Job description

Two up to 2,5-year positions are available at the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics (ITA), one is a 50% Researcher position in cosmology and the other is a 50% Project Manager. Both are associated with the ERC-funded Cosmoglobe project and the CMB&CO group within the Section for Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics at the institute. These are two independent positions, but priority will be given to candidates that may fill both positions at the same time.

Starting date is as soon as possible, and no later than 01.03.2023.

More about the position

The CMB&CO research group is a part of the Section for Cosmology and Extragalactic astrophysics and is led by Profs. Ingunn Wehus and Hans K. Eriksen. It plays an internationally leading role in research on the early universe with a particular emphasis on CMB and intensity mapping data analysis. The group is presently funded by two ERC consolidator grants and consists of about 20 people, from master’s students to professors. The Cosmoglobe project aims to combine the world’s best radio, microwave, and submm observations into one global model of the astrophysical sky, and use this to constrain both the physics of the early universe and the structure and dynamics of the Milky Way. Important experiments include COMAP, LiteBIRD, PASIPHAE, Planck, Simons Observatory, SPIDER, and WMAP.

The technical-administrative staff at ITA consists of 11 people, covering everything from student administration to computer support. While ITA is the smallest institute at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at University of Oslo, it has a very large portfolio of externally funded projects, and it is the largest user of scientific computing resources in Norway. The project manager will work closely with the administrative staff of the Institute.

The successful applicant(s) will together serve as 1) a Researcher in the Cosmoglobe project, and 2) Project Manager for the Cosmoglobe project and other projects led by Profs. Ingunn Kathrine Wehus and Hans Kristian Eriksen.

Researcher position (50%) duties include:

• Research within the scope of the Cosmoglobe project
• As part of the research, supervise junior scientists in the group
• Scientific content creation (popular science articles, blog posts etc.)
• Other contributions to research papers (visualization, proofreading etc.)

Project Manager position (50%) duties include:

• Project administration and reporting
• Financial supervision
• Personnel support
• Inter-agency communication (University, EU etc.)
• Organizing workshops, meetings; social activities etc.
• Developing and maintaining webpages

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty.

• Applicants for the Researcher position must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian PhD degree in astrophysics, physics, statistics, informatics or related topics.
• Applicants for the Project manager position must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian Batchelor’s degree in a relevant topic, preferably with an astrophysics background.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in both Norwegian and English are required in the Project manager position.

For the Project Manager position, the following additional requirements:

• Experience with administrative tools
• Experience from developing and running Webpages
• Experience in support of research projects and communication with external funding agencies
• Experience from communication within a large organisation
• Flexibility, service minded and accurate and reliable
• Being able to prioritize under stress
• Experience from similar type of work will be preferable

Personal skills

The following personal qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

• independent and enterprising
• Accurate and reliabl
• Solution oriented
• Good communication skills
• Good people management skills, and the ability to create a positive and social working environment
• Research and project management experience
• Willing to learn new skills

We offer

• Project Manager position: Advisor (position code 1434): Salary NOK 555 900-625 500–per annum, depending on qualifications
• Researcher (position code 1109) Salary NOK 573 900-648 700–per annum depending on qualifications
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific and administrative work and interests)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates and academic transcript of records
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English or Norwegian).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on documented, academic qualifications, as well as the candidates’ motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best-qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

For further information please contact:

• Prof. Ingunn Kathrine Wehus, e-mail: i.k.wehus@astro.uio.no or
• Prof. Hans Kristian Eriksen, e-mail: h.k.k.eriksen@astro.uio.no

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Elin Thoresen, e-mail: elin.thoresen@mn.uio.no.

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