The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), located in Longyearbyen at 78°N, is the world’s northernmost institution for higher education. UNIS specializes in Arctic studies and offers field- and research-based courses at bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD level in Arctic biology, geology, geophysics, technology, and safety. UNIS makes use of its year-round presence in the unique Arctic environment, using the environment as a natural laboratory for research and education.
We attract around 700 students annually from all over the world. All teaching is conducted in English and roughly half of both staff and students are international. UNIS was established in 1993 and is operated as a state-owned company under the Ministry of Education and Research. The administrative language is Norwegian. UNIS’s values are inclusion, transparency, engagement, reliability, and respect.
About the department
Arctic Geophysics
The department constitutes 5 professors, 3 associate professors, 3 researchers, 4 PhD students, 5 adjunct professors and 2 technicians. The department conducts research and education in 1) sea-ice-air interactions, including oceanography, cryospheric science and meteorology and 2) space physics. The department operates a world-class optical auroral observatory, the Kjell Henriksen Observatory as well as the SuperDARN ionospheric radar.
About the position
The position is part of a larger, 5-year, Research Council of Norway funded, project in collaboration with University of Oslo (UiO), Norway and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), UK. The Earth’s ionosphere is a highly dynamic region, particularly at polar latitudes, where it is heavily influenced through interactions with the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), and space weather effects. These effects deposit energy into the ionosphere, causing turbulence and heating. At mesoscales (~10 – 100km) these effects can contribute significantly to local dynamics and their contributions are often under-estimated using global models. Previous work has shown that ionospheric mesoscale flows vary at different Magnetic Local Times (MLT) and it is unclear what are the main factors in driving this difference with local conductivity, electric fields and auroral precipitation all viable candidates. The candidate will make use of historical and new datasets from several SuperDARN radars along with data from the EISCAT radars to determine this. Furthermore, the candidate is expected to develop new analysis methods which will be deployed and tested on the Longyearbyen SuperDARN radar.
Activities in the project will include international cooperation, presenting work at international conferences and a research visit to BAS in Cambridge, UK and UiO. The candidate will also be expected to assist with the operations and maintenance of the Svalbard SuperDARN radar (located on Breinosa, just outside of Longyearbyen).
The position is for three years and does not include required duties.
The desired start date is March 2027 but there is some flexibility for later start date also.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a master’s degree in a field relevant for the position or the degree must be completed by 31st January, 2027.
Admission to a doctoral program at the University of Oslo is a condition for the employment.
Proficient in both written and oral English.
Good skills in mathematics and physics with relevance to ionospheric- and plasma physics are required.
Experience in analyzing large datasets using programming tools (e.g. Python, MATLAB).
You will have the opportunity to participate in digital Norwegian language courses during your employment.
Advantageous knowledge and skills
Experience of working with SuperDARN and EISCAT data.
Experience with FITACF, PyDARN, GUISDAP and RST data analysis tools.
Demonstrated experience of working with or developing AI tools for analysis of large datasets.
Authorship or co-authorship in scientific publications.
Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner, and demonstrate good collaborative skills.
Prior work experience in an interdisciplinary research team setting.
Driver’s license class B (valid for Svalbard).
Experience of living and working in polar regions.
Motivation and personal suitability will be emphasized.
Required documents
Motivational letter (max. 1 page) to state your scientific and personal interest in pursuing a PhD on the announced topic, and your motivation for conducting your PhD at UNIS.
Full academic CV.
Transcripts and diplomas showing the completion of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, alternatively an official confirmation that the master’s degree will be completed by January 31, 2027.
Contact information for two references, one of which must be your master's supervisor.
Applications must be submitted through our recruitment system, Jobbnorge. Diplomas and certificates/testimonials must be attached to the application. Applications or attachments not submitted through our recruitment system will not be considered.
When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results: if you have studied in Norway this must be retrieved from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If you have studied in other countries, we ask you to upload certified copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
We offer
UNIS offers a challenging and varied job in an exciting and international environment. As an employee you will be a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK), which provides one of the best pension schemes on the market. We also offer excellent insurance schemes, coverage of travel and relocation expenses (max NOK 10.000) upon starting the position, and staff housing in accordance with current regulations.
The position is classified under the job code “Stipendiat” (PhD position, code 1017). In addition to the base salary, a Svalbard allowance of NOK 44,640 per annum is provided. A 2% contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. The income tax rate in Svalbard is currently 8%, and a national insurance contribution of 7,6% is also deducted.
UNIS prioritises applicants who are citizens of countries with a security policy cooperation with Norway. This mainly includes countries that are members of the EU/EEA or NATO. Employees holding citizenship from countries outside EU/EEA or NATO may encounter difficulties accessing the government infrastructure that UNIS relies on to hold our courses and perform research work.
Selection and appointment
A committee appointed by the Head of Department will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants and invite the highest ranked person(s) for an interview. The appointment will be made by the Director of UNIS based on the recommendation of the committee.
Public disclosure
It is possible to request that your name/application be exempt from public disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (Offentlighetsloven) § 25. The request must be justified. Please note that if the request is not granted, the applicant will be contacted and given the opportunity to withdraw the application.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
One of the UNIS values is inclusion. We are committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment in the High Arctic. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age or other characteristics.
About Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen is situated in the heart of the Arctic on the Svalbard archipelago, surrounded by stunning and diverse natural landscapes that offer exceptional opportunities for outdoor recreation and adventure. Home to approximately 2,600 residents, Longyearbyen is a modern and vibrant community with a high standard of public services, including kindergartens, a swimming and sports centre, and a rich cultural, recreational, and sporting scene. Learn more about Longyearbyen HERE.
