About the position

We have a fully-funded PhD position available at the Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, NTNU.

The Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD) is a leading cross-disciplinary Centre of Excellence, with primary interests in population ecology, evolutionary biology and community dynamics. CBD works at the interface between biology and mathematical sciences and strives to apply cutting-edge theoretical and statistical frameworks to field data to resolve key questions in the context of both fundamental and applied science. Further information is available at http://www.ntnu.edu/cbd

The PhD position provides an exciting opportunity to gain broad experience and expertise working at the interface of evolutionary biology, population ecology, and behavioral ecology. It will provide broad training in all associated research skills.

Predicting responses to a changing environment is currently one of the biggest challenges in biology. The realization that evolutionary change can rapidly affect ecological and demographic processes, and thus determine the ability of populations to cope with environmental change, has led to a rapid increase in the number of studies focusing on the feedbacks between ecology and evolution (eco-evolutionary dynamics). Surprisingly, even though competition, cooperation and sexual reproduction are key ecological processes determining phenotypic evolution and the size of populations, classic theory on the evolution of social behaviour has not been fully integrated within the eco-evolutionary dynamics paradigm. There is thus a huge gap in our understanding of eco-evolutionary dynamics, which hinders our ability to predict how populations will respond to the rapid environmental change currently faced by many organisms. This project will help build this missing bridge between social behaviour and eco-evolutionary dynamics research using a unified framework based on behavioural ecology theory on social traits, quantitative genetic models providing statistical descriptions of the responses to selection, and population projection models focusing on stochastic population dynamics. We will focus on a house sparrow meta-population on Norwegian islands that has been monitored since the early 90s. The project will involve analyses of existing data and fieldwork.

Accordingly, the main aims of the PhD position are 1) to quantify  how social interactions affect the reproductive success of individuals; 2) to quantify the spatial and social structure of house sparrows within different island populations; and 3) to quantify how social interactions affect population dynamics and how population dynamics affect the patterns of social interactions. These aims will be achieved using an exceptional multi-year dataset from a house sparrow meta-population in Norway.

The position will suit a PhD candidate who is keen to learn advanced statistical methods, and apply them to understand patterns, causes and consequences of phenotypic variation arising in wild populations. It will provide complete doctoral education to obtain a doctoral degree, including primary research training, PhD-level credit courses, and appropriate teaching experience (if agreed). Research training will include data management, statistical analyses including mixed models, experience of field data collection, and experience of working within a collaborative research team.

The project is based on a recently funded proposal “Social dynamics and eco-evolutionary feedbacks in wild populations” by the Research Council of Norway. The PhD student will work in the Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD; https://www.ntnu.edu/cbd ) at the University of Science and Technology (NTNU; https://www.ntnu.edu/ ) in Trondheim, Norway.

The main supervisors will be Yimen Araya-Ajoy and Jonathan Wright and the PhD-student will collaborate closely with Myranda Murray, Jane Reid, Bernt-Erik Sæther and Henrik Jensen. 

Duties of the position

• Learn and apply advanced statistical methods to analyse multi-year data from a wild bird population (House sparrows)
• Contribute to collecting, collating and checking field data
• Produce a high quality PhD thesis, comprising manuscripts written for publication
• Produce presentations for further research dissemination
• Contribute to building a collaborative and interactive local and international research team
• Fulfil NTNU’s course credit requirements for the award of a doctoral degree

Required selection criteria

• You must have a relevant background in zoology, ecology, evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology and/or ecological statistics, with enthusiasm to learn and apply advanced statistical analyses to field data (training will be provided).
• Your previous education must be equivalent to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level. This corresponds to an undergraduate Bachelor degree and typically a two-year Master’s degree. Applicants with a non-Norwegian education who match the requirements are welcome.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must have excellent communication skills in written and verbal English.
• You must be a good teamworker, with enthusiasm for working in a collaborative research environment, yet you must also be able to undertake independent and self-motivated activity

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Preferred selection criteria

• Some experience of, or evidence of interest in, ecology and ecological fieldwork is desirable

Personal characteristics

• Reliable
• Communicative
• Self-motivated
• Organised
• Collaborative

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 491 200 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 three years with the possibility of until one year extension with 25% teaching duties in agreement with the department.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in biology within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

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 daily.

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 must follow 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. 

The application must include: 

• CV, certificates and diplomas
• Letter of interest in the position, summarising key attributes and reasons for application
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted.
• A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Address of three referees
• If you have publications or other relevant research work these can be included

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, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher 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.

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.

In accordance with The Public 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.

For more information about the project/position, please contact yimen.araya-ajoy@ntnu.no and for more information about working in our group please contact myranda.murray@ntnu.no.
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Liv-Mari Granum (HR), e-mail: liv.m.granum@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 21/116 when applying.

Application deadline: 01.12.2021

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 1st December 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service