Blindern og Urbygningen (Foto: Wikimedia og Colourbox)
Researchers in Space Sensors and Systems
Deadline: 31.01.2024
Publisert
Universitetet i Oslo
The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.
The University of Oslo (UiO) is expanding the activity at Campus Kjeller to strengthen our education, research, and innovation in technology for a sustainable future. UiO is a well-ranked research university where the Department of Technology Systems at Kjeller (ITS) is focused on applied research in sustainable energy, autonomous systems, space, and security.
At Kjeller, ITS is co-located with the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI) and the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), which both offer rich opportunities for collaboration.
ITS also has a range of interdisciplinary research collaborations that include the UiO Blindern Campus and Oslo Science City, as well as many other national and international institutions and industries.
ITS offers several master level programmes, alone and jointly with other departments: Renewable energy systems, Cybernetics and autonomous systems, Robotics and intelligent systems, and Information security.
ITS also hosts the Centre for Space Sensors and Systems (CENSSS), which incorporates operation of an instrument on the NASA Perseverance rover on Mars. A new master program in Space systems is started in 2023.
The department currently has 9 permanent scientific staff, approximately 35 adjunct staff from the research institutes at Kjeller and from industry, as well as about 20 PhD candidates. This position is part of an ongoing expansion of the UiO activity at Campus Kjeller.
Campus Kjeller is located 20 km northeast of Oslo, between the city center and Oslo Airport. It is a 20 minutes commute with public transportation from Oslo city center to the campus.
About the position
Up to two positions as Researcher are available at the Centre for Space Sensors and Systems (CENSSS) at the Department of Technology Systems (ITS).
CENSSS is a Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI), funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and UiO for up to eight years, starting in November 2020. CENSSS has three research partners and nine user partners. CENSSS is located at Kjeller, Norway, where there is a long history of space science and technology dating back to the 1960s.
CENSSS addresses challenges and opportunities in science, technology and business related to “New-Space” satellites and systems for Earth Observation, as well as Space Exploration, by focusing on novel sensors, systems and services. CENSSS is operating the RIMFAX ground penetrating radar on the NASA Perseverance Mars rover.
CENSSS aims to strengthen competence and capabilities of all its participants in development of space systems. CENSSS plans to develop and launch a research satellite.
The appointments are fulltime positions for a period of three years.
The starting date is as soon as possible.
Job description / Project description / Development plan:
One of the positions may take on the role of Mission Manager for the satellite project, and will be involved in a collaboration to choose scientific objectives/payloads, mission parameters (launch, choice of orbit, etc.), and development of a mission control workflow.
The other roles that are sought to be filled are the following:
Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT); development of a flatsat and flight software/simulation
Development & integration of instrumentation and sensors
Development of scientific objectives and payloads, including, but not limited to:
Neutron and gamma ray detection
In-situ plasma physics/space weather
Radiometry
Attitude control & reorientation experiments
Polar & climate science
Meteorology
Development of a Digital twin for space systems
Supervising Master’s students & PhDs
We especially welcome applications from individuals who have scientific research goals and/or instrumentation that they would like to implement on a satellite; these research objectives need not be the ones listed above.
The core activity of the Centre shall support Researchers, PhD candidates and Postdocs. They shall work in close contact with the research- and user partners of CENSSS.
In 2023, the department started a Master’s degree program in Space systems, in collaboration with other departments at UiO and other organizations.
Qualification requirements:
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.
Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian Master's degree in Physics, electronics, cybernetics/control, aeronautical/astronautical or mechanical engineering, or related fields
The topic of the Masters degree must be of relevance to the position
Applicants must have experience in one or more of the topics:
Design of satellite systems,
Sensors for space systems, and/or signal processing thereof
Integration and testing of spacecraft or subsystems,
Space systems engineering,
Development of space data exploitation models
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
The research area for the position can include technologies or information referred to in the Ministry's export control regulations or the Norwegian National Security Act (Lov om Nasjonal Sikkerhet, a.k.a. “Sikkerhetsloven”), and the candidate must be eligible for (but not necessarily hold) a Norwegian security clearance
Personal skills:
Ability to take initiative and come up with new ideas to solve theoretical and practical problems
Ability to work independently as well as in a team
Good personal communication skills
In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, qualifications, personal skills and research interests, as well as on the candidate's motivation and personal suitability as assessed via interviews.
We offer:
Salary 532 200 – 657 300 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Researcher (position code 1108)
Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
The application must include:
Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records
A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
Names and contact details of 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 a Scandinavian language).
In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.
Formal regulations:
Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.
If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months ( thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)
According to the Norwegian Freedom and 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.
Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.
If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.
Contact persons:
For further information about the position please contact:
Associate Professor Mathias Hudoba de Badyn, e-mail: mathias.hudoba@its.uio.no
For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact:
HR Adviser Olga Holmlund, e-mail: olga.holmlund@mn.uio.no
