitro infection, vaccine trials and measurement of immune responses by ELISA and qPCR will be used in this study.
This project is based on work in Haugland’s research group where we have established protocols for making mRNA tailored for salmon. We have performed the first vaccine trials with an mRNA vaccine. The candidate will work in a busy and engaging research environment with postdocs other PhDs, as well as master and bachelor students.
Qualifications and personal qualities:
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent education in molecular biology or fish health or must have submitted his/her master’s thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
- Experience from or competence in fish immunology is a requirement.
- Passed Animal science course (Felasea C) is a requirement
- Experience from or competence with molecular methodology is a requirement
- Experience from or competence with mRNA technology is an advantage
- Experience from or competence with flow cytometry and immunolabelling is an advantage
- Experience from or competence with cell lines and transfection is an advantage
- Experience from or competence with vaccination of salmon is an advantage
- Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative skills.
- Applicants must be proficient in both written and oral English
- Applicants must have a good command of the Norwegian language. The project is closely connected to the fishing industry, and all meetings, conferences, as well as other communication, will be conducted in Norwegian.
Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates.
Special requirements for the position
The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.
About the PhD position (applies to university PhD positions):
About the PhD Research Fellow
The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year, consisting of 25 % career-promoting work (e.g. teaching responsibilities at the department) distributed over the employment period. The 4th year is contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the head of department upon appointment.
The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a qualifying post (e.g. research fellow, research assistant).
About the research training
As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is 2 months after you start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that you satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen.
We can offer:
- a good and professionally stimulating working environment
- salary as PhD research fellow (code 1017) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 540 500 (equivalent to pay grade 55). Further increases in salary are made according to length of service in the position.
- enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- good welfare benefits
Your application must include:
- a brief account of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying for the position
- the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis
- CV
- transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- relevant certificates/references
- approved documentation of proficiency in English (if required, cf. English language requirements for PhD admission)
- a list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list)
- any publications in your nameThe application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.
General information:
For further details about the position, please contact Professor Gyri Teien Haugland, Department of biological sciences, UiB, e-post: Gyri.Haugland@uib.no, phone +4755584445
For HR related questions contact adviser Therese Myhre Odfjell, therese.odfjell@uib.no
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.
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.
Further information about the employment process can be found here.
Life as a PhD candidate at UiB
Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nrtp6VxMeJ4%3Fautoplay%3D0%26modestbranding%3D1%26playsinline%3D0%26rel%3D0%26start%3D0%26enablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.jobbnorge.no%26widgetid%3D2
About UiB
The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.
There are seven departments and several centres at Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments.