About the position

Position as a researcher in hymenopteran evolutionary venomics is available in the Undheim group (Eivind Andreas Baste Undheim – CEES – Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis) at the Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo.

Starting date no later than September 1st 2025.

The contract period is 2 years.

Job description

Venoms generally comprise polypeptide toxins that have evolved from non-toxin physiological components. Thus, venoms provide unique insights into how new molecular traits emerge and the mechanisms by which peptides evolve new functions, including evolutionarily "optimized" structure-activity relationships that can be harnessed for therapeutics development. 

This project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and will combine high-throughput venomics, bioinformatics, evolutionary methods, and ecological modelling with the exceptional expertise in peptide chemistry and pharmacology within a large international consortium, Biodiversity2Drugs (https://www.biodiversa.eu/2025/04/08/biodiversity2drugs/) to determine whether the primary ecological role of venom is a good predictor of peptide diversity and function and estimate the impact of anthropogenic environmental stressors on toxin diversity.

The candidate will be working on short peptide toxins from aculeate hymenopterans, primarily focusing on venom peptides from ants and in particular ants from the genus Myrmica. They will use a combination of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, functional assays and bioinformatics to identify and predict the functions of novel peptides. The candidate will be based in the group of Eivind Undheim (https://www.mn.uio.no/cees/english/people/researcherpostdoc/eaundhei) at the University of Oslo Department of Biosciences.

Qualivication requirements

Candidates will be assessed and ranked according to the following qualifications:

Required qualifications:

• Experience with analysis of genomic data from Hymenoptera
• Experience with processing and analysis of transcriptomic data
• Experience with mass spectrometry analysis of venom
• Experience with field collection of hymenopterans
• Experience with venom extraction from ants
• Experience identifying hymenopteran species
• Demonstrated knowledge on hymenopteran toxin evolution
• Good oral and written communication skills in English language

Desired additional qualifications:

• Field collection and identification of ants
• Venom extraction from ants
• Demonstrated knowledge on ant biology
• Identification of species within the genus Myrmica
• MALDI-MS sample preparation and data analysis

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

Personal skills 

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary scientific environment
• Ambition and drive to conduct high-quality research
   

You can also describe the personal qualities in text form – it does not have to be a list. It is important that the applicant is clear about what we are looking for.

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.

We offer 

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a good working environment.
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities. 
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Researcher, position code 1108 in salary range NOK from 550 800 – to 604 900, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

Application

Your application should include:

• Cover letter – including a brief statement of motivation for the position, and a description of relevant skills and research interests (max 1 page)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• A complete list of publications and academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to  Rules for the use of research posts SKO 1108, 1109, 1110 and 1183 at UiO.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.