PhD-candidate / postdoctoral researcher – Red List of Species in Forest

Key Information
Sustainable management of biodiversity is a focal research topic at NIBIO. The department of Forest Biodiversity is expanding, and we are announcing a PhD-fellowship within the project “Red List of Species – a tool in managing forest biodiversity”.

Optionally, we may employ a postdoctoral fellow which may become relevant if we cannot find the right candidate for a PhD candidate position.

The main objective of the project is to make the Red List of Species more applicable as a tool in managing forest ecosystems for biodiversity.

The position is for 3 years and it is located at NIBIOs headquarter at Ås. Employment will be as soon as possible.

The PhD-study will be at the faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), adjacent to NIBIO at Campus Ås.

Main responsibilities

The “Norwegian Red List for Species” embraces much information which are useful in managing forest biodiversity. However, part of this information is not readily available and easily applicable for practical use. The main task of the project is to review and analyze available datasets, synthesizing and summarizing the results in research papers and reports, among others including:

• Categorizing forest-living species according to main habitats and structures and assessing the proportion which is redlisted/threatened in each category.
• Determine the proportion of redlisted species with known population trend versus the proportion where population trend is predicted based on recent changes in focal habitats and structures.
• Calculate changes/trends in extinction risk of species groups with different focal habitats, using IUCNs Red List Index based on the four latest editions.

The research fellow will work closely together with the research team at the department and may also be involved and contribute on nearby research topics and field work. The position also includes participation in various discussion groups with forest industry, management, and NGOs.

Professional qualifications (required)

• Relevant Master degree (PhD for postdoctoral fellow), preferably in ecology/natural history or environmental sciences.
• Qualified for PhD study at NMBU:https://www.nmbu.no/forskning/forskerutdanning/soknad-opptak
• Good skills in mathematics and statistics
• Speaking and writing Norwegian or Scandinavian language fluently
• Good skills in English

Will be evaluated positively

• Knowledge and experience with Norwegian/Nordic forest and environmental management
• Experience in statistical modelling
• Experience in handling large datasets
• Experience in publishing English scientific reports

Personal qualifications

• Being structured, efficient and accurate
• Thinking independently and reflected

Salary and benefits

• Opportunity to work on an important social mission with focus on sustainability and future-oriented projects.
• Challenging, exciting and varied tasks in interdisciplinary teams
• A flexible everyday life with the opportunity to influence one’s own work tasks
• A skilled professional environment with good colleagues
• A generous personnel policy with welfare schemes that focus on employees’ different stages of life.

The position is remunerated according to the Norwegian State Salary Scale as PhD candidate code 1017, salary grade 54-60 (NOK 532.200 – 584.500 per year) or Postdoktor kode 1352, salary grade 60-67 (NOK 584.500 – 657.300 per year), commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which includes a good occupational pension scheme, occupational injury and group life insurance, and low-interest home loans.

Do you need more information?
Contact Head of Departement Jørund Rolstad, +47 481 33 532 or Senior Researcher Ken Olaf Storaunet, +47 918 01 948, or see webpage nibio.no.

Other information
We would like to point out that information about applicants may be subject to public disclosure, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (Offentlighetsloven), Section 25. An applicant can request to be exempted from inclusion on a public list of applicants. If the request for confidentiality is denied, the applicant will be notified thereof.

About diversity and inclusion – for applicants living in Norway:
In accordance with the Norwegian Civil Service equal opportunities policy, qualified candidates are encouraged to apply – regardless of age, gender, functional disabilities, gaps in CV or national or ethnic background. As a government agency, we have the opportunity to provide positive special treatment for applicants who have a disability, gaps in their CV or immigrant background. Positive special treatment means, among other things, that you will more easily come to the interview. Read more about this here (in norwegian).

How to apply for the position
Please send your application with CV electronically via the link on this page.
Take diplomas and letters of recommendation with you if invited to an interview, or submit them as an attachment along with the electronic application/CV.

We use Semac background checks on final candidates as part of our recruitment process.

About NIBIO and the Department
NIBIO’s activities lie within agriculture, forestry, food, climate and the environment. The Institute conducts research and management support, and provides knowledge for use in national preparedness, governmental and district management, industry, and the society at large. NIBIO has approximately 700 employees present in all parts of the country. Its main office is located at Ås in Viken.

NIBIO is owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Forest Biodiversity is on of eight departments at NIBIOs Division of Forest and Forest Resources. Our mission is to produce scientific data to be used in assessing and improving the environmental condition of Norwegian forests. The department is responsible for the scientific development of the MiS-programme, an inventory for identifying important areas for biodiversity. Other research areas include conservation biology, red list species, forest history, and fire ecology.