About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in geochemical modeling available at Department of geoscience/FME GigaCCS.

Starting date as soon as possible. The fellowship period is three years.

A fourth year maybe considered and it will involve 25 percent of other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. 

Job description

The PhD will be part of the new FME GigaCCS centre. The centre will advance Norway’s expertise in CCS, as well as support the global implementation of CCS at a gigatonne scale.FME GigaCCS seeks a highly motivated candidate for a PhD research fellowship aimed at de-risking CO₂ storage in (hyper)saline aquifers. The background is that solid salt is known to form during CO₂ storage, potentially leading to permeabilityimpairment and reduced injectivities. Much research have been done to understand the physics of salt precipitation, but little is known on how geological heterogeneities at various scales affect the extent of salt formation.

The project targets modeling formation dry-out and salt precipitation during CO₂ storage. The candidate will work on developing numerical models for salt precipitation at pore- to continuum-scale, with special focus on how sedimentarystratification at various scales affects capillary backflow to the salt-dryout zone. The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary team. There will be a close collaboration between UiO and NORCE, with co-supervision from the latter.

What skills are important in this role?

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.

We seek a candidate with a demonstrated (a published paper, masters thesis topic, conference presentation, internship or similar) good knowledge on chemical and physical process, especially those involving scale formation (nucleationgrowth of minerals). A geo-scientific knowledge, preferably within stratigraphy and/or geochemistry will be an asset.

Qualification requirements:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in physics, process technology, or computational geosciences
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English Candidates without a master’s degree have until 01.10.2025 to complete the finalexam.

Desired qualifications:

• Insight into geochemistry and reactive transport
• Insight into sedimentology and reservoir geology.
• Insight into CCS 

Language requirement:

• Good oral and written communication skills in English
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements

Grade requirements:

The norm is as follows:

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see here.

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.

We can offer you

• A pleasant and stimulating work environment
• Good welfare schemes
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities
• Career development programmes
• 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 

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

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.

We hope that you will apply for the position.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. 

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• 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
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• 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 the position". 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.

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.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

Apply for the position

Questions about the position

For further information please contact: 

• Prof. Helge Hellevang (+47 90 61 35 26), helghe@geo.uio.no or 
• Dr. Mohammad Nooraiepour, mohammad.nooraiepour@geo.uio.no

For questions regarding Jobbnorge, please contact:

• HR Adviser Ørjan Pretorius, orjan.pretorius@mn.uio.no