Our focus

The Fish Diseases Research Group (FDRG) focuses its research activity on characterization of pathogens (virus, bacteria, fungi and parasites) infecting wild and farmed fish with an emphasis on farmed fish. Studies encompass interactions between pathogens and host (immunology, pathology), studies of spreading of pathogens (epizootiology), population genetics, and evolution. The research group has excellent laboratory facilities at its disposal. An international panel ranked FDRG as the leading Norwegian group in fish disease research. Professor Frank Nilsen, a group member, has played a major role in establishing the Sea Lice Research Centre (SLRC).

Recrutment

The scientific staff at FDRG supervise annually up to ten new master students (for details, click here) each year that are mainly recruited from the Integrated Master Programme in Aquamedicine, in addition to a varying number of PhD students (for details, click here). The recruitment of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows depends on external funding. All vacant research positions are advertised internationally, following the Department of Biology’s gender balance recruitment policy. As a rule, the best-qualified applicant is chosen; consequently half of our PhD students and postdoktors are recruited from abroad. A significant part of our research projects are contract-based and in collaboration with the aquaculture industry. This has given us great research possibilities, but occasionally regulate international collaboration and participation.