PhD scholarship within veterinary pharmacology - Deadline: Saturday, January 28, 2023

Salmon lice are the most important parasites in Norwegian fish farming. Are you interested in studying a basic biological function that is highly important for control of this parasite?

PhD scholarship within veterinary pharmacology About the position

At the NMBU Faculty for Veterinary Medicine, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, there is a vacancy for a PhD scholarship in veterinary pharmacology. This is a fixed-term position with a duration of 3 years.

The position is associated with a Research Council-funded project (FRIPRO). The tasks will be diverse, at the intersections between pharmacology, physiology, parasitology and molecular biology. The PhD-candidate will work with receptors for the transmitter acetylcholine, so-called nicotine receptors, in salmon lice. The receptor is composed of five subunits.

In the project, the candidate will identify genes that code for these subunits and clone them into frog eggs, a widely used model for electrophysiological studies. The candidate will test how different medicinal compounds and model substances interact with the receptor.

The applicant is made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.

Main tasks

The focus will be on the ligand-activated ion channel called nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)

Using bioinformatics tools and molecular methods, the PhD-candidate will identify and characterize genes and gene expression for nAChR subunits

The three-dimensional structures of the subunits and functional receptors will be determined in silico

The stoichiometry (i.e. the composition of the different subunits of a functional receptor) must be determined for different variants of nAChRs

Pharmacological properties of the characterized nACh receptors will be determined with model substances as well as medicinal compounds that might be relevant for control with salmon lice in the aquaculture industry, using toxicological methods (bioassays), RNA-interference studies and the frog-egg model

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 an aim to complete a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

Competence

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 master's degree or a cand.med.vet. degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. 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.

Academic qualifications

The applicant must:

Hold a relevant master's degree or equivalent (e.g. in veterinary science, molecular biology)

Have a general experience with molecular biology

Have good ICT skills

Have good language skills in English, both spoken and written

The following experience and skills will count:

Molecular biological techniques

Bioinformatics

Knowledge of electrophysiological techniques and cell culture work

Personal skills

The candidate must:

Have a strong motivation for academic work

Be able to able to work independently and in a team

Have good communication skills

Have a good technical understanding

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 501.200,-) 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.

Further information from Professor Tor Einar Horsberg, tel: +47 41327053, e-mail: [email protected]

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants

Application

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: 28.01.23

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)

Complete CV

Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.

Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.

Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3).

Names and contact details for two references

Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). 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.

Students in the last part of the course of study can also apply, but cannot take up the post until the course has ended.

About the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at NMBU is the country's only veterinary professional education and provide expertise in veterinary medicine and veterinary public health. The Faculty educates veterinarians, animal nurses and doctoral students in Veterinary Science and researches in veterinary medicine and related biomedical fields. We have 500 students and 430 employees.

The faculty consists of the departments of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Paraclinical Sciences, Production Animal Clinical Sciences and Companion Animal Clinical Sciences. We also run the Animal Hospital, which is closely linked to our research and education, and receives patients from all over the country.

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

NMBU has a particular responsibility for research and education that secures the basis for the life of future generations. Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we deliver knowledge for life. NMBU has 1,900 employees of which about 500 phd scholarships and 6,700 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.

NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity.

We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www. nmbu.no.

Deadline

28th January 2023

Employer

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

Municipality

Ås

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Permanent

Place of service