PhD Candidate in Biological Oceanography: Zooplankton and Carbon Pump (NTNU)

Job title

PhD Candidate in Biological Oceanography: Zooplankton and its role in the carbon pump.

Company

Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Description of the job

The Department of Biology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim offers a fully funded PhD position for three years within an interdisciplinary research project focused on zooplankton ecology and its role in the oceanic biological carbon pump.

Oceans have sequestered approximately 30–50% of anthropogenic CO₂ since the beginning of the industrial revolution, mitigating the rise in atmospheric CO₂ and, consequently, global warming. However, the mechanisms through which carbon is transported into the deep ocean remain poorly understood.

The project will investigate how zooplankton contributes to carbon sequestration through vertical migrations, using a combination of optical and acoustic instruments to observe and quantify their dynamics in the water column. A key objective is the development and improvement of physiological proxies and endpoints to better estimate zooplankton respiration and its impact on oceanic carbon fluxes. The position offers training in field observations, advanced instrumentation, experiments with zooplankton organisms and physiological analyses within an international research environment. This position will contribute to the strategic program Polhavet 2050.

The supervision will be led by Associate Professor Jose Landeira with co-supervisor Associate Professor Kang Nian Yap. The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work with a possibility of up to 1 year of career promotion work.

Duties:

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate.
• Carry out high-quality research within the framework described above.
• Publish in peer-reviewed international journals.
• Participate in the activities of the Department of Biology.
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions.

What We Offer:

• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment.
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period.
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues.
• Working capital to implement the project.
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU.
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK).
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2).

Requirements

Required:

• Relevant Master's degree in biology, Ocean Resources, Oceanography or equivalent, corresponding to a five-year Norwegian course with 120 credits at master's level. Master students can apply, but the degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 01/09/2026.
• Strong academic background with an average grade from Master's degree equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale.
• Must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Experience in marine ecology, physiology, and/or oceanography.

Preferred:

• Experience in oceanographic cruises.
• Experience in zooplankton sampling.
• Experience conducting experiments with living plankton.
• Knowledge of animal physiology.
• Competence in scientific programming using R, Python, or other relevant programming languages.

Location

Trondheim, Norway.

Salary

NOK 550,800 per annum (49.500 EUR).

How to apply

Applications must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. The application must include: transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees, CV, copy of Master's thesis, a list of publications (if applicable), and names and contact information of three relevant referees. For questions about the position, contact Associate Professor Jose Landeira at jose.landeira.sanchez@ntnu.no.

Deadline

02/04/2026.

Disclaimer

This job post has been published by Blue-jobs based on information that is publicly available on the internet through official company websites or third-party job boards. Blue-jobs is not affiliated with the company mentioned and does not take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or updates of the job content. If you would like to edit or remove this post, please contact us at info@blue-jobs.com.