PhD candidate - marine environmental DNA (eDNA) and coastal marine ecology

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 42,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

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We are seeking a motivated PhD candidate for a project focusing on marine environmental DNA (eDNA) and coastal marine ecology.

The PhD-project is centred around coastal environmental DNA dynamics and the use of eDNA techniques to map and monitor biodiversity in Nordic coastal ecosystems. The candidate will examine the relative role of physical, microbial and extra-cellular enzymatic processes in coastal eDNA degradation and how these relate to spatial and temporal interpretation of eDNA data. The project ties in with a broader program combining eDNA and other techniques to assess key anthropogenic and ecological processes affecting the structure and function of coastal ecosystems. Understanding how different laboratory approaches affect final datasets is also key to comparing studies from different labs and developing standardized approaches. Accordingly, the candidates work will be at the coalface of understanding physical-, biological- and laboratory-derived variation in eDNA datasets and relating molecules in the environmental mediums back to living organisms in ecosystems. We offer an international leading research environment with a scope highly relevant for career development in both basic and applied research, industry, and public sector.

The successful candidate will be employed at the NTNU Department of Natural History. The Department conducts research in biogeography, biosystematics and ecology, with an emphasis on studies using or contributing to the NTNU University Museum’s scientific collections. As a museum, the Department is also strongly involved in popular scientific dissemination and provides knowledge for nature management to make research-based decisions.

The position includes 25% work duties for the Department and the employment applies for a period of 4 years. Popular scientific dissemination to the Norwegian public is one of NTNU University Museums most important societal missions. Accordingly, the Department of Natural History offers possibilities for outreach activities as a part of the work duties.

You will report to lead supervisor researcher Glenn Dunshea and Head of Department Ingrid E. Mathisen .