The PhD programme will be carried out in connection with the four-year project "Understanding the effect of cover crops on soil health, soilborne pathogens, yield and quality of potatoes and root vegetables" (CropDrive), which will begin in spring 2023. The project is managed by NIBIO and funded by the Research Council of Norway. More information about the project can be found at: https://www.norsok.no/prosjekter/2023/tilpasset-bruk-av-fangvekster-for-bedre-jord-og-plantehelse-i-rotgronnsak-og-potetproduksjon-cropdrive

The PhD position is funded by the Møre og Romsdal County Council and will be part of a network of PhD students in the county. For more information, see: https://mrfylke.no/naering-og-samfunn/forsking-utvikling-og-innovasjon

The PhD student will have the following main responsibilities:
- Plan and carry out trials in collaboration with the project group and the supervisor team
- Evaluate appropriate soil health indicators
- Publish peer-reviewed articles

The PhD student will cooperate with the supervisor team and the CropDrive project team to develop a more detailed plan for the PhD programme during the first few months. This will include a work progress plan towards completing the PhD degree within the fellowship period.

The doctoral degree will be granted by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). Applicants should be aware that the research fellowship is conditional on admission to the PhD programme at NMBU’s Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management. Documentation showing that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment to the application for the PhD fellowship position. The admission criteria for PhD programmes at NMBU can be found at: Before applying | NMBU.

The place of work for this position will be at NORSØK in Tingvoll, Norway.

Required qualifications

Academic qualifications:
- The applicant must hold a Masters-level (MSc) degree in soil science, soil biology, crop science or closely related fields
- Experience with biological and/or chemical methods of soil analysis

Other requirements:
- Proficiency in oral and written English
- Understanding of Norwegian and/or European agriculture

Desired qualifications or experience:
- Norwegian/Scandinavian language skills
- Previous work experience (especially in agriculture)
- Knowledge about and interest in plant-soil interactions
- Relevant additional education

Personal qualifications

The successful candidate must:
- Be motivated for pursuing a research career
- Have strong academic and analytical skills
- Have a high working capacity and the ability to accomplish goals
- Possess good interpersonal and communication skills

NORSØK offers:
- A good and stimulating working environment
- Pension scheme in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Various welfare schemes
- Assistance in finding housing

Terms of employment: Salary in accordance with current salary scale

Further information:
For further information about the position please contact Director Turid Strøm, Tel. +47 407 69 922, email: turid.strom@norsok.no or Research Scientist Tatiana Rittl, Tel. +47 986 39 410, Email: tatiana.rittl@norsok.no.

Application:
Applications must include a CV, educational certificates, grade transcripts and recommendation letters. Applications with attachments are to be submitted by email to post@norsok.no. The subject line should include «Application for PhD position».

Application deadline: 30 April 2023