Do you want to contribute to the development of knowledge, insight and solutions that are relevant to society and working life today and in the future?
We are looking for a PhD Research Fellow within Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology.
About the position
Are you interested in anthropogenic effects on the evolutionary and behavioral ecology of large mammals, and want to engage in research with skilled colleagues who share your interests? Maybe you can become our new colleague at the Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Healthat the Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences, and Maritime Sciences. The position is available from 01.10.2026.
This is an educational position that is primarily intended to give promising researchers the opportunity to develop academically and professionally through organised research training.
It is a condition that the person who accepts the position applies for and is granted admission to the Faculty’s doctoral programme in Ecology within three months of starting in the position.
The doctoral programme includes relevant courses corresponding to 30 ECTS of study, a thesis based on independent research, active participation in national and international research environments, relevant research dissemination, a trial lecture and public defence of the thesis. Read more about organised research training at USN on our website.
The PhD research fellowship is for a fixed term of three years with pure organised research training.
Your personnel manager will be Head of Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Jørn Henrik Sønstebø and your main supervisor will be Prof. Andreas Zedrosser. It is a prerequisite that you live close by so that you can be present at, and available to, the academic environment at your workplace during ordinary working hours. The place of work will be at campus Bø, Midt-Telemark municipality
About the PhD-project
We are seeking an enthusiastic and skilled PhD Candidate to join our international research team studying anthropogenic effects on evolutionary and behavioral ecology in large mammals. The principal objective of the proposed PhD project is to investigate how spatial variations in human‐induced mortality shapes behavioral and reproductive tactics in brown bears using the long‑term Scandinavian Brown Bear Project (SBBRP) dataset. No additional field work is needed, but it is recommended that the successful candidate spends time in the field to obtain a better understanding of the study area and study species.
By integrating movement behavior, habitat use, reproductive timing, and genetic pedigree data, the project will examine how bears adjust life‑cycle decisions under varying hunting pressure. We will test whether increased hunting leads to risk‑sensitive behaviors such as altered space use, earlier reproduction, and reduced reproductive investment per breeding attempt. Comparisons across areas with contrasting hunting regimes will reveal how local mortality risk mediates behavioral plasticity and selection on reproductive strategies. Advanced spatio‑temporal and pedigree‑based models will link individual behavioral decisions to fitness outcomes. The project will provide rare empirical insight into humans as an evolutionary force shaping animal behavior, with direct implications for sustainable large‑carnivore management under changing anthropogenic pressures. The core topic and main research questions are well defined at a conceptual level and will be further developed in collaboration with the successful candidate at the start of the project.
We are especially looking for PhD candidates with a comprehensive skill set in spatio-temporal modelling and behavioral and/or evolutionary ecology. The PhD project will be carried out in cooperation between the University of South-Eastern Norway, the University of Sherbrooke (UdS), Canada, and the SBBRP at the Norwegian Institute of Nature Research (NINA). The main supervisors will be Prof. Andreas Zedrosser (USN) and Prof. Fanie Pelletier (UdS), and Assoc. Prof. Joanie Van de Walle (Université du Québec à Rimouski, Canada), Dr. Rick Heeres (USN), as well as Dr. Aimee Tallian (NINA) will be part of the supervisory committee. The candidate will be located at the University of South-Eastern Norway at the campus in Bø (Telemark), but a research visit of several months to Canada (Sherbrooke) is expected.
Duties
- Complete the doctoral program up to completion of the doctoral degree within the employment period
- Conduct high-quality research within the framework described above
- Scholarly publications
- Participate in the research group EcoHub at USN
- Participate in national and/or international activities such as conferences
- Be prepared for changes in your work tasks after appointment
Qualifications
All items are requirements, unless it is specified that they are preferred qualifications.
- Master’s degree (120 ECTS credits) within ecology, biology or related fields
- Very good skill set in spatio-temporal modelling
- Excellent written and oral English language skills
- Very good knowledge of behavioral and/or evolutionary ecology
- Experience in the publication of scientific research is advantageous, but not necessary
- Documented knowledge of relevant methodologies, both quantitative and/or qualitative, at master’s level
- Weighted average grade of B or higher on the master’s degree and thesis
- The master’s degree must have been obtained by the application deadline for the position
- Meet the formal requirements for admission to USN’s doctoral programs and the Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences’ doctoral programme in Ecology no later than three months after starting in the position. For admission to the programme, the weighted average grade of B or higher is usually required.
Personal qualities:
In order to be able to complete a doctoral degree, you need to be able to:
- demonstrate motivation and potential for research in the field
- work independently, but also participate in teamwork
- work in a structured way, set goals, and make plans to achieve them
- present and discuss your research with other academics
- get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
- work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
- show curiosity and strong motivation for the subject area
- analyze data, assess different perspectives, and draw well-founded conclusions
- be flexible and open to adjusting the project plan as necessary
- have the academic skills and personal qualities to be able to complete the doctoral program within the employment period
When assessing applications, particular importance will be attached to:
- Formal qualifications
- Analytical skills
- Language skills
- The personal qualities mentioned above
Requirements for proficiency in English
This position requires good English language skills. International applicants must document this with a valid certificate from one of the following tests. Specific requirements regarding grades can be found on our webpage English requirement for programs and subjects taught in English at USN.
- TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT)
- IELTS – International English Language Testing Service
- Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge
- PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic
The following applicants are exempt from the requirements listed above:
Applicants from Norway can confirm their English language skills by submitting their upper secondary school diploma.
Project description
The final project description and work plan will be prepared in consultation with the supervisor(s) during the first three months of the employment period. It is a prerequisite that you complete the project during the employment period.
What we offer
- Organized research training in a large undertaking with an important social mission
- Careers advice and guidance throughout the entire doctoral program. Together we will draw up a career plan that includes the skills and knowledge you will acquire
- An inclusive working environment with ambitious colleagues
- The opportunity to take Norwegian language courses
- Salary in accordance with the Norwegian State salary scale for PhD research fellows (position code 1017) NOK 550,800. In special cases, code 1378 may be used. Any further increases in pay grade will be based on length of service in the position
- Deductions will be made from your salary in order to make statutory contributions to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund on your behalf
- Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, ensuring favourable pension, insurance and loan schemes
General information
The Appointment Committee for Fellowship Positions (TUS) is the appointing authority for this position. Your competence for the position will be assessed by an expert committee. The expert committee will assess your competence for the position based on the documentation you have registered in Jobbnorge.
Based on the expert committee’s assessment, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview and to hold a trial lecture. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates.
Employment at USN is carried out in accordance with the principles set out in the Norwegian Civil Service Act, and the legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further consideration.
The University’s Guidelines for recruitment positions at the University of South-Eastern Norway provide a more detailed description of the criteria for appointment as a PhD research fellow.
As an employee of USN, you must at all times adapt to changes in the field and all organisational changes that are adopted.
How to apply
If you think this position looks interesting and matches your qualifications, you can submit an application electronically by clicking on “Apply for the position” on this page. Here you will need to enter a short application text and information about your relevant education and work experience. In the application text, you must clearly describe your skills and motivation for the position.
The application must include:
- Certified diplomas for your bachelor’s and master’s degrees (120 ECTS). The diplomas must be in a Scandinavian language or English
- An explanation of the grading system for foreign education (diploma supplement if available)
- Your master’s thesis. If your master’s thesis was a collaborative project, you must submit a short statement detailing your involvement
- Other relevant certificates and diplomas
- A personal statement explaining your motivation for the position
- Documentation of your English language skills
- List of any scholarly publications
- Contact information for up to three references
The application will be assessed based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the expiry of the application deadline. Make sure your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the competence requirements described in the job advertisement.
When assessing who is best qualified for the position, we attach weight to education, experience and personal qualities.
All documentation must be provided in a Scandinavian language or English. If the attachments exceed 30 MB in total, they must be compressed before uploading.
Please note that information about you as an applicant may be disclosed publicly even if you have requested not to be included on the public list of applicants (cf. Section 25 of the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act). You will be notified if your request for exemption from public disclosure is denied.
We only consider applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge. On request, you must be able to provide certified copies of your documentation.
Contact information
For more information about the position, please contact:
Head of Department, Jørn Henrik Sønstebø, jorn.h.sonstebo@usn.no, +4792609482
Professor, Andreas Zedrosser, andreas.zedrosser@usn.no, +4735952765
For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact:
Advisor Tonje Holt Vøllestad, tonje.h.vollestad@usn.no
About us
The University of Southeastern Norway (USN) ranks as the country's fourth largest higher education institution. We are a vibrant community of approximately 18,000 students and 1,900 employees.
Additional information about the Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health can be found on our website: Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health - Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge
Video:
https://vimeo.com/898549899/60305e2540