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 University of Oslo (UiO) is expanding the activity at Campus Kjeller to strengthen our education, research, and innovation in technology for a sustainable future. UiO is a well-ranked research university where the Department of Technology Systems at Kjeller (ITS) is focused on applied research in sustainable energy, autonomous systems, space, and security. At Kjeller, ITS is co-located with the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI) and the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), which both offer rich opportunities for collaboration. ITS also has a range of interdisciplinary research collaborations that include the UiO Blindern Campus and Oslo Science City, as well as many other national and international institutions and industries.
ITS offers several master level programmes, alone and jointly with other departments: Renewable energy systems, Cybernetics and autonomous systems, Robotics and intelligent systems, and Information security. ITS also hosts the Centre for Space Sensors and Systems (CENSSS), which incorporates operation of an instrument on the NASA Perseverance rover on Mars. A new master program in Space systems is in the planning stage. The department currently has 9 permanent scientific staff, approximately 35 adjunct staff from the research institutes at Kjeller and from industry, as well as about 20 PhD candidates. This position is part of an ongoing expansion of the UiO activity at Campus Kjeller. Campus Kjeller is located 20 km northeast of Oslo, between the city center and Oslo Airport. It is a 20 minutes commute with public transportation from Oslo city center to the campus.
About the position
We invite applications for position as PhD Research Fellow in space science available at the Department of Technology Systems.
Preferred starting date is Autumn 2026.
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.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
Place of work is the Department of Technology Systems at Kjeller, Lillestrøm.
Job description
The Martian atmosphere is a dynamic system, shaped by complex physical and chemical processes operating across a wide range of timescales. This PhD project will investigate dynamic phenomena and processes in the Martian atmosphere, combining space craft data analysis with opportunities for modelling depending on the candidate’s interests. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to join the science teams of three major Mars missions: the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, and the ESA orbiters ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express. Through these mis-sion affiliations, they will gain access to both archived and newly acquired instru-ment data, including spectroscopic measurements and solar energetic particle and plasma observations, as well as become part of a wider international network of Mars scientists and engineers.
The specific research direction will be shaped in part by the candidate’s interests and background. Possible avenues for investigation include:
The Martian water cycle, focusing on near-surface water vapor distribu-tion, surface-atmosphere exchange, and radiative transfer modelling of SuperCam spectra from the Perseverance rover.
Space weather impacts on atmospheric composition, using ozone retrievals from TGO and Mars Express alongside energetic particle and plasma measurements to characterise the atmospheric response to solar storm events.
Martian aurora, investigating the spatial and temporal variability of auro-ral emissions using multispectral imaging and spectroscopic data from the Perse-verance rover (SuperCam, Mastcam-Z) and supporting orbital datasets.
The candidate will be based at the Space Systems group at the Department of Technology Systems, University of Oslo, joining a team with established involve-ment in these missions.
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:
Have a Master’s degree or equivalent in physics, planetary science, meteorology, geophysics, or similar. Candidates must have submitted and defended their Master’s degree before the starting date
Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
Have programming experience in Python, specifically for scientific data processing and analysis
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
Desired qualifications:
Have knowledge of atmospheric and/or space physics
Have experience with spectroscopic data analysis or remote sensing
Have familiarity with planetary science datasets and/or space mission data
Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking, as well as problem-solving
Be able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and international team
Have a proactive and independent approach to conducting research
Have strong time management skills to balance multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines
Language requirement:
Good 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:
Genuine enthusiasm for space exploration and planetary science
Ability to create and contribute to a well-functioning, inclusive and productive research environment
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Ability to work in an interdisciplinary scientific environment
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
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)
Letters of recommendation
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.
