Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Evolutionary Biology

ArbeidsgiverUniversitetet i OsloStedProblemveien 7, 0313 Oslo

About the position

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow available at The Department of Biosciences, The Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis.

Starting date no later than 01 April 2024 / as soon as possible.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.

Department of Biosciences

Knowledge development in a changing world - Science and technology towards 2030.

Job description / Project description / Development plan :

A 24-month full-time postdoc position is available in The Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo to work with PI Andrew Foote on the ERC-funded project EXPLOAD. The project uses threespine stickleback in post-glacial isolation lakes as a model system for studying adaptative potential, mutation load and the efficacy of selection in small populations.

The postdoc will primarily perform evolutionary genomics combining contemporary and paleo-genomic datasets of threespine sticklebacks (e.g. see ), comprising approximately 1,000 individual genomes from isolation lake, fjord and river populations. Genomes from different selective regimes will be compared to infer the relationship between demographic histories, mutation load, and distribution of fitness effects, and the impact of each on effective migration rates across the genome.

There will also be the opportunity to participate fieldwork, sampling sticklebacks from locations spanning the length of Norway, often in remote locations. Encounters with moose and reindeer are not uncommon! An additional outcome of fieldwork is a plan for scientific communication outreach through an educational short film on the evolutionary processes being studied by the project.

Hypotheses based upon findings from population comparisons will be explicitly tested using both in-silico simulation experiments (using SLiM), and through captive breeding experiments. The postdoc will be expected to contribute towards these two objectives.

The postdoc will have the opportunity to work with a PhD student to contribute to the paleogenomic component of the project, which includes tracking adaptive genomic changes through time using sedDNA time-series datasets spanning marine-freshwater transitions.

Lastly, the project includes funding for the postdoc to present at international conferences, i.e. ESEB, Evolution, SMBE.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Qualification requirements :

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in biology or related subject. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and completed defence are eligible for appointment.
• The candidate must have a strong background in population genomics and bioinformatics
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

Personal skills :

We seek a highly motivated, enthusiastic and hard-working candidate. Applicant must show good interpersonal skills and be willing to work in close collaboration with the project PI and other members of the international project team, as well as have the ability to work independently.

We offer :

The application must include :

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations :

Please see the and for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months ( thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an , aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact persons :

For further information about the position please contact : Andrew Foote, phone : +47 412 89 132, e-mail :

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Nina Holtan, e-mail :

Om arbeidsgiveren

ArbeidsgiverUniversitetet i OsloHjemmeside

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.

Department of Biosciences (IBV) is one of nine departments at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Research in the department is organised in five sections covering topics within biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, cell biology, genetics, aquatic biology, toxicology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Education across these topics is offered for around 350 bachelor, 250 master, and 120 PhD students. With 52 permanent professors / associate professors, post-docs, researchers, technical, and administrative personnel, the Department has a total staff of 340 from more than 30 different countries. The Department aims to maintain high international standards within both research and teaching. The new bachelor program in bioscience is the first of its kind to include programming and computational modelling as core elements.

Om stillingen

Stillingstittel : Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Evolutionary BiologyAntall stillinger : 1AnsettelsesformProsjektHeltid / deltidHeltidSektorOffentlig