About the position

One or two PhD Research Fellowships in Fluid Mechanics are available at the section for Mechanics at the Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo.

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

If the successful candidate has a good knowledge of one Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish), the fellowship will be for a period of 4 years, with 25 % compulsory work (teaching at the Department of Mathematics). Otherwise, the fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with no compulsory work. 

Latest starting date September 1, 2025.

PhD Research Fellowships are available at the Department of Mathematics, Mechanics Division at the University of Oslo (UiO). 

The positions are part of large interdisciplinary project which focuses on the understanding of how the biophysical processes as droplets wet membrane compartments in cells. Numerical simulations and theoretical models will be developed of the viscous interfacial fluid flow at cellular membranes alongside experiments of a synthetic system. These droplets are found in a wide range of cellular processes and play a role in infections, cancer and diseases. The PhD work will involve theoretical and computational modelling of the droplets and how they wet soft interphases, in close collaboration with experimentalists. There are also opportunities to develop and perform own droplet wetting experiments. It is planned that the numerical simulations and experiments will help advance our understanding of these membrane wetting dynamics. The PhD research fellowship will be part of the group of Prof. Andreas Carlson, where the work will be conducted in close collaboration with experimental cell biologists at Oslo University Hospital in the group of Prof. Harald Stenmark. The project will also involve international collaborations and is a unique opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary environment.

You will work with

The PhD student will: 

• Develop theoretical and computational models for interfacial flow and wetting on cell membranes and/or develop and perform own droplet wetting experiments.
• Implement and solve numerically the theoretical membrane model.
• Collaborate with experimentalists in cell biology.
• Develop independence and be self-driven to advance with their research project.
• Work in an interdisciplinary team with expertise in mechanics, fluid mechanics, physics and biophysics.
• Follow our PhD program that include an educational component including courses.

This is the right position if you are highly motivated about fundamental science and excited about physics questions related to solid and fluid mechanics in a biological context. The PhD student will join an international and interdisciplinary research group lead by Prof. Andreas Carlson, which hosts other projects including an ERC Consolidator Grant.

Qualification requirements

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.

• Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in mechanics, fluid mechanics, biophysics, physics or applied mathematics.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. 
• Earlier involvement in interdisciplinary research projects or/and a strong background in biophysics or interfacial fluid mechanics will also be considered positively, as well as experience with programming.
• A strong theoretical educational background in mathematics and continuum mechanics.
• Good social and collaboration skills and ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary scientific environment.

Candidates without a master’s degree have until 30 June 2025 to complete the final exam.

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

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position.

For more information see here.

Personal skills

• Self-driven and highly motivated about fundamental science.
• Very good communication and collaboration skills.
• Want to contribute to good social environment at the workplace. 
• Pro-active, result oriented and high performance capabilities.

We offer

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Good welfare schemes.
• Career development programmes.
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range 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.

Application

Your application should include:

• A brief cover letter including a description of scientific interests and the motivation for applying for the position
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of educational certificates and transcript of records 
• Documentation of English proficiency if needed (please see admission criteria)
• 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.

Contact persons:

• Professor Andreas Carlson, phone: +47 22857223, web: https://acarlson-uio.github.io, e-mail : acarlson@math.uio.no

For technical questions related to the application portal please contact HR officer Ole Rustad, e-mail: ole.rustad@mn.uio.no 

Apply for the position