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ABOUT THE POSITION
Postdoctoral Researcher in Arctic Fish Movement Ecology, Climate Change and Species Redistribution
We have a full-time 3-year Postdoctoral Researcher position available at the Ocean, Environment and Biotechnology division of
NORCE in Bergen, Norway.
The successful candidate will join the Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (LFI), an internationally recognized
research group with expertise in fish ecology, animal tracking, telemetry, fisheries science, ecological modelling, biodiversity
conservation, and ecosystem restoration. LFI hosts the Bergen Telemetry Network and collaborates extensively with national and
international partners on aquatic ecology and environmental change research.
This candidate will play a leading scientific role within the project“Resilience of Polar Ecosystems to the Cumulative Effects of
Physical and Biological Changes in Norway's High Arctic (ROPES)”. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to
cutting-edge Arctic research at a time when climate change is fundamentally reshaping ecosystems in the High North.
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to project development, planning and coordination of field activities, data analysis,
publication of scientific papers, stakeholder engagement, and supervision of students. The candidate will be expected to lead
analyses and publications arising from the project and contribute to the development of future research initiatives related to
Arctic marine ecosystems and climate change.
The position is for a fixed-term period of three years and will be based at NORCE in Bergen, Norway, with travel and fieldwork in
Svalbard.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Arctic is experiencing some of the most rapid climatic changes on Earth. Warming waters, declining sea ice, increased
freshwater input from glaciers, and growing human activities are transforming Arctic marine ecosystems. In western Svalbard,
increasing inflow of Atlantic water has accelerated a process known as Atlantification, resulting in the expansion of boreal
species such as Atlantic cod and haddock into ecosystems historically dominated by Arctic specialists such as polar cod.
The ROPES project aims to understand how Arctic marine ecosystems respond to cumulative pressures associated with climate change,
species invasions, fisheries, shipping, and ecosystem reorganization. The project applies the Hierarchical Response Framework to
investigate how physiological responses of Arctic species scale up to food-web restructuring and ultimately ecosystem
transformation.
Using state-of-the-art acoustic telemetry infrastructure, ecological modelling, environmental monitoring, and international
collaboration, the project will investigate:
The project is coordinated by NORCE and conducted in collaboration with Dalhousie University (Canada), Alfred Wegener Institute
(Germany), Akvaplan-niva, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
WORK TASKS
The postdoctoral researcher will take a leading role in Work Packages 2 and 3 of the ROPES project and will be responsible for:
The successful candidate will work closely with an international team of researchers specializing in movement ecology, fisheries
science, animal tracking technology, and Arctic ecosystem research.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must hold a PhD degree in one of these disciplines:
The PhD degree must be completed before the commencement of employment.
Applicants must demonstrate:
Applicants should hold a Category B driving license or equivalent.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
The following qualifications will be considered strong advantages:
Knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is considered an advantage but is not a requirement.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious researcher who:
FIELDWORK AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
The project includes fieldwork in remote Arctic environments where conditions may be challenging and potentially hazardous.
The successful candidate must be willing to participate in:
Training related to field safety, small vessel operations, polar bear safety, and remote field operations will be provided where
necessary.
WE CAN OFFER
HOW TO APPLY
Please upload your application and appendices in English or a Scandinavian language or with certified translations into English or
a Scandinavian language by clicking the application button.
YOUR APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE
Cover Letter
The cover letter (maximum two pages) should include:
Curriculum Vitae
Including:
Publication List
Including:
Academic Documentation
References
Names and contact information for at least two professional references.
Additional Documentation (if applicable)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 1 NOVEMBER 2026
CONTACT INFORMATION
Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting Research Professor Dr. Tormod Haraldstad,
The successful applicant must comply with all regulations, ethical guidelines, and safety procedures applicable to research
activities in Norway and Svalbard.
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 offer relevant information about themselves during the recruitment process. Furthermore, one can
expect background checks to be conducted on candidates in the final phase of the recruitment process. NORCE uses external actors
to carry out such background checks.