Norwegian Institute for Air Research

At NILU, our greatest strength is our outstanding employees. They contribute to NILU’s leading position both nationally and internationally – and to a pleasant working environment.

We do research from pole to pole – from Zeppelin in Svalbard to Trollhaugen in Antarctica. Our research helps increase knowledge about climate change, the composition of the atmosphere, air quality, sustainable transitions and environmental toxins – as well as how all these factors affect health and the environment. Every year, NILU performs hundreds of research commissions, large and small, for public and private customers, in Norway and internationally.

NILU is an independent research foundation with no owners who collect dividends. Instead, all profits are reinvested in operating and developing research services that benefit society. We place great emphasis on open research, open publishing, and open source code – because knowledge is meant to be shared.

At NILU, all employees are equal, regardless of gender, age, disability, creed/philosophy of life, language, cultural differences and sexual orientation. We respect and value individual characteristics, and do not accept any form of discrimination.

About the position

The climate an environmental research institute NILU is seeking a scientist/Postdoc to support the ongoing research and development work within the Technology and Society group. We seek a candidate with interest and expertise in urban sustainability, air pollution, data analysis, geospatial data processing, and low-cost sensors.

This is a temporary position, but NILU is aming at growth. There is therefore a strong possibility for the candidate to be offered a permanent position after the initial engagement period.

The candidate will mainly work on the European project coordinated by NILU, CitiObs- Enhancing Citizen Observatories for healthy, sustainable, resilient and inclusive cities (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101086421) and contribute to the WP on the use of sensor technology in the EU project INQUIRE- Identification of chemical and biological determinants, their sources, and strategies to promote healthier homes in Europe (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101057499). The research will focus on the exploitation of novel low-cost sensor networks (including static, mobile and wearable sensors) monitoring the indoor and outdoor environment in real-time

Duties of the position

• Develop tools, technologies and data services to add value to sensor observations.
• Develop algorithms for real-time validation and calibration of sensor data.
• Develop algorithms for the combination of sensor data with other relevant datasets such as satellite data and atmospheric models.
• Document the research and contribute to publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Lead and contribute to impact creation, communication, dissemination and exploitation of the results.
• Maintain communication with the relevant project consortium.
• Contribute to project deliverables assigned to NILU.

Qualifications

We are looking for a motivated candidate who can work independently, efficiently, and is proactive in solving problems. The candidate should be interested in working in an international team with a multi-disciplinary set of backgrounds, where sharing of resources and teamwork is important.

The following requirements of the applicant are essential:

• Ph.D. or master’s degree in physics, environmental engineering, or any related field.
• Knowledge of air pollution/atmospheric science/chemistry
• Experience with the use of low-cost sensors or novel technologies for environmental monitoring
• Good programming skills.
• Knowledge in data analysis, statistics and/or machine learning
• Excellent knowledge of both written and spoken English

The following qualifications of the applicant are a bonus:

• Knowledge in R and/or Python
• Experience with processing (large) geospatial datasets/ Geographic Information System skills
• Experience with the Global Earth Observation System of Systems and FAIR principles
• Training and experience in topics such as in-situ data gathering, data management, and application of geospatial standards.
• Previous experience in Citizen Science projects or campaigns
• Ability to present ideas and discussing in public
• Good communication skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language

We offer

At NILU, we work for our common future. Our research contributes to the fight against climate change and to secure a healthy environment and a sustainably society. This means that work is more than just work: what we do each day makes a difference.

We offer flexible working hours, work-from-home agreements, subsidised fitness training, and excellent pension and insurance schemes. Salary is competitive.

During a working day at NILU, you will encounter:

• An international and interdisciplinary environment with pleasant colleagues from all over the world
• Great creativity and generous sharing of knowledge
• Broad experience and excellent opportunities for professional development
• A global network of partners

Most of our approximately 175 employees work at the main office in Kjeller, a short train ride from Oslo. We also have a offices in Tromsø and Trondheim.

Applciation process

The application must include:

• Short application letter including a statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• List of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)
• Copies of educational certificates and degrees
• Coding samples (e.g. link to GitHub)

Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University’s grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language. Applications with missing documents will not be considered further. Original documentation may be requested.

Informal enquiries about the available position can be directed to Senior Scientist Nuria Castell (ncb@nilu.no) and Research Director Britt Ann K. Høiskar (bah@nilu.no)

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