The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.
UiB shall be among Europe's leading universities, internationally recognized for high quality in research and education. As a societal institution, we shall contribute to sustainable and democratic development and be an attractive and inclusive place to study and work.
The project concerns hydrogen economy and civilian maritime applications of nuclear energy. The appointed candidate should have research and/or professional legal practice expertise in energy and/or maritime law, preferably across public and private law. Proficiency in English is a prerequisite, and proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is a strong asset.
The position is a fixed-term contract. The term of employment is 4 years. The starting date is 1st September 2026 or later upon agreement.
About the postdoctoral project
This postdoctoral project combines research on legal perspectives in hydrogen and nuclear technology and is anchored in two related research projects HyValue and SAINT:
HyValue focuses on the production, transportation and consumption of hydrogen in a value-chain perspective. This part of the postdoctoral project should focus on the legal challenges and opportunities linked to hydrogen maritime applications, including its use as fuel, cargo and/or its handling and use in ports. More generally, the postdoctoral project should contribute with analysis on opportunities to develop maritime-linked hydrogen value chains (with a desired private law component) and study how regulations and economic incentives can be designed to avoid barriers and promote business models for hydrogen-based fuels (with a desired public law component).
SAINT conducts research on civilian nuclear power as a zero-emission technology for global shipping. The goal is developing, testing and scaling solutions for commercial use – and identify the current regulatory gaps for such technology. This part of the postdoctoral project should focus on the policy and regulatory dimensions of developing solutions for civilian nuclear power with an aim to contribute with recommendations on both national and international law regimes as they relate to nuclear shipping and the commercialisation of civilian maritime applications using nuclear energy. Given the focus on commercialisation, a central part of this research should concern the private law dimension of the subject.
Qualifications
The applicant must hold a Norwegian PhD in law or an equivalent degree from abroad. Applicants must have submitted their doctoral thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the degree has been awarded.
The subject matter of the PhD or the applicant’s expertise must be linked to energy and/or maritime law.
The applicant should have prior knowledge of the hydrogen economy and/or civilian maritime applications of nuclear energy.
The applicant must have a high academic level, demonstrated through scientific publications and other written work.
The applicant must be proficient in both written and oral English. Proficiency in Scandinavian languages is an asset.
The applicant must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and collaborate with others.
Work tasks and expectations
The candidate is expected to:
Conduct independent and collaborative research connected to the projects leading to a minimum of 6 scientific publications in well-reputed journals and/or book chapters, divided as equally as possible between the two projects.
Engage in dissemination and communication of the research projects and project results in relevant arenas, including at international conferences.
Attend and organize research activities in the projects, in close collaboration with the other members of the projects.
Opportunity to apply for a mobility grant to institutions abroad as part of the position.
Salary as a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) in the state salary scale. This corresponds to a gross annual salary of NOK 720,100. Salary development is in accordance with current regulatory framework. For particularly highly qualified applicants, a higher salary may be considered.
Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
The assessment will emphasise the quality of the project description and its relevance and importance towards the project, as well as the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites for carrying out the project and contributing to the research community at the faculty. Relevant applicants will be called in for an interview.
Further information about the employment process at the University of Bergen can be found here.
Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting Ingrid Birce Müftüoglu ingrid.muftuoglu@uib.no, tel. +47 555 89 235.
Detailed information about the recruitment process and employment conditions can be obtained by contacting HR at the faculty, e-mail address hrjur@uib.no.
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions. Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.
The application must include
A cover letter with a brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position and how this agenda fits with the aims of HyValue and SAINT. Applicants are expected to read the project descriptions which will be provided upon request to Ingrid Birce Müftüoglu ingrid.muftuoglu@uib.no.
A project proposal for the planned research (5-7 pages). The proposal shall include a description of the postdoctoral project’s overall topic and/or individualised objectives, theory and method, and a research publication and dissemination plan. The project proposal will be included as part of the contract.
Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts of grades, as well as confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted.
CV (using the template in the application portal)
Complete list of scientific work (publication list)
Doctoral thesis and up to five (5) additional academic works in pdf format. The works must be in English or in a Scandinavian language unless otherwise agreed upon. The applicant may include unpublished manuscripts.
The names and contact information of two referees. One of these should be the main supervisor of the PhD thesis.
If a written evaluation of the doctoral thesis is available, it should be included. This documentation may be submitted after the application deadline if it becomes available at a later stage.
Applicants with an education outside Scandinavia must include a certified translation into English or Scandinavian if the original diplomas, transcripts, and additional documentation are not in one of these languages. A Diploma Supplement with a standardised description of the structure, level, content, and status of the applicant's education must also be included. Applicants with education from outside Scandinavia will be evaluated by the faculty according to the regulations of the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education.
The application must be written in English. The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be sent electronically via the link «Apply for this job» on this page.
The application must be completed within the deadline. Applications that do not include all mandatory attachments will not be considered.
