Fixed-term

About the position Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, invites applications from outstanding candidates for a three-year PhD position in marine nature conservation and fisheries. The successful candidate will be part of the Ecology division, located in Bodø, Norway. This PhD will seek synergies between marine nature conservation and sustainable fisheries, notably by identifying opportunities for Marine Protected Areas to benefit fisheries through spillover benefits, as well as the MPA being refugia for broodstock and juveniles. Both global, regional and local perspectives and applications, across finfish and shellfish, are encouraged, with the aim to develop general theory around optimising marine spatial management to restore biodiversity while enabling sustainable use of resources. The preferred start date is September 1, but this is flexible. Qualification requirements A master’s degree in a relevant field of study is required Grade average of B or better (or equivalent score) both for the programme as a whole and the master’s thesis See admission requirements: PhD in Biosciences Employment is conditional upon admission to the faculty’s doctoral program. The final project outline must be approved within three months of appointment. Termination may be considered if admission to the doctoral program is not obtained within this deadline, or in cases of failure to submit annual progress reports and/or serious deficiencies in progress or duty work. For admission requirements and regulations, see our web page Fluent English skills are required both written and oral. A solid understanding of fisheries, biogeography, marine ecology, natural history, and nature conservation science and practice is essential. Strong computational and analytical skills, and ability to quickly learn new analytical methods are important. Experience in publishing papers as a lead author is an asset. Candidates who already have a PhD degree will not be considered for the position. Qualified applicants will be ranked according to the following criteria: Theme and perspectives from the applicant’s master’s study The applicant’s description of motivation for the doctoral work and opportunities for completion Relevant experience from research work Ability to work independently, goal-oriented and systematically Personal suitability We offer The annual salary for doctoral researchers (code 1017) is NOK 550 800,-. Benefits from the Government Pension Fund for loans, insurance and pension Creative and collegial working environment A workplace with progressive development Flexible working hours An active university sports club General information The person who is appointed must abide by the applicable laws, agreements, and directives. The responsibilities and duties associated with the position may change with future reorganization at Nord University. Nord University is subject to the Security Act, which sets requirements for the handling of classified and sensitive information. To increase security in the hiring process, Nord may conduct background checks on relevant candidates. Please note that all our candidates may be asked questions necessary in this context. This includes questions about any potential connection to countries that PST has identified as key threat actors in its annual threat assessment. The state workforce should, to the greatest extent possible, reflect the diversity of the population. Therefore, Nord University encourages qualified candidates with disabilities, gaps in their CV, immigrant backgrounds, and other diverse life experiences to apply. Information about disabilities or gaps in the CV may be used for anonymized registration purposes. For this position, Nord University is cautious about hiring individuals with connections to countries that PST has identified as key threat actors in its annual threat assessment. Contact information Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting: Mark Costello, mark.j.costello@nord.no Application process Applicants will be evaluated by an internal expert committee. Relevant applicants will be invited for an interview, trial lecture or other presentations. For more information, see Nord`s website . The Faculty reserves the right not to hire applicants who may be scientifically qualified but who do not meet other criteria such as language, educational background or personal characteristics Application Application deadline: 01.06.2026. The application should include: Application letter with description of your motivation for applying for the position Complete CV (education, work and teaching experience and overview of any scientific publications) Copy of diploma for both bachelor and master education and relevant certificates Applicants with education from countries outside Scandinavia with diplomas issued in a language other than English, must enclose officially certified diplomas in both the original language and authorized English translations Applicants from outside the EU/EEA must submit HK-dir approval of their master´s degree (Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills) Copy of the applicant’s master’s thesis Name and contact information of 1-3 references (name, your relation to the person, email and phone number) Other activity that is considered relevant for the position, and wishes to be taken into account in the assessment All documents must be uploaded as attachments as a PDF file to the electronic application form. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit the complete documentation within the deadline. After the application period has expired a list of applicants will be published. Note that, in special cases, the identity of particular applicants to a position may be made public even when that applicant has requested that their application be processed confidentially. Applicants requesting an exemption from publication of their identity must explain their reasons for doing so in their application. In this case, advance notice will be given in the event of a decision to make any information about the applicant public. Apply Now

About the PhD Fellowship Faculty of biosciences and aquaculture, Nord University, Norway, invites applications from outstanding candidates for a three-year PhD position in animal science. Join an innovative PhD project tackling one of dairy farming’s most debated welfare challenges: early cow– calf separation. By the development of AI-based tools to measure cow–calf interactions, the project aims to generate new scientific insights into CCC systems and contribute to future welfare policy for cow-calf housing. If you are interested in the cross-section of animal behaviour research and automatic animal monitoring – this project is for you! The project will include an animal trial at the Livestock Production Research Centre, NMBU, Ås, Norway and the successful candidates will be expected to travel for research stays, courses and conferences. The successful candidate will be part of one of the academic divisions Animal Science, Production and Welfare. This is a three-year contract based in Steinkjer, Trøndelag, Norway. Qualification requirements A completed master’s degree that meets the admission requirements, relevant academic backgrounds include ethology, animal or veterinary science, computer engineering or other closely related disciplines Good English skills, both written and oral Skills Experience in conducting farm animal trials and knowledge of fundamental ethology in farm animals Knowledge of data handling, with some exposure to big-data workflows or modelling Good communication and interpersonal skills Candidates who already have a PhD degree will not be considered for the position. Qualified applicants will be ranked according to the following criteria: Theme and perspectives from the applicant’s master’s project The applicant’s description of motivation for the doctoral work and opportunities for completion Personal suitability and scientific integrity Relevant experience from research work Ability to work independently, goal-oriented and systematically We offer The annual salary for doctoral researchers (code 1017) is NOK 550 800,-. Advantages within the Government Pension Fund for loans, insurance and pension Creative and collegial working environment A workplace with progressive development Flexible working hours Active university sports team General information The person who is appointed must abide by the applicable laws, agreements, and directives. The responsibilities and duties associated with the position may change with future reorganization at Nord University. Nord University is subject to the Security Act, which sets requirements for the handling of classified and sensitive information. To increase security in the hiring process, Nord may conduct background checks on relevant candidates. The public sector workforce is expected to reflect the diversity of the population in general. Nord University therefore encourages qualified candidates with disabilities, gaps in their CV, immigrant backgrounds or different life experience to apply. If applicants indicate they have disabilities or gaps in their CV, their details may be used anonymously for the purposes of governmental annual review Application process Applicants will be evaluated by an internal expert committee. Relevant applicants will be invited for an interview, trial lecture or other presentations. For more information, see Nord`s website . The Faculty reserve the right not to hire applicants who may be scientifically qualified but who do not meet other criteria such as language, educational background or personal characteristics Application Applications must be submitted electronically by 15.05.2026. The application should include: Application letter with description of your motivation for applying for the position Complete CV (education, work and teaching experience and overview of any scientific publications) Copy of the applicant’s master’s thesis Copy of diploma for both bachelor and master education and relevant certificates Applicants with education from countries outside Scandinavia with diplomas issued in a language other than English, must enclose witnessed diplomas in both the original language and authorized English translations Applicants from outside the EU/EEA must submit HK-dir approval of their master´s degree Project description of 3-5 pages where you explain the idea for the PhD project, including theoretical anchoring, methodological approach, expected outcomes and a clear time line of the whole PhD project. Name and contact information of 1-3 references (name, your relation to the person, email and phone number) Other activity that is considered relevant for the position, and wishes to be taken into account in the assessment All documents must be uploaded as attachments as a PDF files to the electronic application form. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit the complete documentation within the deadline. Failure to include items mentioned above will automatically render the candidate unqualified. After the application period has expired a list of applicants will be published. Note that, in special cases, the identity of particular applicants to a position may be made public even when that applicant has requested that their application be processed confidentially. Applicants requesting an exemption from publication of their identity must explain their reasons for doing so in their application. In this case, advance notice will be given in the event of a decision to make any information about the applicant public. Questions about the position Emma Matilda Ternman Associate Professor +4774112005 emma.m.ternman@nord.no Apply Now

The Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery (KU Leuven) is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic PhD student to join our research team. Our mission is to improve the current understanding and treatment of (infantile onset) drug-resistant epilepsies by innovative disease modeling and drug discovery approaches. Therefore, we rely on the use of larval zebrafish models, complemented with iPSC technology and rodents, and focus on small molecules and genetic therapies. For more information about the research group, visit our lab website Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery — Molecular Biodiscovery and the Leuven Childhood epilepsy Center website https://www.leuvenkinderepilepsiecentrum.be/en, where we are responsible for the preclinical research and closely collaborate with the pediatric epilepsy unit of UZ Leuven. Website van de eenheid Project The research project will contribute to this mission, either by leveraging our new platform of patient-specific zebrafish epilepsy models, or by advancing newly identified active compounds within the hit-to-lead stage of drug development using a target-based approach. Both options are available and the actual topic will be chosen and finalized in consultation with the selected candidate, taking into account the personal background and interests. Our patient-specific zebrafish models of genetic epilepsies rely on the transplantation of iPSC-derived human neurons in the brain of zebrafish embryos. This approach allows to better model human diseases by capturing both the genetic background of the patient and in vivo complexity. Hence, complementing current state-of-the-art models like genetic zebrafish models, 2D and 3D neuronal models, and rodent transplantation models. This exciting project will include zebrafish work (micro-injections, behavioral and electrophysiological analysis, …), cell culture, neuro-imaging, molecular biology, and transcriptomics. By advancing the disease modeling of a genetic epilepsy and investigating its underlying pathomechanisms, you will potentially identify novel drug targets and precision therapies. Within our drug discovery and development pipeline we have promising hits and leads (small molecules) at different stages of development. By performing mode-of-action studies we  discovered novel anti-epileptic drug targets, which underwent in silico assessment and in vivo validation for their functional involvement. Several targets are now ready for further in vitro validation, including assay development and analysis of the predicted structure-activity relationship,  followed by target-based compound optimization as well as target-based discovery of drug repurposing candidates. This exciting project will include zebrafish work (behavioral and electrophysiological analysis, …), cell culture and in vitro assay development, as well as protein purification and molecular biology, and will be performed in close collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Wim De Borggraeve (department of Chemistry). Profile Under supervision of your promotor(s), you will be responsible for your own research project. You will learn to design and conduct experiments in an autonomous way and analyze data and interpret results with a critical and problem-solving mindset. Moreover, you are encouraged to advance your scientific career by taking up extra activities (e.g., presenting at (inter)national scientific meetings and publish results in peer-reviewed journals, following relevant trainings etc.) and you are motivated to apply for an FWO PhD fellowship. You have a master’s degree (MSc, or equivalent) in pharmaceutical, biomedical, biological, or biochemical sciences, or in a related field. You are: Fluent in English, both spoken and written Good in multitasking and working in a team Self-motivated, passionate, responsible, flexible and eager to learn Good in time management and have strong analytical, organizational and communication skills and a curious mindset Interested in epilepsy research, neurobiology, and drug delivery and development Happy to supervise Bachelor or Master students Project-related experience with laboratory animals (zebrafish), cell culture, drug discovery and development, molecular biology, (confocal) imaging, or electrophysiology techniques is considered a plus, but not essential. Offer We offer a PhD position in a stimulating and collaborative research environment at KU Leuven (one of Europe’s leading research universities) in a well-equipped research group that is internationally recognized in the epilepsy field. You will be based at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, located at campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven. You will receive a 1 year contract that will be prolonged to 4 years, subject to a positive evaluation. Moreover, we offer: A pleasant working environment, located in Leuven, a beautiful student-oriented city in Belgium. A chance to contribute to innovative research project(s) in a field of major unmet medical needs, making an impact for people living with epilepsy. Frequent opportunities to attend international conferences and workshops and to network and collaborate. Supervision and training by a team of experts in epilepsy, neurobiology, drug discovery and development, zebrafish research, and -omics analysis. A professional research and management team with access to state-of-the-art technologies, close collaboration with the pediatric epilepsy unit of UZ Leuven (Leuven Childhood Epilepsy Center), and well-experienced with research valorization (IOF innovation program ‘Aquatic platform for drug discovery and toxicity testing’). Access to centralized facilities offering specialized expertise in microscopy, electrophysiology, genomics, and more. Training in a variety of state-of-the-art experimental models and methods, creating a powerful foundation with exceptional opportunities for personal and professional growth. Leuven Childhood Epilepsy Center Molecular Biodiscovery Interested? For more information please contact Prof. dr. Daniëlle Copmans, mail: danielle.copmans@kuleuven.be. You can apply for this job no later than May 29, 2026 via the online application tool

YOUR TASKS The group of Prof. Desmet focuses on the discovery and design of enzymes that can be used for the conversion of renewable resources (plant biomass) into special sugars and derivatives. Two new doctoral candidates will be recruited for the EXPEDITION project (“On expedition in sequence space: computationally guided search for new phenotypes and evotypes in enzyme families”), funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders. One candidate will design and evaluate a computational pipeline for enzyme discovery, while the other will apply recently developed AI-based protein design tools to the study of enzyme evolution. In each case, enzymes will also be characterized in the lab to gather fundamental insights in sequence – function relationships. This project is a collaboration with prof. Nidetzky at TU Graz, where a research stay can also be organized. The doctoral candidate will be expected to: Perform high-quality research; Report findings by publishing research articles and presenting at (inter)national conferences; Collaborate with academic and industrial partners; Support the research group by taking up administrative, organisational and/or educational responsibilities; The final objective of the research is to obtain a doctoral degree. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications and skills. You hold (or will soon obtain) a Master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field; You show a keen interest in molecular biology and protein science; prior experience in these areas is a strong plus; You have experience with programming (e.g., Python) or you are motivated to develop this skill; You are curious, passionate about science and you are motivated to tackle complex scientific challenges; You are a strong communicator and a team player; You have an excellent command of written and spoken English, enabling you to function in an international team; WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which – after a positive evaluation – will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months. Your contract will start on August 1, 2026, at the earliest. The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales  All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.  INTERESTED? Send your cv, copy of your diploma (if already in your possession) and a motivation letter to tom.desmet@ugent.be. We do not accept late applications. As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position. For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Jorick Franceus (jorick.franceus@ugent.be)

Åbo Akademi University invites applications for a fixed-term position as Research Technician for the period 1.9.2026-31.12.2028. The position is located in the Cell Fate Lab, led by Professor Cecilia Sahlgren at the Biochemistry and Cell Biology unit, Faculty of Science and Engineering in Turku, Finland. The employment is full-time. WORK TASKS  As a Research Technician, you will support the everyday work of the Cell Fate Lab members (approx. 15 researchers and students), manage the infrastructure of the laboratory used also by collaborating researchers, and assist with scientific experimentation. Your responsibilities will include: Maintain lab stocks and consumables: ordering, receiving, inventory/expiry tracking, freezer/fridge organization. Prepare routine reagents (buffers, media, and standard solutions); aliquot and label. Prepare DNA reagents: bacterial work as needed, plasmid preparation and sequencing. Manage chemicals and safety: chemical inventory/SDS, correct storage/labelling, waste handling. Perform and support cell culture (passaging, freezing/thawing, mycoplasma monitoring, sterile technique). Support viral work as needed (e.g., lentiviral production/handling). Contribute to routine experiments: western blotting, microscopy samples, and general cell biology lab assays. Support team operations: help train new lab members and visitors in lab-specific technologies, basic procedures and maintain a well-functioning lab environment. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS Essential qualifications Educational level, such as a vocational laboratory assistant or laboratory technician degree; a polytechnic biomedical laboratory scientist, laboratory analyst, or laboratory services degree; or a MSc degree in the field of biosciences. Familiarity with MS office programs and the related environment. Hands-on experience in cell biology / molecular biology methods, with strong sterile technique. Proven competence in mammalian cell culture and cell culture models. Competence in core methods: buffer/media prep, plasmid prep, immunofluorescence samples, agarose gels, SDS-PAGE/western blotting. Strong safety and compliance mindset (chemical handling, waste, documentation). Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, including fluent written and spoken communication in English. Desirable attributes High organisational reliability (inventory control, labelling, record keeping). Experience of the use or manufacture of advanced in vitro platforms (e.g., microfluidics, chip microfabrication, 3D printing, organoids, stretchers). Experience with primary cells (eg primary vascular cells). Experience producing/using viral vectors (e.g., lentivirus) and working under BSL-2 conditions. Familiarity with gene manipulation workflows (e.g., CRISPR/siRNA). SALARY AND CONDITIONS The salary is determined by the collective agreement system of Finnish universities, aligning with the salary chart for expert and other personnel. The salary levels for a Research Technician are set at MV06-MV07. The average monthly salary, depending on previous experience and skills, is typically around 2 640 – 2 850 euros at the beginning of the employment. The weekly working hours for full-time employees are 36 hours and 15 minutes. A trial period applies to the position. APPLICATION Please submit your electronic application in the ÅAU recruitment system (www.abo.fi/rekrytering) no later than 18.5.2026 at 15:00 (EEST, Finnish time zone). Please see guidelines on the electronic application. The application should include the following enclosures (in English): CV A motivation letter Copies of Degree certificate(s) Names and contact details of at least two reference persons BENEFITS Join our dynamic and innovative international community by seizing the opportunity we present. As a member of the Åbo Akademi University staff, you will gain access to various competitive benefits. These include occupational health care services, state-of-the-art research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities and a multicultural and friendly work environment. To learn more about working at Åbo Akademi University please explore further information on our website. Finland is a great and safe environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services, including affordable daycare and free schools, consistently ranked among the best in the world. For families, the city of Turku (http://www.turku.fi/en) offers language showers and pre-schooling in English. Subsidized private daycare centres also offer daycare in French, English or Russian. Moreover, the Turku International School (https://www.turku.fi/en/places/turun-kansainvalinen-koulu-turku-international-school) provides basic and upper-secondary education in English. Occupational health and insurance We support the well-being of our staff by offering comprehensive preventive occupational health services and general medical care. In addition, all staff are covered by Åbo Akademi University’s employee travel and occupational accident insurance. All University staff also have pension coverage, with the University automatically deducting pension contributions from the monthly wages of each employee. Sport services The University offers fitness and wellbeing services. Staff can use the opportunities for gym and group exercise sessions and the other diverse fitness activities available on campus. Owned by all universities in Turku, CampusSport (https://www.campussport.fi/en), offers inexpensive fitness services at the campuses. Holiday bonus A holiday bonus is paid in connection with July’s salary or when the employment ends. The dimension of the holiday bonus is determined according to the Collective agreement for universities and increases in relation to the length of employment. INFORMATION  For further information regarding the position, please contact Professor Cecilia Sahlgren (cecilia.sahlgren[a]abo.fi) and in questions concerning the recruitment process HR Specialist Sabina Ringvall (sabina.ringvall[a]abo.fi).