Researcher position in Population Ecology Modelling

NINA's research within terrestrial ecology is financed by a wide range of sources as governmental environmental management agencies (at local, regional and national levels), the Research Council of Norway, industry and international organizations (including various EU research funding schemes).   The department conducts research within Norway and internationally. NINA has staff from a diversity of disciplinary backgrounds including ecology (zoology and botany), economics, and various social sciences.

As an independent foundation NINA receives a certain degree of core funding from the state which covers approximately 33% of a researcher’s time. The rest of a researcher’s time has to be covered by externally funded projects. NINA strongly encourages teamwork in general, and the advertised position in particular is intended to closely interact with our existing researchers and their ongoing projects. The successful applicant will therefore benefit from existing grants at the start. However, it is expected that the successful applicant should eventually develop his/her own applications, both as the principle investigator and in cooperation with other NINA researchers.

Specific examples of research topics relevant to the new position include:

• Statistical modelling of demographic processes (e.g. using capture-mark-recapture methods), with a special focus on the effects of environmental variation and human activities.
• Develop structured and unstructured population models for a range of species with high management relevance (e.g. seabirds, large carnivores, large herbivores, small game).
• Develop and apply novel statistical methods allowing combined modelling of multiple datasets, for increased ecological insight.
• Effects of climate change on species abundance and distribution.

For more information about NINA and the Department of Terrestrial Ecology and our activities, reference is made to the web page http://www.nina.no/english/Home  

Job description
The announced position should strengthen our research activities within population ecology and should have a research profile with a clear focus on statistical modelling of the effects of environmental variation on demography and population dynamics processes.  

Qualifications
The applicants should hold a PhD in biology or equivalent, and document a strong research and academic competence in population ecology modelling. Abilities for interdisciplinary collaboration will be considered an advantage. Emphasis will be placed on the ability of the candidate to conduct internationally competitive research, and to cooperate with different research groups at NINA. The candidate’s ability to initiate projects and attract funding related to the research area is also important. The potential of the candidate to co-operate with the existing staff at the Department of Terrestrial Ecology is emphasized.

Emphasis will also be placed on communication skills. Evaluation of the applicants will be based on documented materials, including project funding, presentation of academic work, previous experience from terrestrial ecological field work on vertebrates as well as well as other related skills. Both quality and scope will be evaluated.

Applicants short-listed for the position will normally be invited for an interview. Prominence will be given for personal traits which are deemed relevant for the execution of the role.

Newly employed candidates who do not speak or write a Scandinavian language are required to obtain knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language within three years of taking up the position. This must be of a standard that is equivalent to Level Three in the “Norwegian for Foreigners” courses provided by the Department of Linguistics, NTNU.

Terms of employment NINA offers:

• Salary according to qualifications
• Flexible working hours
• Good pension and collective life insurance
• Varied and interesting work in one of Norway’s leading research environments
• Good opportunities for professional development

Norway, like other Scandinavian countries, has generous rules for both maternity and paternity leave. Professional daycare for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life (www.trondheim.com). Having a population of 180 000, Trondheim is a small city by international standards, and thus has low crime rates, little pollution, and easy access to a beautiful countryside. Trondheim is home to Norway’s largest university and several large technology research institutions.

There will be a requirement to take up residence in Trondheim, or in the relative vicinity.

NINA has a personnel policy objective that the staff must reflect the composition of the population to the greatest possible extent. NINA would like to increase the percentage of female scientists and would encourage females to apply. 

The application should contain:

• CV including a full list of publications with bibliographical references, and contact details for three referees.
• Testimonials and certificates.
• The most relevant publications - published or unpublished - that have relevance to the evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications (max 10).
• A brief description of the scientific and technological relevance of the candidate’s research.
? • Other documents which the applicant would like to present.
• If relevant, a list of projects with information on funding agency, years of duration and the funds received.

The application must be submitted in English, either, preferably by e-mail to siri.svendsen@nina.no, or by post to NINA, Personalkontoret, PO Box. 5685 Sluppen, N-7485 Trondheim, Norway.

Selected candidates will be invited to an interview.

For further information, please contact Research Director Hans Chr. Pedersen, Terrestrial Ecology, tel. +47 413 13 496, hans.pedersen@nina.no  or Director General Norunn S. Myklebust tel. +47 930 24 633, norunn.myklebust@nina.no.

Closing date: 2016-10-30