About this role
The Arctic Ocean 2050 programme Are you interested in how the Arctic ocean function in the interlink between ecology and biogeochemistry? Would you like to join Norway´s largest Arctic research programme, the Arctic Ocean 2050? We have a PhD position open at UiT, in Tromsø, within the group Arctic Marine Systems Ecology (AMSE) on the coupling between zooplankton and the biological carbon pump and processes across the mesopelagic layers in the Central Arctic Basin. The position is affiliated with the national research programme Arctic Ocean 2050 . The programme brings together 18 Norwegian research institutions in a major interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at strengthening Norway’s knowledge base and strategic capacity in a rapidly changing Arctic Ocean. Its goals are to improve our understanding of the present-day Arctic Ocean and how it may change towards 2050, and develop the knowledge needed for future management, sustainable use, and a safe and secure region. The ten-year programme (2026–2035) combines basic research, applied science, and innovation – offering unique opportunities for professional development and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Arctic Ocean 2050 focuses on processes within the central Arctic Ocean, its interactions with the surrounding seas, and how these dynamics connect to broader climatic and political systems. Field activities will primarily take place in the Eurasian Basin, between Fram Strait and the North Pole, as well as including the adjacent continental slopes. Pan-Arctic perspectives will be ensured through remote sensing, research on broader sociopolitical drivers, and modelling tools that cover the entire Arctic Ocean, and extensive international research collaboration. As part of Arctic Ocean 2050, you will join an ambitious research environment with high societal relevance and the opportunity to contribute to new knowledge on some of the world’s most remote and important ocean regions. About UiT/AMSE The Department of Arctic and Marine Biology ( AMB ) includes 6 research groups. Research and teaching at AMB has a broad span, from molecular mechanisms at cellular/subcellular levels via studies of adaptations at the organism level, to ecological interactions in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The institute is an exciting and cutting-edge academic and research unit in biology that addresses challenges in basic research, industrial and administrative-oriented research with a strong focus on the North. The institute has extensive national and international research collaboration including regional institutions like the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Institute of Marine Research, and the Fram Centre. The position The PhD fellow will work on biodiversity of zooplankton and fluxes of carbon in the mesopelagic layer in the Central Arctic Ocean. The PhD project is part of the newly funded, large national research programme Arctic Ocean 2050 (Polhavet 2050). The PhD project will be based on samples and datasets collected during previous expeditions to the Arctic Ocean, as well as new data collected during the PhD project. The study will focus on describing diversity and function of the mesopelagic layer (200-600 m depth). This includes linking the mesozooplankton taxonomic and functional diversity with quantifications of marine snow and vertical export flux within and below the mesopelagic layer. Data on mesozooplankton and marine snow (sinking detritus particles) are partly available from previous campaigns but will be supplemented with new data collected during the PhD project. Vertical carbon export will be investigated with long-term sediment traps at different depths, while the distribution of mesozooplankton and marine snow are collected with nets and an underwater vision profiler (UVP6). We are looking for a highly motivated person who sees the benefit of combining different methods and approaches to address ecological hypotheses in an extreme ecosystem. The PhD candidate will work independently and should function well as part of a team. They will work collaboratively with other members of Arctic Ocean 2050, consisting of a large multidisciplinary national team. The PhD students in the project will all be part of a larger group of early careers. The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other career developing activities. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position. The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer. Project description The applicant must present both a cover letter explaining their motivation for undertaking the PhD programme, and a tentative project description within the framework outlined above that summarizes their scientific interests. The project description in English (1-2 pages incl. references) should provide an example of a PhD project idea, including a description of the topic, research questions, proposed methodology and a reference list. The final project description will be developed with the supervisors upon commencement of the PhD position and aligned with the project activities and deliverables. Contact For further information about the position, please contact Professor Sünnje Basedow: email: [email protected] or Professor Marit Reigstad: email: [email protected] or Professor Camilla Svensen: email: [email protected] Qualifications This position requires a master’s degree or equivalent in subject Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Marine Science or similar from a recognized University. If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply. Required qualifications: A minim