PhD Candidate in evolutionary genomics of cryptic coloration in frogs

This is NTNU

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

Video:

https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0

About the position

The NTNU University Museum is seeking a highly qualified, ambitious, and motivated PhD candidate for a project focusing on the genomics of cryptic coloration in anurans (frogs and toads).

Anurans display a diversity of colors and patterns that enable them to avoid detection by predators through background matching, masquerade (e.g., resembling leaves or bird droppings), or disruptive coloration. In many cryptically colored species, multiple color morphs co-occur within populations, and similar polymorphisms have evolved repeatedly across distantly related taxa. Proposed mechanisms for the maintenance of such polymorphisms include spatial and temporal variation in selection, heterozygote advantage, and pleiotropic effects linking coloration to other fitness-related traits.

The PhD project will generate and analyze genomic and transcriptomic datasets derived from both samples collected in the field (e.g., Ethiopia, Borneo), and tissue collections in natural history museums. Using population and comparative genomics approaches, the candidate will have opportunities to investigate the evolutionary mechanisms underlying (i) the maintenance of cryptic color polymorphisms within species, and/or (ii) the repeated evolution of similar cryptic color traits across lineages. While the project will primarily be computational and lab-based, there will be opportunities to develop complementary field experiments. The focal study system will be defined in collaboration with the successful candidate.

The successful candidate will be employed at the NTNU University Museum’s Department of Natural History. The NTNU University Museum is the natural and cultural history museum of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. The Department of Natural History conducts research in systematics and taxonomy, evolutionary genomics, as well as in phylogeography, population genetics, and ecology with an emphasis on conservation biology.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

The team of supervisors will consist of Ass. Prof. Sandra Goutte (main supervisor), as well as co-supervisor Prof. Michael D. Martin. The candidate will use the NTNU University Museum’s collection, genomics laboratory facilities, and computational resources. 

Duties of the position

The work of the PhD candidate will likely consist of field work abroad (e.g., Ethiopia, Borneo) in remote locations, genomics lab work and bioinformatic analyses. For a position as a PhD candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. Publication of project results in peer-reviewed journals are expected. Main duties of the position are:

• Carry out research of excellent quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate actively in research groups  
• Participate in international activities such as networks and conferences 
• Other career-promoting work 

The successful candidate should expect changes to their work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a Master's degree in in biology or equivalent with specialization in population genetics, population genomics, evolutionary biology, or closely related fields. 
• You must have experience at the Master’s level with analyses of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data to answer evolutionary questions (e.g., phylogenomic and population genomic analyses)
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• Prior to starting the PhD position, you must have obtained the equivalent of 120 course credits, corresponding to a five-year Norwegian Master's level. Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 01.09.2026.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the Doctoral Programme at the Faculty of Natural Sciences 
• You must have very good written and oral English language skills

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience with modern statistical techniques using relevant scripting languages (R, python, bash, etc.) 
• Experience with DNA extraction and genomic library preparation
• Experience with field work in harsh climate conditions (e.g., in warm and humid climate)

Personal characteristics

The PhD candidate should be self-motivated, enthusiastic, goal and solution oriented. Good cooperative skills and a desire to work collaboratively with people having diverse research interests are essential.

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: 

• Work independently
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity 
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions 
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

• A strong international research environment highly relevant for career development in both basic and applied research and public sector
• Exciting and stimulating tasks
• Scientific and technical support provided by large research groups with long-term experience in bryology, systematics, evolutionary genetics, and ecology
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period - Faculty of Natural Sciences
• Open and inclusive working environment with dedicated colleagues
• An exciting job with an important mission to society
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• As a public employee, you have favorable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)  

You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts. 

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work in addition to 9 months of career promotion work, altogether 3 years and 9 months.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Biology (PhD programme in Biology - NTNU) within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include: 

• A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) stating specifically why you believe you meet the selection criteria
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV, certified copies of certificates and diplomas
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, or are about to submit, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Publications or other relevant research work if you have such 
• Names and contact information of two relevant referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found

here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well. 

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Sandra Goutte - email:

sandra.goutte@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Anne Karin Henning - anne.karin.henning@ntnu.no / Kristin Skogen – kristin.skogen@ntnu.com

Application deadline: 30.07.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.