Postdoctoral fellow position in the borealization of terrestrial ecosystems

31st August 2025
Languages
English

• English

English

The Department of Natural history has a vacancy for a 

Postdoctoral fellow position in the borealization of terrestrial ecosystems
Apply for this job
See advertisement
This is NTNU

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here .

     

...

(Video unable to load from YouTube. Accept cookie and refresh page to watch video, or click here to open video)

About the position

Are you ready to take your research career to the next level?

We offer an exciting 3-year postdoctoral position that gives you the opportunity to develop a strong profile as researcher. You will also gain valuable experience that might be relevant for your further career. The purpose of a postdoctoral position is for the employee to build up a researcher profile and competence that qualifies the person to apply for a position as associate professor. The position may also provide other competence with relevance for the postdoctoral fellow's further career. Become part of our research environment and take the next step in your career with us.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. 

This postdoctoral position will position you at the core of an international network driving research into ecological change in the world’s northernmost ecosystems, allowing you to develop research, coordination, and leadership skills. You will benefit from close interaction with a broad group of researchers across the network. 

About the project 

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a three-year temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.

The NTNU University Museum is looking for an energetic and ambitious ecologist with excellent organizational and communication skills. The postdoctoral position is part of the Nordic Borealization Network , a NordForsk funded University Cooperation Network.

The Nordic Borealization Network strives to understand the implications of ongoing shifts in the forest-tundra biome boundary, that is, the borealization of Nordic terrestrial ecosystems. These shifts include the encroachment of woody species (treeline advance and shrub expansion), spread of non-native species, and changes in the biotic community composition and ecosystem structure and processes.

The postdoc will have a leading role in coordinating the network and will lead research and synthesis efforts in quantifying past and ongoing rates of borealization and possibly predicting future rates of borealization.

The successful candidate will build leadership expertise by being part of the management board of a large Nordic cooperation project. The position will provide a unique opportunity to be part of a large, active and multidisciplinary international team, participation in project meetings in different countries over the course of the project and opportunities for research visits with other partners and for student supervision.

The position is based at the NTNU University Museum in Trondheim with Prof. James D. M. Speed and will interact with partners across the network.

Duties of the position

• Coordinate the Nordic Borealization Network, using platforms and procedures already developed by a previous position. 
• Take the leading role in collaborative efforts to quantify borealization across the terrestrial Arctic and lead the writing of relevant scientific articles.
• Identify additional opportunities for funding of joint Nordic Borealization Network projects, assist in the preparation of grant applications and coordinate efforts across the consortium
• Carry out own research activities under the theme of borealization
• Communicate and interact with various stakeholder groups to ensure relevance of network activities

Required selection criteria

• A relevant PhD degree in ecology or similar subjects
• Relevant background in research in ecology or related fields of research
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral English
• The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant

 

• If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position. 

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) and Regulations for the degrees philosophiaedoctor (ph.d.) and philosophiaedoctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience in project management and coordination 
• Publications of research in recognized international journals within the field
• Experience from research in topics within Arctic or boreal ecology, or similar
• Experience in working in an international research environment
• Previous success in securing research funding
• Competence in Norwegian or another of the Nordic languages

Personal characteristics

Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you

• Excellent organization skills
• Academic team player
• Effective communicator
• Work independently 
• Work structured, set goals and make plans to achieve them 
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals 
• Engage and contribute constructively with feedback 
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject 
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions  
• Are flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer 

• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment 
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which contains the skills and knowledge you will acquire
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU  
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits .

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. 

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 604 900 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years.

The position is conditional on external funding

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them. 

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act , and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. 

About the application 

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English. Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

The application must include:

• CV, certificates and diplomas
• A cover letter setting out your motivation for the postdoctoral position and briefly outlining how your previous experience fits within the network (max. 1 page)
• Transcripts and diplomas for PhD degree
• A copy of the PhD thesis and of relevant manuscripts, publications or other relevant research work
• Name and contact details of two to three references

If all or parts of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here . If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) , please attach this as well.
Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public list of applicants, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor James D. M. Speed, phone: +47 73592251, email: james.speed@ntnu.no . 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Anne Karin Henning, Senior HR, Phone +47 95881805, email: anne.karin.henning@ntnu.no

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).

Application deadline: 31.08.2025

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 
The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000.The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality. 

via Unsplash
NTNU
NTNU - knowledge for a better world
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.
NTNU University Museum  
The NTNU University Museum is one of Norway’s leading institutions in protection, conservation, exhibition and research related to natural and cultural material.
We are one of Norway’s six university museums. The museum has two departments, a national laboratory for age determination, an exhibition and events section, and an administration.
Apply for this job
Deadline

31st August 2025

Employer

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Municipality

Trondheim

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Temporary

Place of service
Erling Skakkes gate 47, 7491 Trondheim

Loading...