PhD Student in Natural Science, specializing in Biology

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 53 500 students and 6 500 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The research project “HAPPY SALMON” funded by NORDFORSK, announces a doctoral position with placement at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at University of Gothenburg.

The Happy Salmon consortium constitutes Nordic research and industrial partners, gathering four world-renowned academic research environments from Norway, Sweden and Iceland that have teamed up with the aquaculture production and feed industry represented by one large, multinational feed company, Skretting, two large salmon producers, Laxar Fiskeldi Ltd and Arctic Fish Ltd, as well as two SMEs and entrepreneurs, Swedish Algae Factory and Smögenlax/Rena Hav AB. The PhD student will work in close collaboration with a PhD student in Bergen, Norway as well as participate in the PhD student network within NORDFORSK.

The "Happy Salmon" project aims are to contribute with knowledge and solutions for a successful Atlantic salmon smolt production using novel sustainable feeds that are applicable in modern recirculating land-based farming systems. Smoltification is the life stage transition when the young salmon changes habitat from a life in freshwater to seawater and includes a spectrum of physiological changes for the fish to be able to cope with increased salinity. Smoltification is regarded as a stressful process, and the current smolt production protocols used by industry often lead to depressed appetite, stunted growth and impaired health and welfare of the fish, as well as a major production cost for the industry. To overcome these problems, the project will troubleshoot smolt production bottlenecks by targeting the underlying physiological mechanisms to salmon performance during different production cycle stages. The project will test if alternative feeds based on marine raw materials, directly using marine microalgae and side streams or indirectly using insects, will lead to a robust smolt prepared for a life in seawater, with high appetite and growth.

The PhD student will join a team of three senior scientists: Henrik Sundh, main supervisor, Elisabeth Jönsson Bergman, project leader and co- supervisor and Kristina “Snuttan” Sundell co-supervisor in the Fish Endocrinology Laboratory research group at BioEnv.

Job assignments

The main task is to conduct the PhD thesis work under supervision, which includes development of methodological experience, analytical skills, as well as theoretical depth and breadth. Techniques that will be used within the project are various biochemical and physiological methods; for example, electrophysiological, molecular, and histological methods for examining intestinal functions and immunology as well as radioimmunoassays for measuring hormones.

The tasks also include designing experiments and treatment protocols for growth trials. The studies will be conducted mostly as a lab. studies but also includes statistical analyzes, writing scientific articles and presenting results at both international and national conferences and seminars.

Third cycle education

Admission to third cycle education is aiming at a PhD in Natural Sciences, specializing in Biology. The education runs for four years of full-time studies, containing three years of thesis work and one year of academic education (i.e. course work and literature studies). A selection of courses at the Department/Faculty is available, but national/international courses can also be selected. Some teaching and/or course administration can be included, which extends the contract time by the same extent.

Employment
After admission to third-cycle studies you will be appointed to doctoral studentship. Regulations for employment of doctoral students are given in SFS 1993:100. The initial appointment may apply for no longer than one year. An appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be appointed to a doctoral studentship for a total of eight years. The total employment period may, however, not exceed the time corresponding to full-time third-cycle study for four years.

Salaries for doctoral students are regulated in a local agreement at the University.

For more information and how to apply

In order to apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online recruitment system https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/main?site=7&validator=9b89bead79bb7258ad55c8d75228e5b7〈=UK&rmpage=job&rmjob=21092 It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The application must be received no later than: 2021-08-08

 


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