项目介绍

2026年4月9日

Two PhD Research Fellows in Fish Physiology

There is vacancy for two PhD Research Fellows in fish physiology with a focus on vision and ecophysiology at the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Bergen. The positions are for a fixed-term period of 3 years with the possibility of a 4th year with career-promoting work (e.g. teaching at the Department).

The PhD candidates will join an active and international research environment at the University of Bergen and contribute to experimental research on how climate change affects the physiology and behaviour of fish. Successful candidates will gain experience with advanced experimental methods, work closely with international collaborators, and undertake a fully funded three‑month research stay abroad. The two PhD positions are closely linked, and candidates will have the opportunity to collaborate together and learn methods from the parallel project, building a broad skillset. Both positions are part of the larger project “Bringing the wild into the lab with Virtual Reality for fish” funded by the Trond Mohn Research Foundation and the University of Bergen.

About the project

Climate change is rapidly transforming marine ecosystems, exposing fish to rising temperatures and declining oxygen levels. While the direct effects of these stressors on fish are well researched, we know far less about how they influence the sensory abilities that wild fish rely on to detect predators, assess risk and make behavioural decisions. If warming and hypoxia alter visual function, this could significantly change how fish perceive their surroundings, respond to threats and use their energy. This project examines how hypoxia and warming affect vision, and whether changes in vision lead to broader shifts in fear responses and energetics in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). By integrating sensory biology, behaviour and physiology, the project aims to reveal overlooked mechanisms through which climate change affects fish performance and survival.

Position one: What happens to a fish’s vision as oceans warm, and oxygen levels fall?  This PhD project investigates how temperature and oxygen availability influence visual function in cod. The candidate will work with a combination of behavioural assays, retinal physiology and molecular techniques, including: optomotor response assays, retinal oxygen measurements, electroretinography, and opsin gene expression. The aim is to develop a detailed, multi-level understanding of how warming and hypoxia affect the visual system, from oxygen delivery in the retina to colour discrimination, motion detection and visual acuity. There are additional possibilities to expand the candidate’s methodological skillset through international stays in leading fish physiology laboratories. This position offers an excellent opportunity for candidates interested in the sensory biology and physiology of marine organisms.

Position two: How do vision, warming, and hypoxia shape a fish’s fear response? 

This PhD project uses a state-of-the-art virtual reality system to bring realistic predator encounters into the lab, investigating how vision, temperature and oxygen, in isolation and in combination, influence anti-predator and fear responses. To do this the candidate will develop and refine protocols that integrate simultaneous measurements of behaviour, metabolism and stress hormones. Complementing the parallel PhD project (Position One), this position focuses on cod and includes the possibility to conduct comparative experiments abroad with tropical fish species. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of behaviour, physiology and climate change biology and to help develop more ecologically realistic approaches to studying wild fish in the lab. 

Qualifications and personal qualities:

The successful applicant must:

• hold a master’s degree or equivalent education in biology or another discipline relevant for the project. Master students can apply provided they complete their final master exam before 1 July 2026. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
• have excellent written and oral English skills.
• be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative skills

It is an advantage with

• experience performing experiments on fish or other animals. 
• strong quantitative and data-handling skills (e.g. using R/python or an equivalent) 
• certification in animal welfare (e.g. FELASA), although training can be provided as part of the PhD education.
• experience with electrophysiology, molecular, gene expression or other relevant methods (Position one)
• experience with respirometry, measuring physiological performance traits, behavioural assays and/or hormone analyses (Position two)

Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Research experience, ambitions and potential that signal an upwards career trajectory will also count when evaluating the candidates.

Special requirements for the position 

The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications. 

About the PhD Research Fellow position

About the PhD Research Fellow position

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the Head of department upon appointment. If a 4th year is granted, one year of career-promoting work associated with teaching, dissemination or research infrastructure/services, will be distributed over the full employment period and thus corresponding to 25 per cent of the time each year.

The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a qualifying post (e.g. research fellow, research assistant).

About the research training

As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Science and Technology is 2 months after you start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that you satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen.

We can offer:

• an excellent and professionally stimulating working environment with young and dedicated co-workers.
• access to a broad international network of fish physiologists.
• salary as PhD research fellow (code 1017) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 568 700. Further increases in salary are made according to length of service in the position.
• enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• a brief motivation letter (max 2 pages) written by the applicant explaining research interests and motivation for applying for the position. Please specify whether you would want to be evaluated for both PhD positions or only one of them, and any priorities.
• the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis 
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not yet completed your master’s degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your master’s degree. Your master’s degree must be documented with transcripts and/or diploma before starting in the position.
• relevant certificates/references
• approved documentation of proficiency in English (if required, cf. English language requirements for PhD admission)
• a list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list) with PDFs as attachments, including your master’s thesis. 

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.