The University of Bergen (UiB) is an internationally recognised research university with more than 14,000 students and close to 3,500 employees at six faculties. The university is located in the heart of Bergen. Our main contribution to society is excellent basic research and education across a wide range of disciplines. 

At the Department of Biological Sciences (BIO) there is a vacancy for a position as postdoctoral fellow to work within the project “National microAlgaepilot Mongstad” (NAM). The position is for a period of 3 years with the possibility of up to additional 3 months, funded by the UiB. The NAM project is subject to financing by the Norwegian Government, the University of Bergen, the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund and other stakeholders. The postdoctoral fellow within marine biotechnology will be affiliated to Marine microbiology research group, University of Bergen in collaboration with the Centre for Applied Biotechnology at the research institute NORCE AS (Uni Research – Biotechnology).

About the project/work tasks 

We are living in a world with strongly increasing needs for sustainable and nutritious marine resources for food and feed applications. Microalgae have a biochemical composition that makes them interesting for application in food and feed industries. For example, microalgae can contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and other interesting cellular components such as proteins and pigments. The aquaculture industry needs a stable supply of feed resources in sufficient quantities and quality for future growth, in particular the fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which so far has been ensured by inclusion of fish oil. However, the global supply of fish oil is limited and emerging high-value omega-3 markets are competing for this resource. New sustainable sources of EPA and DHA must be fully developed to cover the global demand, and marine microalgae are regarded as a promising alternative as the primary producer of all EPA and DHA in marine food webs. The microalgae group focusses on the development of a commercial and sustainable production chain for the industrial application of microalgae, for various applications such as feed for e.g. aquaculture, food products and chemicals. With the establishment of the NAM pilot facility, we are demonstrating this at relevant scale. Most of our research projects are interdisciplinary, aiming at the integration of the full production and processing chain of microalgae into final products, including the use of waste streams as nutrient sources. This is done in close collaboration with national and international collaborators, and with industry stakeholders.

We are looking for an experienced candidate within (microalgae) biotechnology for the position of postdoctoral fellow. The main tasks will be managing the NAM pilot plant and within this supervising the operation of pilot-scale photobioreactor systems and the inoculation train, conduct cultivation experiments at different scales and as a whole contribute to the success of the microalgae group. You will be part of the combined microalgae team of the University of Bergen and NORCE, and working on various microalgae projects with activities both at the labs in Bergen, and at the pilot plant in Mongstad.

Qualifications and personal qualities

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate that has background in one or several of the following research fields: bioprocess engineering, microbiology, marine microbiology, algal biotechnology, or algal physiology. We are looking for an outgoing, positive and flexible person interested in translating fundamental research into applications and innovation. In addition, the candidate should fulfill the following requirements:

• the applicant must hold a Norwegian PhD or an equivalent degree within microbiology or another field relevant for the project, or must have submitted his/her doctoral thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded.
• experience in the laboratory cultivation of microalgae is a prerequisite
• experience in upscaled cultivation of microalgae will be considered an advantage
• experience with bioprocess or production optimization will be considered an advantage
• experience in practical trouble-shooting and understanding of technical processes
• excellent data-analysis, scientific reporting and publication skills
• the candidate should be a team-player with good collaborative skills, and be able to work independently and in a structured manner
• the candidate must have good decision-making skills and the ability to communicate professionally with academics and external projects partners
• proficiency in both written and oral English

About the position of postdoctoral fellow

The postdoctoral position is a fixed term position with the primary objective of qualifying the appointee for work in top academic positions. If the appointee lacks teaching experience, or other relevant qualifications, the employment period may be increased to 3 years and 3 months. Teaching and other duties will in such cases be added to the position. The position may be extended by up to one year (maximum 4 years in total) if the appointee is granted externally financed research stays abroad. Individuals may not be hired for more than one fixed-term period as a postdoctoral research fellow at the same institution.

Upon appointment, applicants must submit a project proposal for the qualifying work including a progress plan. It is a requirement that the project is completed in the course of the period of employment.

We can offer

• salary at pay grade 59 (Code 1352) upon appointment. This currently amounts to an annual salary of NOK 515 200 gross p.a. Further promotions are made according to length of service in the position
• enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• a position in an inclusive workplace (IA enterprise)
• good welfare benefits

Your application must include

• a brief account of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying for the position the names and contact information for two referees, one of these should be the main advisor from the PhD programme (or for the applicant’s doctoral degree)
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas and official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted
• relevant certificates/references
• list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list)
• any publications in your name

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.

General information

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting Adjunct Associated Professor Hans Kleivdal (hans.kleivdal@uni.no, phone +47 5558 4737)