LEDIG STILLING VED UIT NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Optical Nanoscopy
Deadline: 25.09.2023
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus comprehensive university at the international forefront. Our vision is to be a driving force for developing the High North. The Northern Sami notion eallju, which means eagerness to work, sets the tone for this motive power at UiT. Along with students, staff and the wider community, we aim to utilise our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio and interdisciplinary advantage to shape the future.
Our social mission is to provide research-based education of high quality, perform artistic development and carry out research of the highest international quality standards in the entire range from basic to applied. We will convey knowledge about disciplines and contribute to innovation. Our social mission unites UiT across various studies, research fields and large geographical distances. This demands good cooperation with trade and industry and civil society as well as with international partners. We will strengthen knowledge-based and sustainable development at a regional, national and international level.
Academic freedom and scientific and ethical principles form the basis for all UiT’s activities. Participation, co-determination, transparency and good processes will provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and far-sighted priorities. Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Founded on academic integrity, we will be courageous, committed and generous in close contact with disciplines, people and contemporary developments.
We will demonstrate adaptability and seek good and purposeful utilisation of resources, so we are ready to meet the expectations and opportunities of the future. We will strengthen the quality and impact of our disciplines and core tasks through the following three strategic priority areas.
Faculty of Science and Technology
The position
A Postdoctoral Research Fellow position within the field of optical nanoscopy is available at the Department of Physics and Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, in the Ultrasound, Microwave and Optics (UMO) group . The position is a fixed term position for a duration of three years.
We offer an interesting research direction, scientific independence, good remuneration, great potential of growth, and a fantastic work environment within the stunning landscape of Tromsø.
Appointment to the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow is mainly intended to provide qualification for work in top academic positions. It is a prerequisite that the applicant can carry out the project over the full course of the employment period. No person may hold more than one fixed term position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the same institution.
The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.
The project/position's field of research
The position is associated with Professor Balpreet Singh Ahluwalia in the Ultrasound, Microwave and Optics (UMO) group. The scope of research is towards the development of advanced super-resolution optical microscopy. The group has led to a thriving multi-disciplinary research group, comprising of several postdocs, PhD candidates and cutting-edge research infrastructure within optical microscopy. There is a constant flow of international visiting experts. There are several on-going European Union and Research Council of Norway funded projects. The group members represent various disciplines like microscopy, photonics, nanofabrication, and biology. There is an emphasis on gender equality, cultural integration, conducive work environment, excellence through cooperation and co-enabling, and support of growth and ambition of everyone in the group.
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will be hosted within the Nanoscopy sub-group in the UMO Group at the Department of Physics and Technology.
The aim of this project is to develop advanced optical microscopy methods to circumvent the diffraction limit both in the fluorescence and label-free mode. There are several routes that could be explored within the project, such as:
1. For 2D case, near field excitation via optical waveguide (photonic-chip), to surpass the diffraction limit both in fluorescence and label-free mode.
2. For 3D case, exploitation of 3D scattering, light coherence properties, quantitative phase microscopy and novel phase retrieval methods will be explored for enhancing the resolution and the penetration depth.
3. Demonstration of these novel optical microscopy methods for bio-imaging application such as nanosized biological particles, cell imaging and tissue sections.
You must submit a project proposal that describes how you scientifically can contribute to (the project/described field of research). The proposal must include a progress plan.
You must submit a description of your past research project(s) and its relevance to the advertised position.
The role of the postdoctoral fellow
The position will be 100 % devoted to research and development tasks. The candidate is expected to take on a senior role within the sub-group of optical nanoscopy, led by Prof. Ahluwalia, working with other scientific staff and PhD partners, participating in group meetings, and communicating and disseminating research. The candidate will be encouraged to take an active role in developing new collaborative funding proposals within the group and to strengthen on-going co-operation with several national and international partners.
Contact
For further information about the position, please contact:
This position requires a Norwegian doctoral degree within a field relevant for the research theme of the position or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognised as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree. The scope of this research theme is towards the development of super-resolution optical microscopy and its application for bio-imaging. Here, the candidate must document their experimental exposure in the development of super-resolution optical microscopy domain.
Qualification with a PhD is required before commencement in the position. If you’re at the final stages of your PhD, you may still apply if you have submitted your PhD thesis for doctoral degree evaluation within the application deadline. You must submit the thesis with your application. You must have dissertated before the start-up date of the position.
We are looking for a strongly motivated person, who has an excellent academic record and potential, with analytical and problem-solving skills. The assessment will emphasise scientific publications in internationally recognised peer review journals. The suitable candidate should be an expert in optical microscopy with experience in developing innovative methods for circumventing the diffraction limit. Exposure on photonic integrated circuits (optical waveguides), quantitative phase microscopy, scattering based optical microscopy, and handling of optical waveguides is preferred. Similarly, exposure on bio-imaging is preferable. We are looking for a motivated candidate to find innovative routes to further accelerate the field of advanced optical microscopy.
Other required qualification skills include:
Good command of English orally and in writing
Emphasis is also given to personal suitability
International experience is an advantage.
Fluency in English is required. Nordic applicants can document their capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.
In the assessment the main emphasis will be attached to the submitted works and the project proposal for the qualifying work. Emphasis shall also be attached to experience from popularization/dissemination and academic policy and administrative activity.
During the assessment emphasis will be put on the candidate’s motivation, potential for research, and personal suitability for the position.
We are looking for candidates who:
Independence and self-motivation
Creativity and ability to think outside the box
Excellent work ethic and commitment to the job
Have good collaboration skills
Have good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
Wants to contribute to a good working environment
At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
Inclusion and diversity
UiT The Arctic University i Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity is a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.
If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.
We offer
Involvement in an interesting research project
Good career opportunities
A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues
Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
Pension scheme through the state pension fund
Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.
More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here.
Application
Your application must include:
Application letter
Description of your proposed 3-year research project, including background, goals, and the steps you will take to implement it (max 2 pages)
Description of your academic production (track record) including highlights of the three works you consider most relevant to the advertised position (max 1 page)
Description of your academic production, stating which works you consider most important
Academic works, up to ten. The doctoral thesis is regarded as one work.
All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.
Assessment
The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position.
The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position. A trial lecture may also be held.
General information
The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.
The remuneration for Postdoctoral research fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1352. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no.
The successful candidate must be willing to get involved in the ongoing development of their department and the university as a whole.
UiT wishes to increase the proportion of females in academic positions. In cases where two or more applicants are found to be approximately equally qualified, female applicants will be given priority.
According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.
In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.
