UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Fakultet for biovitenskap, fiskeri og økonomi -
Inst. for arktisk og marin biologi
PhD position in Plant Ecology at the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology
Application deadline: 12.October 2014
Applications shall be marked: 2014/3732
The Faculty of Biosciences, Fishery and
Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway,
has a PhD position vacant in Plant ecology for applicants
who wish to obtain the degree of Philosophiae
Doctor (PhD). The position is attached to the
Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) and the
research group of Northern Populations and Ecosystems.
The appointment is for a period of three years from 1.March 2015.
The PhD position is for a fixed term, with the
objective of completion of research training to
the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD
programme is a prerequisite for employment, and
the programme period starts on commencement of
the position. The PhD Candidate shall participate
in the facultys organized research training, and
the PhD project shall be completed during the
period of employment. Information about the
application process for admission to the PhD
programme and regulations for the degree of
Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) are available at the following
address Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics
The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and
Economics (BFE) consists of Department of Arctic
and Marine Biology, Norwegian College of Fishery
Science (NFH) and School of Business and
Economics. The main task of BFE is to conduct
teaching and research dissemination at a high national and
international level within all relevant fields.
Prioritized research areas are aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems, climate, life in the arctic, marine
bioprospecting, fish health, seafood products,
business and macroeconomics, resources and
environment, markets and management of marine
resources. The interdisciplinary profile of the
faculty provides good opportunity to develop
research projects involving several research groups at the
faculty according to its strategy. Faculty of
Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics
The Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB)
includes 8 research groups. Research and teaching
at AMB has a broad span, from molecular
mechanisms at cellular/subcellular levels via
studies of adaptations at the organismal level,
to ecological interactions in aquatic and terrestrial
environments. The staff counts 50 permanent
scientists, 23 technicians, 7 administrative
positions and 60 temporary employees (researchers, postdocs,
PhD research fellows, technicians). Department of Arctic and Marine Biology
For further information, please contact Professor
Elisabeth Cooper, [email protected] phone
+47 776 45224 or Associate professor Lennart
Nilsen, [email protected], phone +47 776 46314.
The position is financed by The Norwegian
Research Council, within the project SnoEco,
Effects of snow depth and snow melt timing on arctic plant
ecology The project will investigate the effect
of changes in snow depth in winter and snow melt
timing in spring on plant productivity and
reproduction in the High-Arctic. A manipulative
field experiment will be carried out in
Adventdalen, Svalbard to simulate winter climatic change, and
responses at the soil and plant level will be
measured, and implications for various trophic levels will be drawn.
The applicants should prepare a PhD project
description (3-5 pages) including aims, methods,
timeframe and expected outcome. Contact Elisabeth
Cooper/Lennart Nilsen for background information and more details.
Qualifications required The candidate should hold
a Masters degree in Plant Ecology or Biology
with plant ecological specialism (or equivalent),
and have experience with field observations and
experiments. Working knowledge of statistical
methods and a proven ability for scientific writing are
required. The successful applicant should have
the ability to carry out field work in adverse
weather conditions, and be independent as well
contributing to team work. It is advantageous to
have experience from arctic ecosystems, an
insight into nutrient cycling and trophic level interactions,
and an interest in learning new lab techniques.
Applicant must have a good command of English, both written and verbal.
Requirements for English language - recording Ph.D. program:
Foreign applicants must provide documentation
that they have the required proficiency in
English, i.e. English language skills that is equal to
Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification. This can be documented by:
Certified English tests:
University of Cambridge exams: Certificate in
Advanced English or Certificate of Proficiency in English
TOEFL-test with a score above 580 points, data
based test 213 points or internet based test 85 points.
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IELTS-test scores above 6.5 points
Providing documentation that the Masters degree
was completed with English as language of instruction and have written their
Masters thesis in English.
Other exceptions that are in accordance with
NOKUTs guidelines for language requirement The
GSU-list including that applicants
from the EU/ EEA which can document that they
have had English as their first foreign language
in primary/secondary school for at
least 7 years.
Admission to a PhD program is a prerequisite for
employment in a PhD position; cf. Section 6 of
the Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae
Doctor (PhD) at UiT The Arctic University of
Norway. The plan for the PhD program must be
approved and the contract signed no later than six week,
after the starting date. In connection with this,
the person who is appointed can receive a period
of up to two month in which to submit a draft of their
project description/reworked project description
and a proposal of courses for the instruction
component. In the event that the PhD contract is not
completed within the stipulated deadline, the
employer may annul the contract; cf. Section
1-3(8) of the Regulations relating to conditions of
employment for positions of Postdoctoral Fellows,
PhD Candidate, Research Assistant.
Working conditions
The nominal length of the PhD program is three
years and the normal period of employment is
three years. Shorter periods of employment may be
approved if the PhD Candidate has already
implemented parts of the PhD program or when the
appointment is based on previous appointments in
teaching positions (PhD candidate, Research
Assistant or the equivalent), such that the total
time of the PhD program is three years.
Remuneration for the position of PhD Candidate is
in accordance with State salary scale code 1017.
A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the
Norwegian Public Sector Pension Fund will be deducted.
Assessment
The applicants will be assessed by an expert
committee. During this assessment process,
emphasis will be attached to the applicants potential for
research as shown by:
Masters thesis or equivalent
any other academic works, and
project description
In addition, consideration may be given to work
experience or other activities of significance
for the implementation of the PhD studies, and to any
teaching qualifications. This includes teaching
education, teaching experience, from
popularization and experience/education from other types of
dissemination. Information and material to be
considered during the assessment must be submitted by the stipulated deadline.
The applicants who are assessed as the best
qualified will called to an interview. The
interview shall among other things aim to clarify the applicants
personal suitability for the position.
All documentation must be certified and
translated into English or a Scandinavian language.
The application - submitted electronically in
www.jobbnorge.no and must include:
Letter of application
CV (containing a complete overview of education,
supervised professional training and professional work)
diploma and transcript from your Bachelors degree or equivalent
diploma and transcript from your Masters degree or equivalent
diploma supplement for completed degrees
project description
documentation of English language proficiency
reference letter and contact information
List of works and description of these
The list of works shall contain the following information:
author(s), the works title
for articles: the journals name and volume, the
first and last page of the article, year of publication
for publications: publisher, printer, year of publication, number of pages
Works- The applicant have to attach the published
or unpublished work he/she want the Committee to
take into consideration during the assessment
process
Applicants who invites for interview should bring
original certificates and diplomas.
Applicants shall also refer to the Supplementary
regulations for appointment to postdoktor
(Postdoctoral Research Rellow), stipendiat (PhD) and
vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant)
positions at UiT The Arctic University of Norway
and to the Regulations concerning terms and conditions
of employment for posts of postdoktor
(Postdoctoral Research Fellow), stipendiat (PhD),
vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant) and
spesialistkandidat (Resident).
Questions concerning the organisation of the
working environment, such as the physical state
of the place of employment, health service, possibility
for flexible working hours, part time, etc. may
be directed to the telephone reference in this announcement.
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UiT The Arctic University of Norway has HR policy
objectives that emphasize diversity, and
therefore encourages qualified applicants to apply
regardless of their age, gender, functional
ability and national or ethnic background.
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is an IW
(Inclusive Workplace) enterprise, and will
therefore emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the
working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.
Personal data given in an application or CV will
be processed in accordance with the Act relating
to the processing of personal data (the Personal Data
Act). In accordance with Section 25 subsection 2
of the Freedom of Information Act, the applicant
may request not to be registered on the public list of
applicants. However, the University may
nevertheless decide that the name of the
applicant will be made public. The applicant will receive advance
notification in the event of such publication.
In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian
and the English version of this description, the
Norwegian version takes precedence.
Jobbnorge ID: 105362, Deadline: 10/12/2014
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