Do you have good biological knowledge and interest in fish-biology and welfare and in digital technology?"

The Department of Animal and Aquacultural Science, Faculty of Biochiences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year Ph.D.-position related to ethology.

The position is connected to a large-scale interdisciplinary research project with the title: ?Understanding melanin-based visual signalling in Atlantic salmon: A multi-disciplinary exercise. The project period is financed for 3 years by the research programme ?Fellesløftet" from the Norwegian Research Council and in close collaboration with SINTEF Ocean, Trondheim.

We search a proactive, self -going candidate with good biological knowledge and interest in fish biology and welfare, and with knowledge and interest in digital technology. The data collection will be based on experimental work and include both ethology, and automated systems for behavioral studies and pigmentation pattern recognition.

The candidate will join the Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences and the research group ?Ethology and Farm Animal Environment", while also working closely throughout the project with SINTEF Ocean AS, Department Aquaculture (Dr. Christian Schellewald et al.). This part of the project will develop a machine vision system for measuring the degree of fading in melanin spots, and for identification of individual salmon based on their spot patterns. To this end, work will to a large degree be conducted at the SINTEF laboratories in Trondheim. A main outcome in addition to knowledge generation and transfer is the achieved integration between forefront biological research and AI based technological innovation.

The primary goal for the Ph.D. project will be to establish melanin-based skin pigmentation as a visual signal of stress in a teleost fish, Atlantic salmon.

Secondary goals are:

• Describe the temporal dynamics of the melanin fading response under different temperatures and treatments
• Develop machine-vision systems and deep-learning algorithms to quantify melanin markings, areas and fading

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 a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

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 Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master's degree level. 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.

The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.

Required Academic qualifications

• Master degree in behavioural biology, aquaculture, and/or digital technology/automated systems for behavioural recognition or machine vision

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:

• Understand experimental design and basic statistics
• Know how to use programs such as XL or R for basic data handling and figure presentations
• Experienced in using digital picture and/or video analysis systems
• Enjoy writing
• Previous work and/or interest in fish biology is an advantage

You need to:

• Be self-going and work systematically
• Be focused and goal-directed
• Be positive and social, take part in activities in the project team and the ethology group

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.

For further information, please contact Project leader Øyvind Øverli, e-mail: Oivind.overli@nmbu.no, phone: +47 41 50 62 22 or head of the research group Inger Lise Andersen, e-mail: inger-lise.andersen@nmbu.no, phone +47 67 23 26 93.

Information for PhD applicants (https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/phd/application_admission) and general information to applicants (https://www.nmbu.no/om/adm/poa/rekruttering/viktig-informasjon-for-s-kere/information-for-jobseekers-at-nmbu)

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: 10.01.2023

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
• Names and contact details for two references
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works)

The Faculty of Biosciences is organized into two departments: Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences and Department of Plant Sciences. The main objective of the Faculty of Biosciences is to contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and food production systems through basic and applied research on plants and animals including fish (aquaculture).

Research is organized in the following groups: Breeding and Quantitative Genetics, Ethology and Animal Environment, Nutrition and Physiology in Monogastric Animals, Ruminant Nutrition and Physiology, Genome Biology, Agroecology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Plant Protection and Food Crops.

The faculty houses the Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE) and the research center for Research-based Innovation (SFI) - Foods of Norway. The faculty is responsible for bachelor- and master programs in Biology, Animal Science and Plant Science, and international master programs in Agroecology, Plant Science, Aquaculture, Animal Breeding Genetics and Feed Manufacturing Technology. PhD programs include Animal Science and Aquaculture, and Plant Sciences. The faculty employs approximately 220 scientists, technicians, and administrative personnel. Around 600 bachelor and master students and 90 PhD students are enrolled in educational programs within the faculty, offering a stimulating and supportive learning environment.

The Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences provides fundamental, innovative research and practical solutions to improve productivity and sustainability across the agriculture and aquaculture sector. The Department represents the sciences for the future within the animal husbandry fields of breeding, nutrition, and ethology. The available position will be organized within the Animal Breeding and Genetics Research Group but will be part of a research team working with sustainability in food production systems through several research projects.