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.
Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) is an interdisciplinary focus field for material and energy research at the University of Oslo. SMN has focused on basic research in renewable energy and environmentally friendly use of fossil energy sources. The center consists of research groups from the Department of Physics and the Department of Chemistry, has about 100 employees from around the world and manages more than 80 projects funded by EU, RCN and others.
About the position
Position as a PhD Research Fellow in Heterogeneous Catalysis is available at the Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN).
The fellowship period is three years.
A fourth year may be considered and it will involve 25 % 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.
Starting date no later than October 1, 2026.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
Place of work is Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) at Blindern, Oslo.
Job description
The transition from a fossil-based to a circular production of consumer goods requires the development of new chemical processes, especially for the energy-efficient and sustainable conversion of carbon-containing biomass, biogas, and CO2 into higher value products.
In this position, the candidate will contribute to the research project “ZeoCAT: Zeotype-based Catalysts to produce consumables and fuels from recycled CO2 feedstock” funded by the Research Council of Norway. The project aims to advance fundamental insight into the structure-composition-function correlations that govern the performance of heterogeneous catalysts in reactions relevant to the Cyclic Carbon Economy: CO2 hydrogenation with green hydrogen into commodity chemicals and long-term energy storage molecules. The project is focused on tandem catalysts containing active sites for both, the conversion of CO2 into C1-C2 intermediates like methanol and their subsequent coupling into larger hydrocarbon molecules.
The candidate will:
Conduct catalytic experiments using advanced transient methods based on mass-spectrometry
Develop mathematical models to interpret these data in terms of molecular reaction mechanisms
Engage in regular internal meetings, seminars, and journal clubs
Engage in international collaborations
Participate in experiments at synchrotron facilities
Present their work at international conferences
Help with routine maintenance of experimental facilities
Communicate scientific findings in peer-reviewed publications
The Catalysis and Organic Chemistry research group, in general, studies the correlation between catalyst composition/structure and their effects on chemical reactions. The section has approximately 35 members, subdivided into several groups, depending on the type of catalytic systems under study, various aspects of the subject (e.g. synthesis, characterization, or reaction studies) and/or methodology (e.g. experiments vs. theory). This position will be closely integrated with researchers and engineers who develop, support, and/or execute experiments in catalytic reactors and spectroscopic cells.
The candidate will be integrated within a vibrant social and intellectual environment which brings exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth. Our team values cultural diversity, informal interactions like daily communal lunch breaks, and strives to support each other in all aspects of the academic experience. The group and the Centre hosts game nights, social gatherings, cultural events, and yearly parties.
The Catalysis and Organic Chemistry research group is part of the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) - an interdisciplinary collaboration between five research fields in physics and chemistry, which spearheads the MN Faculty's efforts for sustainable energy solutions. The Centre comprises UiO’s focus on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnology.
Starting in Summer 2026, the Section will be located in a brand new Life Science Building – a state-of-the-art research facility designed to maximize productivity and comfort of our employees. The building is well connected to the rest of the campus and public transport.
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.
Required qualifications:
Master’s degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering or a closely related field
Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system.
Solid knowledge about transport phenomena (i.e. mass transport) and reaction kinetics
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
Candidates without a master’s degree have until June 30, 2026 to complete the final exam.
Desired qualifications:
Prior hands-on experience with vacuum equipment, mass-spectrometry, catalytic reactors and/or gas-flow systems is highly beneficial
Experience with and knowledge of mathematical modeling techniques (numerical solution of Partial Differential Equations)
Programming and data analysis in Python
Language requirement:
Good oral and written communication skills in English
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:http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/
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 effectively within a diverse group of researchers
Ability to balance self-reliance and independence with the ability to follow-up on the tasks delegated by the supervisor
Good communication and collaboration skills
Motivation to become an independent researcher and clear career goals
Readiness to travel internationally for scientific missions and research stays abroad
Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including skills.
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
CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records
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 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.
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.
