PhD Research Fellow in Theoretical and Computational Active Matter Physics
Deadline: 05.04.2026
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 research at the Department of Physics covers a broad range of subfields within physics and technology: From space research to medical physics. A good proportion of the research is interdisciplinary, and conducted in close cooperation with collaborators in Norway and abroad. Education and teaching are other essential activities. We offer a broad range of courses, and the Department is involved in several study programmes at bachelor’s and master’s level. Some of the best lecturers in Norway are amongst our employees, and we are proud of our prizewinning teaching and learning environment. The Department has 200 employees, of which 50 are permanent scientific positions. On a yearly basis 20 students complete their Ph.D. and 50 finish their M.Sc. degree.
About the position
A PhD Research fellowship in in Theoretical and Computational Active Matter Physics for Early Embryo Development is available at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, within the interdisciplinary research team GENESIS: Gene–Epigenome–Active Matter Nexus in Early Embryogenesis. Starting date no later than September 15, 2026.The fellowship period is four years, including 25 % of other career-promoting work. This may involve teaching and/or project-related activities such as contributing to consortium seminars, maintaining project websites, laboratory assistance, or other tasks that support the research environment.No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
Job description
GENESIS is a newly established Life Science Convergence Environment that brings together active matter physics, cell biology, and computational biology to address the fundamental processes guiding the earliest stages of mammalian embryo development. Early embryogenesis involves tightly coupled cellular dynamics, mechanical forces, and gene regulation that drive symmetry breaking, self-organization, and cell fate specification, many of which exhibit hallmarks of active matter.This PhD project aims to develop theoretical and computational active-matter models of early mouse embryogenesis that couple collective cell mechanics with gene regulation. The goal is to identify the physical and mechanochemical principles underlying symmetry breaking and self-organization during pre-implantation development, in close connection with experimental data from live imaging and spatially resolved gene expression profiling.
The work of the PhD fellow will be theoretical and computational in nature and will include:
Developing minimal active-matter models capturing cell motility, deformation, and division
Incorporating gene-regulatory effects and studying mechanochemical feedback
Analyzing symmetry breaking, self-organization, and topological defects
Validating models using experimental data generated by the GENESIS team
The project offers a strongly interdisciplinary research environment spanning physics, developmental biology, advanced imaging, and machine learning.
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 physics, applied mathematics, computational science, or a closely related field
Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
Strong background in theoretical modelling, preferably within active matter physics
Solid programming skills
Desired qualifications:
Experience in statistical physics, solid mechanics, or fluid mechanics
Experience with data-driven modeling, parameter estimation, or model calibration
Familiarity with high-performance computing or large-scale simulations
Interest in close collaboration with experimental researchers
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:
Strong analytical skills and scientific curiosity
Open-minded, collegial, and comfortable engaging in a social and interdisciplinary research environment
High level of motivation, responsibility and perseverance
Clear and constructive scientific communication skills
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. 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, research experience, pedagogical experience, and other relevant activities)
Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records and letters of recommendation
List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee, including exercises or problem sets the applicant has designed
Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job".
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.
