PhD Candidate in evolutionary genomics of cryptic coloration in frogs

Role Overview
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. The immediate leader will be the Head of Department. 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.

Responsibilities
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.

Requirements and Qualifications
Required selection criteria:
- You must have a Master's degree 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.

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.

What They 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

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 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.