Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Ecology

at  Universitetet i SrstNorge

Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge
Gullbringveien 36, 3800 Bø i Telemark
About the position
The Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences has a vacancy for a 100 % position as Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Ecology from 01.08.2024.
The position is associated with the Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health and reports to the Head of Department. The place of employment is Bø in Telemark.
About the post-doc project
This post-doc position is within the EU project “Biodegradable delivery systems for plant pathogens control of horticultural crops through bioactive agents” (BioBIVE).
The BioBIVE project proposes an innovative solution based on the development of bio-based and bioactive delivery systems to control the plant pathogens of different horticultural crops decreasing fossil-based materials and pesticide use, minimising environmental footprint. In BioBIVE, bioactive agents’ incorporation (basic substances, phlorotannins, microorganisms) into biodegradable delivery systems (mulch film, biochar, sprayable mulch film) will improve the crop yield and health, resulting in innovative, sustainable, and eco-friendly agricultural solutions. The proposed systems ewill be tested in real-life case studies on three highly relevant European crops (tomatoes, carrots, strawberries), which have been chosen based on key socio-economic aspects.
The post-doc position will be involved in strawberry trials in Norway using biochar as the delivery system. The biochar that is produced by one of the partners will be micronized and pre- and post-treated with bioactive agents. The formulations will need to be evaluated for impact on soil and plants following the cropping season. Pathogen reduction will be evaluated in vitro by means of molecular methods like qPCR or NGS to monitor the antagonists’ emergence and pathogen decline over time.
To evaluate the biochar-based mulching systems on strawberry crop under humid conditions, trials will be performed in commercial farms located in the south-eastern part of Norway.
The appointment is for a term of 2 years. Depending on the Department’s needs and the applicant’s competence, 25 % teaching requirement can be considered, with corresponding extension of the appointment period.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a Norwegian doctorate or equivalent education abroad in Genetics/Molecular biology. The applicant must have gained the degree within the application deadline.
The staff at the faculty work within subject teams to a large extent and the candidate must be motivated to share his or her knowledge and cooperate. Personal suitability for the position will be emphasized.

Please refer the Job description for details