PhD Fellowship in Environmental Biotechnology

Elisabeth Tønnesen

4th March 2024
Languages
English

• Norsk Bokmål
• English

English
PhD Fellowship in Environmental Biotechnology
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Job description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in Environmental Biotechnology at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Engineering.

The position is vacant from 01.08.2024 and the starting date is no later than 01.11.2024.

This is a trainee position that will give promising researchers an opportunity for academic development through a PhD education leading to a doctoral degree.

The hired candidate will be admitted to the PhD program in Science and Technology. The education includes relevant courses amounting to about six months of study, a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic communication, a trial lecture and public defence. Read more about the PhD education at UiS on our website.

The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively.

Research topic

The PhD Fellow will be affiliated with the following project “The Effect of Temperature on Antibiotic Degradation and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Genes”.

As resistance continues to surge worldwide, the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poseses a growing risk to global health. Forecasts suggest that antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) will emerge as a primary contributor to mortality, accompanied by substantial economic setbacks, particularly in low and low-middle income nations (WHO, 2014).

According to the new EU regulations antibiotics and the presence of resistance genes in the effluent are gaining priority and there will be a need for their removal in the future. There are now indications that the temperature of wastewater treatment may play an important role in the spreading of antibiotic resistance. For example, Germany and Norway use different amounts of antibiotics especial regarding their usage in farming but despite the difference in usage they have similar resistance profiles.  Contrary to these, countries with high temperature in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) typically have higher rates of antibiotic resistance.

However, antibiotics are often found to be present in WWTPs and if not removed during treatment, they may be released into the surrounding environments via effluent release.  Treatment temperatures drastically change the microbial profiles of degradation and lower treatment temperatures may affect the degradation of the antibiotics found in the WWTPs.

In this study we would like to determine the impact of temperature on degradation and resistance profile. For this reactors will be established and run at different temperatures and we will look at changes in resistance and degradation rates in our reactor systems.  We would also like to study the profile of selected antibiotics and the resistance genes in the WWTPs, and we will look at the impact of treatment temperatures on selected antibiotics and the resistance genes present in the treatment plants. To determine the impact on degradation and resistance profile, reactors will be established and run at different temperatures.

This project will involve reactor operation, wet analyses, molecular and microbiological analyses (incl. MIC, q-PCR and sequence analysis), respirometric analysis and process modeling.

Qualification requirements

We are looking for applicants with a strong academic background who have completed a five-year master degree (3+2) within environmental engineering, biotechnology, biochemistry, molecular biology, preferably acquired recently; or who possess corresponding qualifications that could provide a basis for successfully completing a doctorate.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Stavanger both the grade for your master’s thesis and the weighted average grade of your master’s degree must individually be equivalent to or better than a B grade. If you finish your education (masters degree) in the spring of 2024, you are also welcome to apply.

Applicants with an education from an institution with a different grade scale than A-F, and/or with other types of credits than sp/ECTS, must attach a confirmed conversion scale that shows how the grades can be compared with the Norwegian A-F scale and a Diploma Supplement or similar that explains the scope of the subjects that are included in the education. You can use these conversion scales  to calculate your points for admission.

Furthermore, it is expected that you:

• have a strong motivation for scientific research and desire to contribute to UiS’s research community
• are resilient, and take responsibility for ensuring that tasks are of high quality and completed on time
• are open to feedback and actively find new opportunities for personal and professional development
• are genuine, solution-oriented and proactive
• maintain composure and focus even in the face of challenging situations
• are supportive, establish trusting relationships and adapt to others as necessary

Emphasis is also placed on your:

• evidence in knowledge in the areas of environmental engineering, micro- and molecular biology and environmental biotechnology
• wet and dry laboratory experience (esp. reactor operation, micro- and molecular biological methods, bioprocess modeling)
• ability to work independently and in a team, be innovative and creative
• ability to work structured and handle a heavy workload
• having a good command of both oral and written English

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Requirements for competence in English

A good proficiency in English is required for anyone attending the PhD program. International applicants must document this with a valid test certificate from one of the following tests:

• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum result: 90
• IELTS – International English Language Testing Service. Minimum result: 6.5
• Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge
• PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic. Minimum result: 62

The following applicants are exempt from the above requirements:

• Applicants with one year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA
• Applicants with a completed master’s degrees taught in English in a EU/EEA country
• Applicants who are exempt based on NOKUT’s GSU list

We offer

• a PhD education in a large, exciting and societally important organisation
• an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 532 200 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. A higher salary may be considered in special cases. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund , which provides favourable insurance- and retirement benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the SIS sports club at campus
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• “Hjem-jobb-hjem” discounted public transport to and from work
• as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced
• relocation programme
• language courses : On this page you can see which language courses you may be entitled to (look up “language courses” under employment conditions)

Diversity

We consider diversity as a resource in our work and learning environment, and we are committed to respecting each other’s differences and backgrounds.

Universal design characterises physical and digital learning environments, and we strive to provide adjustments for employees with disabilities.

You are encouraged to apply regardless of gender, cultural background, disability, or if you have been without employment for a period of time.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview. If you fall into any of these categories, feel free to indicate it when applying for the position.

Learn more about the criteria for being considered an applicant in these specific groups here .

Contact information

More information on the position (and project description) can be obtained from Associate Professor Krista M. Kaster, tel: +47 51 83 15 45, e-mail: [email protected] or Associate Professor Ilke Pala-Ozkok, tel: +47 51 83 28 90, e-mail: [email protected] .

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from HR advisor Rosa Andrade, tel: +51 83 11 91, e-mail:  [email protected] .

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Application

To apply for this position please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In your application letter, you must state your research interests and motivation for the position.

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• CV with a full summary of your education and experience
• references, certificates/diplomas and other documentation that you consider relevant
• Diploma Supplement or similar and a confirmed conversion scale if this is required
• documentation on competence in English if this is required
• publications or other relevant research work

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above and that you have attached the necessary documentation. 

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 30 MB, they must be compressed before upload.

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants – see Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act . If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

General information

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation and if it is considered that you will not be able to start in the position within 01.11.2024, your application will be rejected without further assessment.

Employment as PhD Fellow is regulated in “Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow and research fellow, research assistant and resident “.

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. Based on the committee’s statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

The appointee will be based at the University of Stavanger, with the exception of a stay abroad at a relevant centre of research.

It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at/available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the case of differences of meaning between the texts, the English text takes precedence.

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UiS – challenge the well-known and explore the unknown

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for green and sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.
In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.
Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown.
 

The Faculty of Science and Technology offers study programs at bachelor, master and doctoral level. The faculty has established close cooperation on research with NORCE (Norwegian Research Centre AS) and the regional industry. A number of master’s and doctoral theses are made in collaboration with the industry. The faculty has established research collaborations with universities in the US and Europe, and has developed several academic environments that are at the forefront internationally.The faculty has about 2,800 students and approximately 500 employees at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Structural Engineering and Materials Science, Department of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, Department of Energy Resources and the Department of Safety, Economics and Planning.

The Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Technology offers study programs at all levels within the areas Biological Chemistry, Chemistry and Environment. The department is responsible for basic tuition in chemistry at the faculty. There are currently about 60 employees including doctoral and postdoctoral fellows, and 230 students at the department.

Questions about the position

Krista Kaster

Førsteamanuensis

51831545

[email protected]

Ilke Pala Ozkok

Førsteamanuensis

51832890

[email protected]

Rosa Andrade

HR-rådgiver

51831191

[email protected]

Apply for this job
Deadline

4th March 2024

Employer

University of Stavanger

Municipality

Stavanger

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions)
Fulltime
(%)

Duration

Fixed Term

Place of service

Ullandhaug, 4021 Stavanger

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