Mark John Costello

The Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture at Nord University is offering a three-year PhD position in marine nature conservation and fisheries, based in Bodø, Norway. The successful candidate will join the Ecology division and contribute to research that seeks synergies between marine nature conservation and sustainable fisheries. The project aims to identify opportunities for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to benefit fisheries through spillover effects and serve as refugia for broodstock and juveniles. Candidates are encouraged to explore global, regional, and local perspectives across finfish and shellfish, with the goal of developing general theory around optimizing marine spatial management to restore biodiversity while enabling sustainable resource use. The position is part of Nord University's commitment to creating knowledge that makes a difference, with a focus on blue and green growth, sustainable innovation, societal security, and health, welfare, and education. The Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture is an international arena for education and research, with staff and students from 39 countries. The professional community is organized into divisions including Aquaculture, Ecology, Genomics and Animal Science, Production and Welfare, and Algae and Microbial Biotechnology. Applicants must hold a master's degree in a relevant field, with a grade average of B or better for both the programme and the master's thesis. Fluent English skills, both written and oral, are required. Essential qualifications include a solid understanding of fisheries, biogeography, marine ecology, natural history, and nature conservation science and practice. Strong computational and analytical skills and the ability to quickly learn new analytical methods are important. Experience in publishing papers as a lead author is an asset. Candidates who already have a PhD degree are not eligible. Employment is conditional upon admission to the faculty’s doctoral program, and the final project outline must be approved within three months of appointment. The annual salary for doctoral researchers is NOK 550,800, with benefits from the Government Pension Fund for loans, insurance, and pension. Nord University offers a creative and collegial working environment, flexible working hours, and an active university sports club. The university encourages applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds. Applicants must submit a motivation letter, complete CV, diplomas and certificates, master’s thesis, references, and any other relevant documents as PDF attachments via the electronic application form. Applicants from outside Scandinavia must provide officially certified diplomas in both the original language and authorized English translations. Applicants from outside the EU/EEA must submit HK-dir approval of their master’s degree. The application deadline is 1st June 2026. After the application period, a list of applicants will be published, and in special cases, the identity of particular applicants may be made public. For further information, contact Professor Mark John Costello ([email protected]) or Vigdis Tverberg ([email protected]). Read more about the faculty at www.nord.no/en/fba . Apply for the position at JobbNorge .