PhD Research Fellow in fluid mechanics of twisted droplet flow
Deadline: 03.08.2026
Publisert
The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 26 500 students and 7 200 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.
The Department of Mathematics is part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Oslo. The Department is engaged in teaching and research covering a wide spectrum of subjects within mathematics, mechanics and statistics. The research is on theory, methods and applications. The areas represented include: fluid mechanics, biomechanics, statistics and data science, computational mathematics, combinatorics, partial differential equations, stochastics and risk, algebra, geometry, topology, operator algebras, complex analysis and logic.
We have almost 50 persons in permanent academic positions and a large number of post docs and Ph.D. students. We also have an administrative and technical staff. The department represents a leading research environment in mathematical areas in Norway, and has a highly international profile.
About the position
A PhD Research Fellowships is available at the Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo (UiO), in the research group of Prof. Andreas Carlson.
Starting date as soon as possible, latest by January 1, 2027.
The fellowship period is three years.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
The position is associated with projects funded by the Research Council of Norway (HAIRY, LUBRIBOT) and the European Research Council (TWIST). The research will provide a fundamental understanding of the physical processes that arise when droplets interact with soft fibres of complex geometry. A central focus is to develop a new understanding of droplet wetting on fibrous structures, as well as the coupling between active surface properties (and their temporal changes) and external driving mechanisms/forces. This will be achieved through design of new experiments, as well as developing new theoretical understanding of the flow physics. The projects aim to design and investigate new fibre and surface geometries for flow control and for applications such as water harvesting from atmospheric fog. The physical designs will be partly bio-inspired and will emphasize sustainability. The projects offer opportunities to collaborate with both national and international collaborators.
The PhD student will:
Develop experiments of droplet flow and wetting on twisted fibers and on soft materials.
Be directly involved in integrating experiments and theoretical prediction.
Develop a new understanding of the fundamental flow physics through theoretical and/or numerical work.
Develop independence and be self-driven to advance with their research project.
Work in an interdisciplinary team with expertise in mechanics, complex fluids, physics and biophysics and sustainability thinking.
Follow our PhD program that include an educational component.
This position is well suited for candidates who are highly motivated by fundamental science and excited about questions related to capillary flows, droplets, fluid–structure interactions and interfacial fluid mechanics.
You should be strongly self-driven, genuinely interested in an academic career, and eager to develop independence in your research. The PhD fellow will join an international and interdisciplinary research group.
Qualifications
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.
Required qualifications:
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in mechanics, fluid mechanics, physics or applied mathematics.
Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
A strong theoretical educational background in mathematics, continuum mechanics and fluid mechanics.
Good social and collaboration skills, as well as the ability to work independently.
Desired qualifications:
Earlier involvement in research projects in fluid mechanics or droplets will also be considered positively, as well as experience with programming or experiments.
Language requirement:
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.
What are we looking for in you?
Personal skills:
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Ability to work precise in a structured manner and swiftly adapts to new tasks
Good communication and collaboration skills
Positive attitude and the ability to handle hectic periods
Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.
Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes
Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund
We need different perspectives in our work
UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.
We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues, could you be the next one?
We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.
If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).
The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.
We hope you will apply for the position with us.
How to apply
The application must include:
Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests (max 1 page)
CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
Transcripts of records, copies of the original Bachelor’s and Master’s degree diploma (see below)
Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job". Foreign applicants should attach an official explanation of their University's grading system.
When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
For technical questions related to the application portal please contact HR adviser Ole Rustad, email: ole.rustad@mn.uio.no
General information
The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.
Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.
