Research Fellowship

Telemark University College (TUC) is a fully-accredited state college in Norway, with approximately 5,000 full-time students and 500 faculty and staff. TUC has 4 campuses (in Bø, Notodden, Porsgrunn and Rauland) and offers a wide variety of study programmes and degrees. All 4 faculties are actively involved in teaching and research.

Research Fellowship (PhD student position) in Behavioural Ecology

A position as Research Fellow is available for a PhD student at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in Bø from August 1, 2008.

The fellowship period is either 4 years (25 % teaching responsibility included) or 3 years (no teaching duties). The Faculty of Arts and Sciences currently has approximately 90 faculty staff/research positions and 15 administrative positions. The position is at the Department of Environmental and Health Studies, which employs 10,6 teaching- and research positions, 3,3 technical positions and 4 Research Fellowships and other temporary placements. The Department offers a Master degree programme in Environmental and Health Studies.

The Research Fellow will work on the project “Chemical Ecology and Genetics in Mammals”. This is an exciting interdisciplinary project that combines chemistry, genetics and ecology to allow new insight into sociality and communication in mammals. The project will focus on the monogamous Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), the polygamous yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) and the non-social brown bear (Ursus arctos) as model species. The majority of the field work will be carried out on beavers in Telemark, but there will also be field work on bears in south-central Sweden and on yellow-bellied marmot in the Colorado Rockies in the USA. The Research Fellow will collect scent samples from live-trapped animals and conduct chemical analysis in the laboratory on a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Molecular genetic analyses, such as PCR (the Polymerase Chain Reaction) and DNA fingerprinting will also be conducted. The behaviour of, and interactions between, individual animals will be studied with GPS radio technology, data-loggers and proximity loggers.

This position is a cooperation between TUC, where the student will work daily, and the Norwegian University of Life Science (UMB) in Ås, Norway, where the Research Fellow is obliged to follow required PhD courses, and where the student will be awarded the PhD degree after the project has been successfully completed.

Applicants must have achieved a Master’s degree, Cand. Scient, or similar educational background. Due to extensive field periods in Norway, Sweden and the USA, an ability to conduct field work within the frames of the project and a driver’s license are required. Criteria such as experience with and understanding of behavioural ecology and statistical data, individual qualities and the ability to work both independently and as part of an international team of students and scientists will be emphasized in the selection of the best candidate.

The position as Research Fellow/PhD student is placed at salary level 43 (code 1017) on the government salary scale. Two percent of the salary is deducted due to required membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

Employees must comply with current laws, regulations and agreements for the position.

An expert committee from TUC will evaluate the applications. The most suitable applicants will be interviewed.

Based on the rules on equal opportunities laid down in the Personnel Regulations for Academic Positions, state employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the general population. Women and persons with minority background are encouraged to apply for the position.

Further information about the position can be obtained from Tone Jøran Oredalen, Head of the Department of Environmental and Health Studies (tel: + 47 35 95 27 76, e-mail: tone.j.oredalen@hit.no) or project manager Ass. Prof. Frank Rosell (tel:+47 35 95 27 62, e-mail: frank.rosell@hit.no).

A written application should be submitted, each with a complete overview of education and professional activities (CV), certified copies of diplomas (Bachelor and Master degrees), documentation of relevant work experience and, if available, a list of publications and copies of these. The application is to be marked “27/08” and sent to Telemark University College, Hallvard Eikas Plass, 3800 Bø, Norway.

Application deadline: 01.04.08.