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.

A PhD position is available at the Department of Biology. The appointment duration is 3 years with the possibility of 1-year extension with 25% teaching duties in agreement with the department. The position is financed by the NTNU.

Information about the department

The strategy of the Department of Biology is to understand biological processes of life for sustainable use and conservation of the environment. The Department has an interdisciplinary approach to education and research that is deeply rooted in environmental and evolutionary biology as important links between the different sub-disciplines (cell- and molecular biology, systems biology, physiology, ethology, ecology, population genetics, marine sciences, aquaculture, biodiversity and environmental toxicology). For more information about the department go to: http://www.ntnu.edu/biology.

Marine plankton ecology and the responses of plankton communities to external drivers, including the effects of climate change, are foci of the Marine Science Research Group at Trondhjem Biological Station (TBS) and NTNU Centre of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SeaLab) within the Department of Biology (http://www.ntnu.edu/biology/research/marine-sciences). The Marine Science Research Group has broad national and international research collaborations and the permanent scientific staffs are recognized as international leaders and researchers in their respective disciplines.

Job description

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim Norway is seeking a PhD student to analyse the link between microzooplankton and ichthyoplankton with regard to ocean warming. The position is supposed to start in autumn 2016.

The PhD project will focus on the link between microzooplankton and ichthyoplankton under present and future ocean conditions. The aim is to relate temperature-induced changes in microzooplankton communities (e.g. growth, biomass, timing, community composition and diversity) to physiological traits of early life stages of fish larvae (e.g. growth, survival, fitness, and respiration). The PhD project is aimed to have a strong experimental focus e.g. to investigate selective feeding behavior and the impacts of food quality and quantity on larval fish condition simulating future warming scenarios. Especially the functioning of microzooplankton with regard to trophic transfer efficiencies and alterations in energy transfer to higher trophic levels will be considered in detail.

To address these issues, the PhD student will use various ecological and physiological analytical approaches including experimental set-ups with single- and multi-species treatments under ambient and elevated temperature conditions. The work will mainly be conducted at the well-equipped labs at TBS and SeaLab, but international collaborations are also likely.

Detailed information on our PhD programs is found at: http://www.ntnu.edu/nt/research/phd

Qualifications

- The applicant must have an MSc (or equivalent) in biology, ecology, limnology, marine or fisheries sciences. - Excellent knowledge in aquatic ecology and/or microzooplankton/protozooplankton/ichthyoplankton ecology is required. - We expect a strong interest in general ecological questions and experience in carrying out and analyzing ecological experiments including general statistics. - Experience in experimental studies focusing on feeding preferences, food quality and quantity, diversity, impacts of environmental stressors on plankton communities will be considered as an advantage. - The successful candidate should be creative, with a strong ability to work problem oriented. - He/

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Maksimal lønn: 0

Arbeidsgiver Navn: NTNU - Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelig

Arbeidsgiver adresse: Realfagbygget, NTNU 7491 TRONDHEIM

Job kort beskrivelse: University and higher education teachers

Land: Norge

Region: Sør-Trøndelag

Kilde til jobbtilbud: NAV, Offentlige arbeidsformidlinger, Norge

Lønn valuta: NOK

Lønn periode: Pr. år