PhD Research Fellow (two positions) in marine evolutionary ecology

The first position is part of the research project Thermos (Regional downscaling of eco-physiological theory – confronting global predictions with local observations) and is financed by the Research Council of Norway. The project aims to critically evaluate state-of-the-art theory on how temperature and other drivers affect spawners and modify the timing of when they spawn, and assess to what degree existing theories are relevant for high-latitude spring bloom systems. The project uses well-studied Norwegian stocks of Atlantic cod and herring as test cases. A main hypothesis underpinning the project, which challenges current thought, is that oceanographic conditions, and not so much the individual preference, determines the temperature at which fish spawn. When employed, the candidate is expected to participate in the development of a mechanistic simulation model to investigate how fish may utilize different temperature ranges over the seasons to budget different bioenergetic tasks, such as feeding, digestion and gonad development. It will also be possible to couple modelling results with observed temperature recordings from fish tagged with different temperature sensors. This part of the project is a collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research (IMR).

The second position is part of the project DRIFT (Systematically rethinking advection and cross-ecosystem subsidies), a starting grant funded by the Trond Mohn Research Foundation (https://bio.uib.no/te/research/advection/). The project focuses on how advection turns ocean currents into food conveyors.  The open ocean harbours an estimated 1–16 billion tonnes of small mesopelagic fishes, comprising 50–95% of global fish biomass. Many of these, along with pelagic crustaceans, squids, and gelatinous zooplankton, are active vertical migrators but remain hidden in the twilight zone at depths of several hundred meters during the day. Our focus is when these drifting organisms are transported from the open ocean towards underwater slopes—such as seamounts, banks, and continental shelf breaks—where they are pushed from the deep twilight into the shallower depths where light can reach, and there become easy prey for predators. Our hypothesis is that this process fuels productive ecosystems and supports dense predator populations along these slopes and coasts. DRIFT aims to uncover the mechanisms that govern when and where oceanic prey becomes accessible to predators, map foraging hotspots across the North Atlantic, and predict how advected biomass shapes production, life histories, and species distributions in recipient ecosystems. The main task of the successful candidate will be to use particle tracking within ocean circulation models to simulate mesopelagic biomass transport and identify potential advective feeding hotspots, working closely with co-supervisors and collaborators at the Geophysical Institute and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research.

• Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in biology or another discipline relevant for the project. Master students can apply provided they complete their final master exam before 01.09.2025. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
• A broad knowledge and intuition in marine ecology is a requirement.
• Applicants must be willing to challenge existing thinking.
• Skills and experience in mathematics, computer programming and/or mechanistic modelling frameworks is an advantage
• For the position in the research project DRIFT, an understanding of physical oceanography or experience with ocean circulation models or particle tracking is an advantage
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative skills.
• Applicants must have excellent skills in written and oral English

Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized, particularly during the interview. Ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates, as demonstrated in the motivation letter and interviews. We expect the candidate’s presented qualifications and work to show a high degree of future potential.

Special requirements for the position
The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.

About the PhD fellowship: Both fellowships will be for a period of 3 years, each with the possibility for a 4th year contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the Head of department upon appointment. If a 4th year is granted, one year of career-promoting work associated with teaching, dissemination or research infrastructure/services, will be distributed over the full employment period and thus corresponding to 25 per cent of the time each year.

About the research training: As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Science and Technology is 2 months after you start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that you satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen.

• a positive, dynamic, trusting, and critical research group for discussions and day-to-day interactions
• salary as PhD research fellow (code 1017) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 541 800. Further increases in salary are made according to length of service in the position
• enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• good welfare benefits

• a brief motivation letter (max 2 pages) of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying for the position. Please specify whether you would want to be evaluated for both PhD positions or only one of them, and any priorities
• the names and contact information for two reference persons we may contact. One of these should be the main advisor for the Master’s thesis or equivalent thesis
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not yet completed your master’s degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your master’s degree. Your Master’s degree must be documented with transcripts and/or diploma before starting in the position
• approved documentation of proficiency in English (if required, cf. English language requirements for PhD admission)
• a list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list) with pdfs as attachments, including your Master’s thesis

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.