The position
The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and economics has a vacant 4-year PhD position in ecosystem-based management. The position is linked to the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB). We are looking for a dedicated and skilled ecologist who can strengthen sustainability research and education at our department. The PhD will work with a team of researchers in the Arctic Sustainability Lab. The lab is specializing in interdisciplinary research relating to ecology and sustainability. We also collaborate with the 5 academic groups at AMB that work with biology.
The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.
The Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) includes 5 research groups. Research and teaching at AMB has a broad span, from molecular mechanisms at cellular/subcellular levels via studies of adaptations at the organismal level, to adaptations in organisms, ecological interactions in land, freshwater and sea, as well as socio-ecological research related to the environment and climate change. The department is an exciting and cutting-edge academic and research unit in biology that addresses challenges in basic research, industrial and administrative-oriented research with a strong focus on the North. The department has extensive national and international research collaboration including FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment (Fram Centre) that host research institutes like NIVA; NINA and the Marine Research Institute.
The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.
The position’s field of research
The position is linked to the EU Horizon project AA_Agora, which is part of the EU Mission to restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030. The AA_Agora team aim to develop a lighthouse for protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity in Arctic and Atlantic coastal areas. We will demonstrate how innovation, ecosystem-based management and nature-based solutions can contribute to transformative change in three coastal areas in Portugal, Iceland and Norway.
The PhD fellow will work with ecosystem-based management and monitoring of protected areas in the Norwegian part of the project in the Arctic Archipelago in Karlsøy municipality. There are 11 protected areas in the municipality that are managed by a local protected area board, including a large and newly established marine protected area. The municipality aims at developing nature-based tourism related to these conservation sites and the surrounding areas. We employ a living lab approach where we jointly identify solutions and measures together with tourism companies, managers, organizations, schools and citizens.
The PhD fellow will work with co-design of ecosystem-based management and monitoring of the protected areas in collaboration with the partners (NIVA, NINA, Pukka Travel, the protected area managers and Karlsøy municipality). The fellow will also contribute to implementing a plan for ecosystem-based and climate-resilient management, including nature-based tourism. Besides of the nature-based solutions and the adaptive ecosystem-based monitoring that the partners will work with in the project, the plan will also be founded on design thinking, theories of change and principles for dialogue and democratic participation.
Prof. Vera Helene Hausner will supervise the fellow. In addition, the student can take advantage of an international consortium in the AA_Agora project for guidance. It is desirable that the fellow enter a stay abroad as part of their PhD education.
Applicants must deliver a two-page scope for the PhD project including a motivation statement for researching this specific topic. Please contact Prof. Vera Helene Hausner for further information. The final project description will be developed in cooperation with the supervisors.
Contact
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Vera Helene Hausner:
- phone: +47 77 64 59 05
- email: vera.hausner@uit.no
Qualifications
Qualification requirements
- A Master degree or equivalent in marine ecology or sustainability
- A quantitative background in analytical and statistical methods
Desired qualifications:
- Familiarity with stakeholder involvement or citizen involvement
- Knowledge about ecosystem-based management or nature-based solutions to climate change
- Experience with collaborative teamwork using interdisciplinary-or transdisciplinary methods
- Experience with GIS data and analysis.
- Programming experience: R or other relevant.
- Experience working with socioecological systems
- Peer-reviewed publications can be considered
Prior work experience in research is beneficial as is teaching experience in ecosystem-based management or sustainability science. Personal skills such as ability to work independently and provide constructive criticism while engaging in the joint work of a collaborative research team is important. We will also put weight on the motivation for applying for this PhD.
Applicants must document fluency in English and be able to work in an international environment.
A statement of the motivation of taking a PhD degree, and a short description of the scope of the work and the project idea (total max. 2 pages) must be included in the application.
In the assessment, we emphasise the applicant’s potential to complete a research education based on the master’s thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. In addition, other experiences of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.
As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.
Admission to the PhD programme
For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.
Admission normally requires:
- A bachelor’s degree of 180 ECTS and a master’s degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master’s degree of 300 ECTS.
- A master’s thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master’s degree of 120 ECTS.
- A master’s thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master’s degree of 300 ECTS.
Grade requirements applies both to the master thesis as well as courses part of the master’s degree. The minimum requirements are grade C or better on the master’s degree, and grade C or better on courses that are part of the master’s degree. A grade lower than C in one course may be compensated by a higher grade than C in another course. If the applicant has two subjects with the grade D or lower, the applicant is not qualified for admission. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.
Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from NOKUT. Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor’s degree and a 2-year master’s degree.
If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than six weeks after taking up the position.
Inclusion and diversity
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.
If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.
We offer
- Involvement in an interesting research project
- Good career opportunities
- A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues
- Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
- Pension scheme through the state pension fund
- More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility
Application
Your application must include:
- Cover letter
- Short description of the project idea and motivation statement (max. 2 pages)
- CV
- Master’s thesis, and any other academic works
- Diploma for bachelor’s and master’s degree
- Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor’s and master’s degree
- Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
- Documentation of English proficiency
- 2-3 references with contact information
All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.
General information
The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.
A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.
Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.
We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.
UiT – Developing the High North
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research university and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.
Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.
The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE) consists of Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH) and School of Business and Economics.
The main task of BFE is to conduct teaching and research dissemination at a high national and international level within all relevant fields. Prioritized research areas are aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, climate, life in the arctic, marine bioprospecting, fish health, seafood products, business and macroeconomics, resources and environment, markets and management of marine resources. The interdisciplinary profile of the faculty provides good opportunity to develop research projects involving several research groups at the faculty according to its strategy.
Deadline: 5th February 2023
Employer: UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Municipality: Tromsø – Romsa
Scope: Fulltime
Duration: Fixed Term
Place of service: UiT in Tromsø
