About the position

1-3 Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions in Planetary Habitability available at the Centre for Planetary Habitability, Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo (UiO).

Starting date as soon as possible and no later than October 1, 2025.

The appointment is a fulltime position for a period of three years (10% of which is devoted to required duties, usually in the form of teaching activities).No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.

Job description

We seek candidates who want to explore planetary habitability as a measure of a planet's potential to provide environments hospitable to diverse life forms, we know, and which is often reduced to liquid surface water. However, a planet’s orbital parameters, surface and interior temperature, interior composition and dynamics, tectonic style, magnetic field, rotation rate and tilt, atmospheric composition and density, water mass fraction, as well as the type, age, and elemental composition of its host star, are all crucial to define habitability. The unexplored habitability factors vary because of their time-dependence in relation to changes in the Sun/star’s energy and the planet’s chemical, thermal and tectonic evolution. 

Early Earth was potentially not in the habitable zone when the Sun was fainter, but a dense greenhouse atmosphere perhaps saved us from runaway cooling and permanent icehouse conditions. Water probably arrived early in the terrestrial planet formation process and is crucial for habitable environments. Mars was once wetter, arguably warmer and potentially habitable, but is now a permanent icehouse, whilst Venus has been a hothouse for an unknown time. These planetary siblings also lack plate tectonics, a long-lived magnetic field, and a large satellite (our moon). Yet, which of these three characteristics are essential for its long-term habitability?

For these postdoctoral fellowships, we seek candidates to develop planetary evolution models to explain the temporal evolution of atmospheres, tectonic modes and/or magnetic fields on Earth, Mars and Venus. Environmental conditions for habitability are linked to the tectonic regime (e.g., stagnant lid versus plate tectonics) and the interlinked rock and volatile cycles of the life-forming elements (CHNOPS), which were significantly modified when Earth transitioned to plate tectonics. The tectonic regime when the mantle was at its warmest may have been one of plume- (or impact-) induced subduction type or squishy-lid type, but the questions of when, why and how plate tectonics started are debated, and thus an improved understanding of Earth’s evolution is critically needed. A magnetic field protects a planet from high-energy solar particles, cosmic rays, and biomolecule damage. Today, Earth is the only terrestrial planet with a strong and long-lived dynamo-driven magnetic field, probably operated over most of its lifespan, and by some thought to modulate atmospheric escape and maintenance of an atmosphere with adequate pressure for water to exist as a liquid. Variations in magnetic field strength can impact atmospheric chemistry and climate, but the question of whether a magnetic field is critically needed for long-term planetary habitability remains unanswered.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a top scientific position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows must submit a professional development plan no later than one month after the commencement of the postdoctoral period.

Qualifications requirements:

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 according to this and expected to be in the upper segment of their class regarding academic credentials.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Physics, or other related quantitative disciplines at the time of appointment.
• Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defense are eligible for appointment.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

We seek candidates with a strong background in Earth and Planetary Science and experience working on interdisciplinary research projects.

Desired qualifications

One or several of the following qualifications are desirable and will be prioritized in the assessment:

• Experience with numerical modelling to develop thermal history models of mantle cooling (including the influence of water, plate tectonic parameterizations, radioactive heat generation and continent formation/insulation) to understand the temporal evolution of tectonic mode, volcanic processes, climate forcing, magnetic fields, and environmental change, for the Earth and other planets.
• Experience with sulfur- and carbon-cycle modelling under different tectonic modes to reconstruct and explore changes in terrestrial atmospheres.
• Experience with magma ocean degassing and atmospheric evolution to explain the chemical trajectory of the Hadean atmosphere and Earth-like atmospheres.
• Experience with star-planet interaction modelling to determine (exo)planetary atmospheric escape and the induced temporal evolution of potential (exo)planetary magnetic fields.
• Experience with paleomagnetic (paleointensity) measurements to determine the temporal strength of the geodynamo, the timing of solid inner core nucleation and possible links to biodiversity.
• Experience with chemical and physical environment modelling for Earth and Mars to identify the initial conditions for habitability to foster a biosphere.

Personal skills

• Independent thinking, creativity, leadership, and mentoring abilities
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to create and contribute to a well-functioning, inclusive and productive research environment.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.

We offer:

• Salary in position as Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK 579 700 - 661 300 per annum, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
• 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. 
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral 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

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

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:

• Cover letter (max 1-page statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• A research plan related to the above-described research focus (up to 2 pages)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, curatorial and databasing experience, administrative experience, other qualifying activity, and career breaks if relevant)
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee.
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records, including a copy of the PhD diploma or an official statement on the certified date of the successful defense (not award) of the PhD
• Names and contact details of 2-3 professional 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.

In assessing the applications, particular emphasis will be placed on the documented academic qualifications, as well as the candidates' motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

General information

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) and Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian).

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 position

Questions about the position

• Trond H. Torsvik, t.h.torsvik@geo.uio.no
• Stephanie C. Werner, stephanie.werner@geo.uio.no
• Kaja Mathisen (HR Adviser - For questions regarding Jobbnorge), k.m.h.mathisen@mn.uio.no