PhD position within Food Safety Microbiology

22nd May 2023
Languages
English

• English

English
Do you have a drive to explore the secrets of microbial life?
PhD position within Food Safety Microbiology
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About the position

At the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Paraclinical Sciences there is a vacancy for a research fellow in Food Safety Microbiology. This is a fixed-term position with a duration of 3 years that is financed by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Norwegian Research Council (NFR).

The PhD candidate will work within the frame of the project "Spore Nanofiber - Structural and functional characterization of novel type of extremely heat and chemically resilient nanofibers expressed on bacterial spores" financed by NFR. The team behind this project has recently discovered a novel type of extremely resilient nanofibers (Enas) expressed on the surface of bacterial endospores.

The PhD candidate will be involved in exploring Enas biophysical properties and their biological functions particularly their role in biofilm formation.

This project has a great potential to generate knowledge that can be used to invent more efficient strategies to prevent or reduce spore attachment-related problems in the food industry.

The project is a close collaboration between researchers in microbiology, structural biology, bioinformatics, and biophysics at NMBU, University of Copenhagen, Free University of Brussels and at Umeå University. The PhD candidate will work on daily basis at NMBU - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and periodically at the Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science. The PhD project will involve a 3-month research visit at Umeå University.

The applicant is made aware that an application for a scholarship position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD program at the university. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.

Main tasks

Throughout the project, the PhD candidate will gain experience in microbiological-, molecular-, biophysical and bioinformatic analyses through.

• Knockout mutagenesis and complementation experiments.
• Designing and conducting microbiological experiments e.g., using a flow cell bioreactor.
• Measurements of Enas biophysical properties using laser-tweezer assays.
• Genetic screening of Ena subtypes.

Other relevant tasks are to:

• Publish and disseminate research results obtained in a suitable and timely manner.
• Complete mandatory coursework during the employment period.
• Meet with and plan research tasks together with collaborating teams.
• Apply for funding for a research visit abroad.
• Have an approximately 3-month research visit in a collaborating research group abroad.

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

A deliberation for this position can be sent to the interested candidate upon request. An open access review article about the project can be found here .

NMBU
Competence

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree or a cand.med.vet. degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description .

The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.

Required academic qualifications are:

• A master's degree in molecular biology, biophysics, biochemistry or equivalent, or DVM.
• Good oral and writing skills in English.
• "Hands-on" experience with microbiological and/or molecular biological methods

The candidate which finishes their education within the spring of 2023 can also apply but must provide documentation of their degree before employment.

Following experiences and skills that will be emphasized are:

• Good communication skills in Norwegian or another Nordic language
• Knowledge within bioinformatics

Personal qualities

You need to

• Have motivation and prerequisites for being able to complete a doctoral degree.
• Have good collaboration skills and the ability to contribute actively to a professional community.
• Like to report and document.

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD-Fellow, pay grade 54 – 60 (NOK 532 200 – 584 500) on the Norwegian Government salary scale. PhD-Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 532.200,-) upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.

For further information, please contact (Professor Marina Aspholm, leader of the Food Safety Unit. E-mail: [email protected] ; phone +47 93288266.

Information for PhD applicants  and general Information to applicants

NMBU
Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 22.05.2023

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• Complete CV 
• Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Di-ploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3) . 
• Names and contact details for two references.
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

About the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at NMBU is the country's only veterinary professional education and provide expertise in veterinary medicine and veterinary public health. The Faculty educates veterinarians, animal nurses and doctoral students in Veterinary Science and researches in veterinary medicine and related biomedical fields. We have 500 students and 430 employees.

The faculty consists of the departments of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Paraclinical Sciences, Production Animal Clinical Sciences and Companion Animal Clinical Sciences. We also run the Animal Hospital, which is closely linked to our research and education, and receives patients from all over the country.

NMBU
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

NMBU's focus is a joint effort for a sustainable future. Our university will contribute to securing the future of life, through outstanding research, education, communication and innovation.
NMBU has 1,900 employees of which about 500 phd scholarships and 6,700 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.
NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity.

We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.
 

 

Apply for this job
Deadline

22nd May 2023

Employer

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

Municipality

Ås

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Fixed Term

Place of service

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