Post Doc - SpruceBeetle

"A climate for spruce? New forest management to mitigate bark beetle risks under climate change” is a 5-year research project funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The project aims at developing robust scientific projections for long-term bark beetle damage in Norway by analyzing the main drivers promoting build-up of beetle populations, and then evaluate the effect of short- and long-term risk-reducing management measures. 

We will determine how forest structure (spatial structure, age and species composition) and biotic/abiotic stressors influence bark beetle damage and estimate the effect of different short- and long-term management measures using simulation models.

We are now looking for a post-doctoral fellow to join the project. The position will focus on modelling the development of forest structure and bark beetle risk given different management and climate scenarios

The position has a duration of 3 years and is located in Ås, 30 km south of Oslo

The post-doctoral fellow will be part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers spanning from the chemical ecology of spruce-insect-microbe interactions to molecular biology, forest production and climate modelling. The post-doctoral fellow will focus on improving and developing existing forest simulation models and implement different management and climate scenarios to access their effect on bark beetle risk. 

• Relevant PhD (e.g. forest modelling, biometrics, forest disturbance modelling)
• Experience with forest modelling
• Good programming skills
• Ability to publish high-quality scientific papers with the field of the position
• Experience with temperate of boral forest in Europe or North America
• A strong command of oral and written English

• Experience with disturbance modelling
• Experience with R
• Knowledge of boreal forest management and silviculture
• Skills in Norwegian or other Scandinavian language

• Good interpersonal and communication skills 
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Ability to work under pressure
• Dedication and enthusiasm to work as part of an ambitious research team 
• Ability to collaborate with both internal and external experts with diverse academic backgrounds and skill sets 

• Opportunity to work on an important social mission with focus on sustainability and future-oriented projects.
• Challenging, exciting and varied tasks in interdisciplinary teams
• A flexible everyday life with the opportunity to influence one's own work tasks
• A skilled professional environment with good colleagues
• A generous personnel policy with welfare schemes that focus on employees' different stages of life.

The position is remunerated according to the Norwegian State Salary Scale as Postdoctor code 1352, salary grade 60 -67  (NOK 543.500 - 615.800 per year), commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which includes a good occupational pension scheme, occupational injury and group life insurance, and low-interest home loans.

Contact Dr. Rasmus Astrup, tel +47 941 51 660 or see website nibio.no

Please send your application with CV electronically via the link on this page .

Take diplomas and letters of recommendation with you if invited to an interview, or submit them as an attachment along with the electronic application/CV.

We would like to point out that information about applicants may be subject to public disclosure, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (Offentlighetsloven), Section 25. An applicant can request to be exempted from inclusion on a public list of applicants. If the request for confidentiality is denied, the applicant will be notified thereof.

About diversity and inclusion - for applicants living in Norway:

In accordance with the Norwegian Civil Service equal opportunities policy, qualified candidates are encouraged to apply - regardless of age, gender, functional disabilities, gaps in CV or national or ethnic background. As a government agency, we have the opportunity to provide positive special treatment for applicants who have a disability, gaps in their CV or immigrant background. Positive special treatment means, among other things, that you will more easily come to the interview. Read more about this here  (in norwegian).

NIBIO’s activities lie within agriculture, food, climate and the environment. The Institute conducts research and management support, and provides knowledge for use in national preparedness, governmental and district management, industry, and the society at large. NIBIO has approximately 700 employees present in all parts of the country. Its main office is located at Ås in Akershus. NIBIO is owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The National Forest Inventory  department is part of the NIBIO Division of Forestry and Forest Resources.  The department is responsible for the National Forest Inventory, as well as the preparation of national forest statistics and forecasts for forest resources.

Mapping and monitoring forest using various types of remote measurement data is a strategic focus area for the department.