About the position 

We have a vacancy for a postdoctoral fellow in environmental toxicology at the Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. 

The period of employment is  3 years with teaching duties.

The position is part of the REVEAL project (Formation of small plastic particles in the environment and their bioavailability, accumulation and impacts on aquatic species) funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The aim of REVEAL is to understand how plastic degradation leads to the formation of small microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic environments and understand which properties influence their fate, bioavailability and potential for accumulation and impacts on aquatic organisms. The project is a collaboration between SINTEF (NO), NIVA (NO), Gøteborgs Universitet (SE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris (FR) and NTNU.

You will be part of the Bioanalytical Toxicology group at NTNU, which is working on the forefront of plastic research and report to Associate Professor Dr. Martin Wagner. For more information see www.biotox.de.

You will report to the Head of Deparment. 

Duties of the position

• design and execute plastic degradation experiment to produce environmentally relevant nano- and microplastics
• design and execute experiments to assess the toxicity of these nano- and microplastics in aquatic invertebrates
• investigate the tissue translocation of nanoplastics in aquatic invertebrates
• support PhD fellows and supervise Master’s students
• present and publish the outcomes of these studies
• prepare a grant application for follow-up studies

Required selection criteria

You must have

• completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD 
• a professionally relevant background in environmental toxicology
• experience in designing and performing toxicity studies with aquatic invertebrates
• a track record of relevant publications and conference contributions
• proficiency in the English language, both spoken and written
•  the ability to critically assess the state of the science (including your own)
•  the ability to take leadership of the project and work in a team

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Preferred selection criteria

Wi will prefer applicants with

• experience in working with nano- and/or microplastics
• experience in plastic degradation experiments and particle characterization
• teaching experince

Personal characteristics

• strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• strong motivation to advance nano- and microplastics research beyond its current state
• creativity and productivity
• ability to apply these characteristics for the benefit of a diverse team

We offer 

• exciting and stimulating work in a diverse team working at the forefront of plastic research
• opportunities to build your own research program
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 545 300 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is  3 years with teaching duties.  

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. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work. 

The position is subject to external funding. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis. 

About the application 

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English. 

Publications and other scientific work to be considered must be included in the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The application must include : 

• Motivation letter describing how you meet the criteria for the position (max. 1 page)
• CV (max. 5 pages), certificates and diplomas
• Brief research plan describing which approach you would implement to achieve the aims of the project (max. 2 pages)
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 5 publications)
• Name and address of two referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well. 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation. 

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.  Accordingly, we will not take into account Journal Impact Factors or an individual’s citation metrics, such as number of publications or h index. Instead, we will assess the scientific quality of the publications you submit with your application.

General information 

Working at NTNU 

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.  

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants. 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact  Dr. Martin Wagner, email martin.wagner@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Solveig Ikdal, e-mail: solveig.ikdal@ntnu.no

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).  

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number 2021/32435 when applying.  

Application deadline: 31.07.2021 

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Biology 

We work with global challenges in natural diversity, climate, the environment, health and nutrition. Our expertise in biological processes at all levels – from molecules to ecosystems – contributes to a sustainable society. The Department educate graduates for a wide range of careers in public administration, business and academia. The Department of Biology is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Deadline 31st July 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service