A Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in Soil Invertebrate Ecotoxicology is available at the section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo.
Project description
Global climate change and pollution are major threats to ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, and challenge a sustainable future. Climate change affects the accumulation and effects of pollutants in organisms, so-called climate-induced toxicant sensitivity. In the SoilStress project funded by the Research Council of Norway (project number 358314), we address mechanisms underlying cumulative effects, recovery, and ecophysiological tipping points from multiple stressor disturbances (climate change and pollution). We will study complex questions of WHY key biological responses to multiple stressors (climatic stress and agricultural used pesticides) differ between populations, micro-climate, and climatic regions; WHY tolerance to pesticide exposure decreases with temperature stress; and IF the tipping point to disturbance by temperature and pesticides, and recovery from disturbance removal, depends on the populations phenotypic plasticity and/or genetic adaptation. As our model system, we study springtails (Collembola), key terrestrial ectothermic invertebrates of the soil community.
The postdoc will be mainly responsible for conducting long-term laboratory experiments investigating why pesticides exhibit increased toxicity to springtails at higher temperatures, exploring mechanisms such as enhanced bioaccumulation leading to elevated internal concentrations, metabolic scaling effects, and the rising costs of repair and homeostasis maintenance under pesticide-induced stress. This involves analyzing toxicokinetic processes in the ecologically relevant species Hypogastrura viatica and its diet across varying temperatures and exposure concentrations, while considering how temperature influences uptake, elimination, biotransformation, and the formation of potentially more toxic metabolites. The role emphasizes sublethal effects on fitness, using demographic modeling to assess impacts from genes to populations, and testing hypotheses related to metabolic rate increases, energy allocation shifts, temperature-dependent bioaccumulation, and varying toxicity across biological levels.
Required qualification:
- Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence at are eligible for appointment. The degree must be equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in ecotoxicology, ecology, or related fields
- Demonstrated experience and ability to conduct ecotoxicological, ecological or physiological experiments targeting sublethal effects in animals
- Demonstrated experience in toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic studies
- Proven skills in statistical analysis
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English or a Scandinavian language
Our Offer:
- Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development
- Committed colleagues in a good working environment
- Good welfare schemes.
- Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
- A workplace with good development and career opportunities
- Postdoctoral development programmes.
- Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway’s best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes
- Salary in position as Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK595 000 – 690 000, depending on competence and experience.
Contract length and Starting date:
The appointment is a full-time position for a period of 3.25 years. Starting as soon as possible after April 7th, and no later than mid-August 2026.
Application:
The application must include Cover letter, CV, Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records, a research statement focusing on a research plan that may fit the postdoc position, a complete list of publications and up to 3 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee as well as a summary of up to 100 words for each selected article, and names and contact details of 2-3 references.
Detailed information about the opportunity and how to apply can be found on the application page https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/292636/postdoctoral-research-fellow-in-soil-invertebrate-ecotoxicology.
Application deadline: 8th Feb, 2026