PhD Fellow within Metabolomics of Marine Microorganisms

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 The position

The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE), UiT The Arctic University of Norway has a Research fellow position available within mass spectrometry-based metabolomics of marine microorganisms. The goal of the project is to identify and characterize new antimicrobial secondary metabolites from marine fungi and bacteria through a metabolomics-based workflow. The PhD-project is a collaboration between the research group Marbio at The Norwegian College of Fishery Science and the research group for natural products and medicinal chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy. The position is funded through a grant by Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS).

The position of Research Fellow is a fixed term position for a period of 4 years. The nominal length of the PhD program is three years. The fourth year is distrubuted as 25 % each year, and will consist of teaching and other duties for the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics. The main objective of the appointment as a Research Fellow is to qualify for work in a senior academic position. No one may be appointed to more than one fixed term period as a Research Fellow at the same institution.

Marbio is an analytical platform for natural products at UiT. The expertise at Marbio involves diversity and ecology of marine fungi and bioassay-guided purification to isolate active compounds of Arctic marine organisms to be included in a library of natural products. Arctic and sub-Arctic marine organisms are explored, searching for compounds with activities against bacteria, cancer and diabetes as well as compounds with immune-modulatory and antioxidative effects. Marbio’s screening campaign is based on a classic bioassay-guided fractionation approach supplemented with genome-based approaches.

The research group for natural products and medicinal chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy has infrastructure and competence related to characterization of bioactive natural products. The research group has extensive experience in using metabolomics as a tool for identifying biomarkers in complex samples.

CANS is a large strategic interdisciplinary centre at UiT - the Arctic University of Norway for research, education, innovation and dissemination related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). CANS currently involves fourteen research groups located at three faculties and covers topics within marine bioprospecting - identification and characterization of new antibacterial activities, design and synthesis of new antibiotics and resistance inhibitors, the evolution and molecular epidemiology of AMR, host-microbe-drug interactions as well as antibiotic stewardship.

The centre aims to strengthen current activities, but also support new basic research in novel concepts for sustainable antibacterial activities in AMR-prevention and treatment strategies through new permanent positions.

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time, within 6 months after receiving the offer.

The objective of the position is to complete 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 faculty’s 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, application form and regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor
(PhD) are available here.

The project/ The position's field of research

The successful candidate should do basic research in the field of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics of marine microorganisms. Different types of mass filters will be used to generate the metabolite profiles in order to evaluate what kind of workflow is best suited to identify secondary metabolites in complex extracts. Different solutions for processing data will also be tested in the project. Selected compounds will be isolated using mass guided fractionation on semi-preparative HPLC, and the isolated compounds will be structurally characterized and tested for biological activity against human pathogenic bacteria. The bioactivity testing will be done both in Marbio and in cooperation with other research groups associated with CANS.

The candidate will have direct access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at Marbio and the research group for natural products and medicinal chemistry, including high-resolution mass spectrometry (TOF and Orbitrap) and ion mobility spectrometry in combination with HPLC/UHPLC.

The candidate will be engaged in:

  • Optimizing methods for analysis of microbial extracts on UHPLC-HR-MS
  • Statistical analysis of metabolomic data
  • Isolation of potential bioactive secondary metabolites
  • Structure elucidation of isolated compounds

 Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Professor Espen Hansen (Marbio):

or Associate Professor Teppo Rämä (Marbio):

or Associate Professor Terje Vasskog (Department of Pharmacy):

 We offer

  • A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues 
  • Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement 
  • Pension scheme through the state pension fund 
     

More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here: Welcome to UiT!

 Qualifications

The successful candidate is expected to hold a Norwegian MSc degree within a field relevant for the research theme of the position (e.g., biotechnology, chemistry or equivalent) or a corresponding foreign MSc degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian master’s degree.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidates that have documented competence and practical experience with mass spectrometry in combination with liquid chromatography. Applicants must also have experience in processing of mass spectrometric data.

It is considered advantageous if the candidate has experience in working with metabolomic workflows, identification of secondary metabolites using mass spectrometry and/or isolation of secondary metabolites using HPLC.

Documented knowledge of English as stated here is required, and working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language is desirable. 

We are seeking for a highly motivated and committed candidate with relevant skills who is capable of doing independent laboratory work and is passionate about developing her/his own research. Candidates should have excellent communication and organizational skills in order to work in a multidisciplinary team, do project management and outreach, and supervise MSc students. Emphasis is given to personal suitability.

At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Emphasis will be put on the candidates potential for research, motivation and personal suitability for the position. 

The position requires admission to the Faculty's PhD programme. Information about requirements is available here.

 Application

The application must be submitted electronically via www.jobbnorge.no and shall include:

  • Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests 
  • CV
  • Diplomas, diploma supplements and transcripts (all degrees)
  • Documentation on English proficiency. This website (sett inn link) states how English profiency shall be documented.
  • Written references
  • Contact information to 1-3 references
  • Master thesis, and any other academic works 

The documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language.

 General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. UiT will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional abilit

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to Offentleglova information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.

UiT - Developing the high north

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.

Application deadline:
Location: UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway