PhD position – Spatial statistics and data assimilation for consistent geomodelling
Deadline: 15.03.2021
Norsk Regnesentral
Norsk Regnesentral (NR) er en uavhengig, ideell og allmennyttig privat stiftelse som utfører oppdragsforskning for næringsliv og offentlige virksomheter både i Norge og internasjonalt.
NTNU - knowledge for a better world
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.
Department of Mathematical Sciences
We are Norway’s largest university environment in mathematical sciences. The Department has a particular responsibility for all basis education in mathematical sciences for engineering and natural science students at NTNU. We focus on long-term basic research and applied research at a high international level.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences, NTNU, has vacancy for a PhD fellowship
About the position
The Department of Mathematical Sciences, NTNU, has vacancy for a PhD fellowship on geostatistics, numerical modelling and data assimilation in a Bayesian statistical framework. The position is in a project called GEOPARD - Geostatistical Event-based Object-model Predicted from Analogue Reservoir Deposits lead by the Norwegian Computing Center.
Norsk Regnesentral (NR, The Norwegian Computing Center) is an independent, non-profit research foundation located in Oslo and is one of Norway’s leading research institutions within Statistical Modelling, Machine Learning and Computer Science. Established in 1952, NR carries out R&D projects for a broad range of commercial and public organisations in Norway and internationally.
NR’s scientific and technical capabilities are further developed in co-operation with The Research Council of Norway and key customers. The results of our projects may take the form of reports, software, prototypes, and short courses. NR has approx. 90 employees, most of them research scientists with a PhD.
The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and industry partners.
The workplace of the PhD student will be at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim. The work is supervised by researchers at NTNU and the Norwegian Computing Center in Oslo, and it is expected that the PhD student spends much time at both places.
Duties of the position
The GEOPARD project aims at developing a new software tool for geological modelling. Your work as a candidate will be immediately implemented and tested by the GEOPARD research team and adopted by industry partners.
The project will be conducting statistical research for integrating geological realism with reservoir data and outcrop observations. This will lead to improved descriptions of subsurface models. Such models are at the core of decision support in daily operation by the Norwegian petroleum industry. They are further used in risk management for groundwater resources, geohazards, and CO2 storage monitoring programs, and they hence have a wide range of application domains.
A core component of this project is a Bayesian framework that allows for the formulation of geological concepts and conditioning to observed data. The PhD student will work on the theoretical foundation for this framework. This work includes studying how geological rules can be formulated as statistically consistent priors, setting up likelihood models for data, and working on methods for inference on the posterior distributions. Thus, the PhD work will require advanced integration of Bayesian theory, spatial and computational statistics.
You will be part of a cross-disciplinary team all working towards a common goal. This team is comprised of applied researchers with many years of experience, academic researchers from both geoscience and statistical communities, in addition to highly skilled geo-modelers working in the industry. The PhD research work will be led by supervisors with strong scientific profiles in statistics and geomodelling.
Required selection criteria
We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong background in mathematical and physical modeling, statistics and programming. Knowledge and experience with spatial statistics or other large-scale uncertain systems is an advantage.
The applicant must satisfy the requirement for entering the PhD program at NTNU; please see http://www.ntnu.edu/ie/research/phd. The admission to PhD education at NTNU requires an average grade of A or B within a scale of A-E for passing grades (A best) for the last two years of the MSc degree, and C or higher for the BSc degree.
MSc students who expect to complete their master’s degree studies by summer 2021 are encouraged to apply. Employment will then start when the MSc degree is finished.
The applicants who do not master a Scandinavian language must document a thorough knowledge of English (equivalent to a TOEFL score of 600 or more).
The appointments are to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant.
Personal characteristics
In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education and experience, as well as personal suitability for this position which include
• Willingness to learn new fields in a multidisciplinary research environment.• Strong implementation and programming knowledge.• Excellent communication skills.
We offer
exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017 and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 482 200 per annum before tax. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in Mathematical Sciences; please see this link for information about the PhD programme at NTNU.
As a PhD candidate, one undertakes participation in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. A condition of appointment is that you are in fact qualified for admission to the PhD programme within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.
Appointment takes place on the terms that apply to State employees at any time, and after the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.
The employment is for 3 years. The departments might have the opportunity to offer up to 1 year in addition with teaching duties. This is up to the respective department.
The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.
About the application
Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.
The application must include the following:
• CV which includes information about education background and work experience.
• Certified copies of relevant transcripts and diplomas. Candidates from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a Diploma Supplement or similar documentation, which describes in detail the program of study, the grading system, and the rights to further studies associated with the degree obtained.
• Contact information for two references.
• Documentation of fluency in the English language.
Applicants who have been short-listed will be invited for interviews.
Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.
In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability.
A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.
The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.
As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.
Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.
Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).
If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number 2021/10808 when applying.
