The position

We announce a 3-year postdoctoral research position in the field of paleogenomics at NORCE Research in Bergen, Norway.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to strengthen our ERC Synergy project i2B Into The Blue: Resolving past Arctic greenhouse climates (www.in2blue.eu), which brings together researchers from NORCE Research and the University of Bergen in Bergen (Norway), the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø (Norway), and the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven (Germany).

The position is available in the Molecular Ecology and Paleogenomics group at the NORCE Research in Bergen, Norway and is funded through the ERC Synergy Grant i2B.

The project

The Arctic Ocean is changing rapidly and an ocean that we know to be sea ice covered and “white” is rapidly turning “blue”. It is projected that by 2050 there will no longer be sea ice in the Arctic during the summer. With the sea ice changing, also the marine ecosystem will be impacted. It is however unclear what trajectory the ecosystem change will take. This we plan to investigate by looking at the past, and specifically to Late Quaternary interglacials, by using paleogenomics. Our study area is the Arctic Ocean, from where we have several short and long sediment cores that are being investigated in the i2B project. The paleogenomic work will be tightly integrated with reconstructions of the paleoceanography, and in particular the sea ice and surface ocean conditions, as well as model experiments that the i2B consortium is conducting.

The research environment

The postdoctoral researcher will work in the Molecular Ecology and Paleogenomics group at NORCE Research in Bergen, Norway.

NORCE Research is a research institute with expertise in a wide range of fields. We deliver research and innovation in energy, health care, climate, environment, society, and technology. Our solutions address key challenges for society and contribute to value creation on the local, national, and global levels. The Molecular Ecology and Paleogenomics group is part of the NORCE Climate & Environment Division, where researchers investigate how our climate is changing, what the consequences of climate change are, and how we best adapt to climate change. They contribute to research on and development of the sustainable use of our environment and natural resources.

The Molecular Ecology and Paleogenomics group develops and applies molecular tools to address questions spanning the continuum from basic (microbial community ecology, paleoceanography) to applied ecological research (monitoring the impacts of marine industry). The group has expertise in modern pelagic and benthic ecosystems, as well as in past biodiversity and paleoclimate reconstructions from the sediment record.

NORCE Research is one of the four partners in the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research. The Bjerknes Centre is one of the largest climate research centres in Scandinavia and among the leading centres in Europe. By combining the knowledge and expertise in climate research from researchers employed at four Bergen based research institutes, the Bjerknes Centre provides a cross and inter-disciplinary research environment that is unique.

Your tasks

You will develop your paleogenomics research to assess how past marine communities have been impacted by Arctic climate and sea ice change. You will have access to several sediment cores from the Fram Strait and Arctic Ocean that cover different past warm intervals. By generating novel metagenomic data from these sediments, and combining these with paleoceanographic and paleoclimate reconstructions, you will provide new knowledge about the evolution of the marine ecosystem in the Arctic Ocean, a frontier region that is changing rapidly today.

Specific tasks include:

• Extraction, quantification and quality-assessment of DNA from marine sediments

• Shotgun metagenomics in the lab and bioinformatical data processing

• Integration of paleogenomic with paleoclimate data

• Participation in research cruise(s)

• Scientific interaction with the i2B partners

• Dissemination at (inter)national conferences

• Publication in international peer-reviewed journals

Your profile, qualifications and skills

Education

A PhD degree in Environmental Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Ecology, Paleogenomics or relevant field is required.

Qualifications and personal skills

• Experience in wet lab work for molecular ecology work (DNA extraction, DNA quality control, library preparation, sequencing) is a requirement

• Experience with producing shotgun metagenomics data from ancient DNA is a strong advantage

• Proficiency with the associated bioinformatics is a strong advantage

• Experience with marine (paleo-)ecology and/or paleoceanography is an advantage

• Experience with (multivariate) statistics is an advantage

• Meticulous laboratory and organizational skills are required

• Team player, who can also work independently

• Good communication skills across disciplines

• Proficiency in both written and oral English

We offer

• A unique opportunity to join an ERC Synergy consortium focusing on the (past) Arctic

• A unique opportunity to strengthen an enthusiastic research group, working across disciplines, at NORCE Research

• Involvement in the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, one of the leading climate research centers in Europe

• A stimulating and professionally challenging working environment

• Good pension and insurance schemes

How to apply

Please send your application electronically by clicking on the "Apply for the position" button.

Your application must include:

• Your motivation for applying including a brief sketch for a research plan (max. 1-2 pages)

• Curriculum vitae

• Publication list

• The names and contact details for at least two references

• Transcripts, diplomas and relevant certificates. If a PhD diploma has not yet been awarded, an official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted.

Application deadline: 24 April 2026

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Dr Stijn De Schepper, stde@norceresearch.no.

For more information about NORCE and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, please refer to www.norceresearch.no and www.bjerknes.uib.no.

At NORCE, we are committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for available positions regardless of gender, age, disability, or ethnic background.

Candidates are expected to openly provide all relevant information about themselves during the recruitment process. Background checks may be carried out and candidates may be checked against relevant lists to ensure compliance with applicable export control and sanctions regulations. Candidates will be asked to provide information about their connections to high-risk countries for security assessment purposes.