PhD scholarship within animal breeding and genetics
Deadline: 15.08.2020
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
NMBU has a special responsibility for research and education that ensures the basis of life for future generations.
Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we provide knowledge for life.
NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students and is organized in seven faculties. NMBU has a campus in Ås and in Oslo. In 2021 we are co-located on Ås.
Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.
About The Faculty of Biosciences
The Faculty of Biosciences (Biovit) contributes to the development of sustainable agriculture and food production systems through basic and applied research in plants, animals and fish (aquaculture).
The research groups are organized in the following sections: Systems Genetics and Bioinformatics, Animal Breeding and Quantitative Genetics, Nutrition, Ethology and Animal Welfare, Agroecology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Food Crops, Plant Biology and Biotechnology, and Plant Protection.
There are currently 480 bachelor and master students, and 90 PhD students, enrolled in these programmes.The faculty has approximately 220 employees.
Interested in sustainable animal breeding and genetics?
Do you want to know more about how we can reduce the environmental footprint of Norwegian dairy production by breeding?
About the position
The Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD position related to animal breeding and genetics.
The PhD project will be in close collaboration with Geno, the breeding organisation for Norwegian Red. The PhD position is part of the innovation project “Selection for reduced methane emission in Norwegian Red cows”, that is a collaboration between Geno and NMBU, with funding from the Norwegian Research Council. The main aim of the research is to find the best strategy for how to reduce the environmental footprint of Norwegian dairy production by breeding.
The position is in the Animal Breeding and Genetics group. Currently, the group has 5 Professors, 2 Postdocs, 8 Researchers, approximately 10 PhD students, 2 Professor II (10 or 20 %) and frequent visiting scientists coming to work alongside members of the group, in addition to BSc and MSc students.
The group is internationally renowned for its innovation and cutting-edge work on genomic selection, and for promoting, establishing and improving breeding schemes in the dairy cattle, pig, sheep, and farmed salmon sectors. NordGen and Norwegian breeding organisations: Geno, Norsvin, Norsk Sau og Geit, and AquaGen, are colocalized with the group, with altogether 15-20 researchers.
Main tasks
Data editing and quality control of high resolution phenotypes, combining methane measures with data from other sources
Genetic analyses of new traits related to methane emissions
Analyze genetic associations between traits
Develop prediction equations for methane emission
Propose a selection strategy balancing climate effects, efficiency and health and fertility
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Qualification requirements, desired experiences, knowledge and personal qualities
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master's degree level. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description. The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required Academic qualifications
Master degree in animal science or a related field
Strong communication skills in English, written and spoken
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Competence in animal breeding, quantitative genetics and statistics
Experience and interest for Norwegian agriculture and dairy production
You need to:
Be highly motivated for a PhD education
Have a strong interest for research
Have good collaborative skills and ability to work independently
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow. PhD. Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 479.600,-) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Application deadline: 15th August 2020
Applications should include (electronically) a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, publication list, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified), and a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses).
Publications should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant NMBU Department may require further documentation, e.g. proof of English proficiency.
Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 15th August 2020. Please quote reference number 20/02415.
If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
