The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD–position in molecular microbiology, infection biology and sequence analysis.

Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal human and animal pathogen, which is shortlisted as one of the major bacterial threats due to the spread of antibiotic resistance. Understanding the cell biology and cell surface biology of this bacterium is critical to identify novel antibacterial targets and to understand pathogenesis.

In this PhD project, next-generation sequencing-based genetic screens will be established in S. aureus. The genetic screening systems will be utilized to identify cell cycle and cell surface factors of S. aureus contributing to infection. These factors will further be subjected to functional studies. High-throughput sequencing approaches and sequence analysis combined with genetics, biochemical and cell biology techniques will be applied.

This 3-year PhD project is funded by NMBU. The PhD candidate will be a part of the research group Molecular Microbiology, which have multiple ongoing projects related to molecular mechanisms in the Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. See also: https://www.nmbu.no/fakultet/kbm/forskning/forskningsgrupper/molecular-microbiology

Main tasks

• establish novel genetic screens in S. aureus
• next-generation sequencing and sequence analysis
• genetics and biochemistry work in S. aureus
• write and publish scientific publications

The purpose of the PhD fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. The fellowship requires admission to the PhD program at KBM.

Academic Qualifications
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 Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master’s degree level. 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:

• master’s degree in microbiology, biotechnology, microbial genetics, or similar field
• knowledge and interest for high-throughput sequence analysis

The following qualifications will be considered beneficial:

• experience in genetics work on staphylococci or other Gram-positive bacteria.
• experience in working with high-throughput sequence analysis.

Required personal skills:

• interest and motivation for the research
• hard-working
• ability to work independently
• good collaboration skills
• written and oral communication skills

Remuneration and information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow, wage framework 20 (salary grade 36-62). PhD. Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 51 (NOK 449 400,-) on the Norwegian Government salary scale 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 associate professor Morten Kjos

E-mail: morten.kjos@nmbu.no; phone +4767232951.

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants