About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in Machine learning connected to the Scientific Computing and Machine Learning (SCML) group at the Department of Informatics. The candidate will be part of and contribute to the research activities in the Climate Health project at the HISP Centre.

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

An extension of the appointment by up to twelve months may be considered, which will be devoted to career-enhancing compulsory work duties, e.g. teaching or supervision. This will be dependent on the qualifications of the applicant and the specific teaching needs of the department

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

Job description

A fully funded PhD position is available on the development of spatiotemporal statistical modelling of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, with a particular emphasis on Bayesian hierarchical modeling using Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA). The work will contribute to ongoing efforts to build real-time, operational early warning systems in collaboration with international partners and public health institutions.

The position is based at the HISP Centre at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, and will be part of a growing research agenda at the intersection of epidemiology, statistical modeling, machine learning and public health data systems. The project aligns with recent developments at the HISP Centre at UiO, which is expanding its long-standing DHIS2 infrastructure to support predictive modeling and disease forecasting in low- and middle-income countries. The plan is for the candidate to focus on Bayesian modelling in close collaboration with researchers at the HISP centre that work on complementary deep learning approaches to disease modelling as well as on development of plat-forms for running and evaluating prediction models. 

The PhD candidate will develop methods for integrating heterogeneous data sources—such as climate, environmental, and health surveillance data—into interpretable spatiotemporal risk models. A key methodological component could be the use of INLA for efficient inference in latent Gaussian models, and the candidate will contribute to adapting and extending these approaches for real-world applications in global health. A main ambition is to develop models that are modular in nature, so that they can be effectively tailored for specific data contexts and decision needs. Another main ambition is that the models will be suited for operationalization, meaning that they operate robustly and can be efficiently installed and tuned on a variety of computational infrastructures. The project will involve interaction with Norwegian partners, where the working language is Norwegian.

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.

Qualification requirements:

•  Master’s degree or equivalent in computer science or statistics
• A solid background in mathematics, linear algebra and statistics.
• Documented experience with Bayesian spatiotemporal modelling, including experience with the INLA framework for Bayesian inference
• Documented experience with programming in either Python or R.
• 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 and a Scandinavian language.

Candidates without a master’s degree have until 31.07.2025 to complete the final exam.

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with disease modelling, ideally with climate-informed disease modelling
• An interest in interdisciplinary and applied public health research, in particular related to global health or climate-health linkages.

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, with an interest for interdisciplinary work
• Interested in real-world implementation and challenges related to such implementation
• 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 skills.

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 from NOK 536 200 - 575 400, 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:

• Brief cover letter with a statement of motivation and research interests that is relevant to the announced position
• 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 any publications or 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".

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

• Geir Kjetil Sandve (Professor), geirksa@ifi.uio.no
• Kristin Braa (Professor), kristin.braa@gmail.com

For questions regarding Jobbnorge please contact:

• Therese Ringvold (HR Adviser), therese.ringvold@mn.uio.no