About this role
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 will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here. Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0 About the position We have a vacancy for a full-time PhD candidate at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU. The position is linked to AIMARIA – Accelerating Innovation in Marine AI-Powered Bioprospecting, a Horizon Europe Innovation Action coordinated by NTNU. AIMARIA combines omics, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, bioprocess development and sustainability assessment to accelerate the discovery and sustainable production of marine and aquatic natural products. At NTNU, a central part of the project is the development of more predictable and efficient methods for the refactoring and heterologous expression of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). The PhD project will investigate how regulatory DNA elements, BGC architecture and microbial host selection influence the expression of complex biosynthetic pathways. Molecular biology, microbial strain engineering and synthetic biology will be combined with AI-supported design of promoters, 5′ untranslated regions and other regulatory elements. The resulting data will be used to establish more predictable design principles for BGC expression and to support iterative AI-guided design–build–test–learn cycles. The precise scope of the doctoral project will be refined according to the candidate’s qualifications, the BGCs prioritised in AIMARIA and the scientific development of the project. The PhD candidate will work closely with a researcher recruited to the same scientific activity and with national and international partners in the AIMARIA consortium. The project will provide training at the interface between fundamental research in microbial gene regulation and applied development of microbial production systems for marine natural products and enzymes. The successful candidate will be admitted to the PhD programme in Biotechnology at NTNU ( https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phbiot ).The place of work is the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science in Trondheim. Your immediate leader is Head of the department. Duties of the position Design and construct expression systems for heterologous expression of biosynthetic gene clusters. Assemble, modify and refactor BGCs and associated genetic constructs. Design and experimentally test promoters, 5′ untranslated regions and other regulatory DNA elements. Genetically engineer microbial host strains and evaluate their suitability for BGC expression. Conduct molecular-biology, microbiology and synthetic-biology experiments. Analyse BGC transcription, gene expression and product formation. Apply bioinformatic and AI-supported tools for the design and prioritisation of genetic constructs. Document, analyse and interpret experimental data. Collaborate with researchers and project partners responsible for BGC discovery, cell-free expression, analytical chemistry and bioprocess development. Participate in AIMARIA consortium meetings, scientific workshops and conferences. Publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present the work in the doctoral thesis. Contribute to project deliverables and scientific reporting relevant to the doctoral work. Participate in the Department’s doctoral training and academic environment. The primary responsibility of the PhD candidate is to conduct research leading to completion of a doctoral degree. Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment. Required selection criteria A master’s degree or equivalent education in synthetic biology, molecular biology, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, biochemical engineering or another field relevant to the project. Practical laboratory experience in molecular biology, microbiology, genetic engineering or related experimental methods. Ability to analyse, interpret and clearly document experimental results. Excellent written and oral English language skills. Motivation to undertake independent research and complete a doctoral degree. Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master’s level. Master students can apply, but he master’s degree must be obtained and documented before starting in the position and not later than 01.01.2027. A strong academic background relevant to molecular biology, microbial genetics or synthetic biology, and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale . If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education. You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme ( https://www.ntnu.edu/phd ) 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 for general criteria for the position. Preferred selection criteria Experience with molecular cloning, DNA assembly or construction of expression vectors. Experience with genetic modification of bacteria or other microorganisms. Experience with heterologous gene expression or microbial strain engineering. Knowledge of biosynthetic gene clusters, secondary metabolism or microbial natural products. Experience with Streptomyces, actinomycetes or other microbial production hosts. Experience with CRISPR-based engineering or related genome-e