The University of Bergen (UiB) is an internationally recognised research university with more than 14,000 students and close to 3,500 employees at seven faculties. The university is located in the heart of Bergen. Our main contribution to society is excellent basic research and education across a wide range of disciplines.

The Sars International Centre performs basic research on the development and evolution of marine animals, using advanced methods of molecular/cell/computational biology. The Sars Centre is a partner of E.M.B.L. (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) and is located in the Bergen High Technology Centre together with several departments of the University of Bergen. It currently has 70 employees originating from more than twenty countries.

There is a vacancy for a 4 year postdoctoral fellow position at the Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology (www.sars.no/) in the research group headed by Dr. Fabian Rentzsch. The position is funded on a TOPPFORSK grant from the Norwegian Research Council, and is available from October 2018. The Sars Centre belongs to the University of Bergen, and is partner of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) www.embl.de/. The candidate will be employed by the University of Bergen.

About the project/work tasks:
The Rentzsch group studies neurogenesis in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis with the aim to understand cellular, molecular and evolutionary aspects of nervous system development (see Richards and Rentzsch, Development, 2014 and 2015). We have used RNA-seq, microarrays and in situ hybridizations to identify molecularly defined subpopulations of neurons. In the advertised project we aim to characterize the molecular basis of the development of these subpopulations. Main experimental approaches are transgenic reporter constructs and CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing for functional studies. The successful candidate has the opportunity to contribute to the further development of the project in line with his/her interests.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a Norwegian PhD or an equivalent degree within biology or molecular biology or must have submitted his/her doctoral thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded
• Experience and a strong interest in developmental biology, evo-devo questions and molecular biology methods is required
• Ability to work both independently and in close collaboration with others in a structured manner
• Personal communication skills to interact with the scientific environment are required
• Proficiency in both written and oral English

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment

• Salary at pay grade 57 upon appointment (code 1352), currently NOK 490.900 gross p.a. Further promotions are made according to length of service in the position

• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

• A position in an inclusive workplace (IA enterprise)

Applications in English must include:

• A cover letter that includes brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position

• CV

• List of publications

• The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these must be the main advisor for the PhD programme

• Transcripts and diplomas and official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted

• Relevant certificates/references

Please send your application with attachments electronically via JobbNorge by clicking on the button “Apply for this job”. If your diploma, grade transcripts and other documentation are in a language other than English, you must upload certified translations of these (diploma and grade transcripts in a Scandinavian language are acceptable). Please note that applications will be assessed only with the information available in JobbNorge when the deadline expires. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all relevant attachments are submitted by the deadline.

Applications by e-mail only will not be considered.

Closing date for application: 19 August 2018.