Postdoctoral Position (three years) – Norwegian Institute for Nature
Research (NINA), Department of Arctic Ecology, Troms, Norway

Project: Impact of stress from pollutants and climate on the life history
and immunocompetence in a seabird top predator, the great skua. Project
leader Jan Ove Bustnes

Applications are invited for a three year postdoctoral research associate
position (from ~15 March 2008) at the Department of Arctic Ecology,
NINA, located in the Polar Environmental Centre in Troms?, Norway. The
position is funded by a grant from The Research Council of Norway.

The main theme of the project is to increase the understanding of
how persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are transported through
northern marine ecosystems, and how stress from such compounds, in
addition to climate change, may affect reproductive costs in top marine
predators at latitudes from temperate regions to the high Arctic. A high
trophic level seabird, the great skua Catharacta skua will be the study
species. The study will be undertaken at three main (Shetland, Iceland
and Bear Island) and four auxiliary locations. The field studies will,
by combining observational and experimental approaches, relate various
life history traits (reproductive performance and survival) and other
sensitive traits (immune system, stress hormones, blood parameters)
to blood concentrations of various POPs.

The Postdoctor will be a member of a strong project group with members
from among others NINA, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, the
Norwegian Polar Institute, University of Glasgow, Icelandic Institute
for Natural History and Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research
University of Windsor, Canada. This exciting environment is ideally
suited for research and researcher training. The candidate is expected
to take an active part in planning and conducting the fieldwork during
the project period.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology or
Ecotoxicology. We are looking for a candidate with independent fieldwork
experience and with good understanding of laboratory techniques used in
ecological and/or ecotoxicological studies.

As NINA would like to increase the percentage of women in research
positions, women are encouraged to apply.

The position is remunerated at salary level 54 – 58 on the Norwegian
State Salary scale, amounting to an annual gross salary (level 54)
of NOK 394.700. NINA offers good pension and insurance schemes.

For further information about the position please contact Senior Scientist
Jan Ove Bustnes [email protected] Tel. +47 77750407 or  +47 93466790
or Research Director Sidsel Gr?nvik [email protected] Tel. +47
77750408 or +47 92407626

Applications should contain a cover letter including a short summary
of past accomplishments and future research interests, a CV, list of
publications, PDFs of the most relevant publications, and contact
information of two referees. Applications should be sent to NINA,
Personalkontoret, 7485 Trondheim Norway, or preferably by e-mail to
[email protected]

Application deadline: 8 February 2008.

Sveinn Are Hanssen
Research Scientist

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research – NINA
Postal address: Polar Environmental Centre, NO-9296 Troms?, NORWAY
Delivery/Visiting address: Hjalmar Johansens gate 14, NO-9007 Troms?, NORWAY
Phone: +47 77 75 04 16 * Cell: +47 926 35 455 * Fax: +47 77 75 04 01 * www.nina.no