About the position
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year position as PhD research fellow in Environmental Radioactivity/ Radiochemistry/Ecotoxicology
Knowledge of radionuclide behavior in the environment is fundamental for minimizing its potential impact on humans and the environment. This project aims to identify and characterize radionuclide transfer and bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms in combination with chemical stressors and under ecologically relevant exposure scenarios.
The PhD position is funded by the Research Council of Norway through the Norwegian Nuclear Research Centre (NNRC) which is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Norway’s leading research institutions within nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry: University of Oslo (UiO), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), and Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) as well as several associated partners (https://www.nnrc.uio.no/english/research-themes/rt-5/).
The PhD candidate will be part of a dynamic and productive academic team with a large international network covering several research disciplines. The successful candidate will also be able to work closely with NNRC partners.
The applicant is made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.
Main tasks
The main tasks of the PhD position are to:
- Improve our understanding of the exposure, uptake and excretion of multiple stressors (radionuclides, metals and organic compounds) in aquatic organisms.
- To experimentally evaluate the role of speciation and bioavailability as well as toxicokinetics during combined exposure to multiple stressors in aquatic organisms.
- Assess interactions between radionuclides and other chemical contaminants during combined exposure
The work will include:
- Conducting exposure experiments to characterize uptake and bioaccumulation of radionuclides and chemical contaminants separately and/or in combination in aquatic organisms.
- Performing speciation and bioavailability studies in combination with in situ fractionation techniques to characterize exposure.
- Carry out chemical analysis of radionuclides and chemical contaminants in various samples (water, biota and sediments).
- Assessing combined effects (toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic)
- Organization and analysis of data, writing and dissemination of results.
The successful candidate is expected to submit a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree within the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Competence
All applicants are advised to read the section Before applying | NMBU | NMBU, with the NMBU PhD Regulations, the relevant MINA PhD programme description and requirements for documentation of English proficiency.
Required academic qualifications
- A relevant master’s degree in environmental sciences, chemistry including radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry, ecotoxicology or similar
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
- Experience with environmental radioactivity, inorganic environmental chemistry
- Practical field or laboratory experience with studies on aquatic organisms
- Experience with in situ fractionation, bioavailability assessment and/or speciation modelling
- Experience with toxicokinetic assessments of contaminants in mixtures
- Experience with organic environmental chemistry
- Practical or theoretical experience with effect and biomarker assessment
- Competence on ionizing radiation or radionuclides including radioanalytical techniques. For candidates without competence within ionizing radiation, a radiation protection course (e.g., the one given at MINA, NMBU) will be mandatory
- Competence in statistics
You need to have:
- Strong motivation for the PhD education and for the research project
- Good social and collaboration skills
- Ability to work independently
- Have oral and written communication skills in English, and preferably in a Scandinavian language
- Dissemination skills
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in position code 1017 PhD Fellow (550 800 NOK). This is a temporary position with a duration of 3 years. Seniority promotion in the position.
Admission to a PhD program is a prerequisite for appointment to the PhD scholarship position.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars, and in accordance with the Civil Servant Act, the Security Act, and the Export Control Act.
For further information, please contact Professor Hans-Christian Teien
E-mail: hans-christian.teien@nmbu.no, phone: +47 67231893
Information for PhD applicants and Information to applicants
Application
Send application electronically via the link "Apply for this job" at the top of this page. 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: 20.04.2026
Your CV must be entered in Jobbnorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is in order to be able to comply with the regulations to the Public Administration Act §15.
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
- CV
- Certified copies of relevant 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 in accordance with Forskrift for graden philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) ved Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet - Lovdata
- Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
Documents that cannot be sent electronically are sent in triplicate by ordinary mail marked still.nr. 26/03627 to NMBU, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 20.04.2026.
About The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) works with nature and the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, biological and geological processes.
MINA’s employees undertake teaching, research and dissemination within the fields of geology, hydrology and limnology, soil science, environmental chemistry, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism.
Our vision is to be a key actor in knowledge production and dissemination, and our goal is to deliver research of high, international quality, and varied and excellent teaching. The faculty’s employees are significant participants within their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The faculty is dominated by a vital research culture and high levels of scientific production.
The faculty has about 200 employees, 90 PhD students and 650 students.
Om arbeidsgiveren:
NMBU skal bidra til å sikre fremtidens livsgrunnlag gjennom fremragende forskning, utdanning, formidling og innovasjon. Vi har landets mest fornøyde universitetsstudenter, som får forskningsbasert utdanning i et unikt studentmiljø. Våre kandidater får med seg høy kompetanse på tverrfaglig samarbeid og er populære i arbeidsmarkedet.
NMBU har internasjonalt ledende forskningsmiljøer innen flere fag. Sammen med våre partnere i samfunns- og næringslivet bidrar vi til å løse noen av de største samfunnsutfordringene i vår tid. Vi satser på innovasjon, formidling og entreprenørskap fordi vi mener disse utfordringene best løses med felles innsats.
Vi mener at et godt arbeidsmiljø preges av mangfold. Vi oppfordrer kvalifiserte kandidater til å søke uavhengig av kjønn, funksjonsevne, kulturell bakgrunn eller om du har vært utenfor arbeidslivet en periode. Vi vil legge arbeidsplassen til rette for personer med nedsatt funksjonsevne.
Nærmere opplysninger om NMBU finnes på www.nmbu.no