About the position

A position as PhD Research Fellow in Physical Oceanography is available at the Department of Geosciences. The preferred starting date for the fellowship is in August-September 2021 and lasts for a period of 3 years.

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

Job Description

The project, funded by the Research Council of Norway, aims to improve our understanding of and ability to model the ocean circulation in the Arctic. A key premise is that currents in this climate-sensitive ocean region are strongly guided by bottom topography—more so than in most other places on the planet. Theoretical models of topographic influence on large-scale currents already exist, but much less is known about topographic influence on lateral mixing by mesoscale eddies. These eddies, are absolutely key to understand the ocean climate in the Arctic since they are responsible for e.g. spreading warm Atlantic Water out from the continental slope and into the central ocean basins.

The PhD student will work on i) improving the representation of topographic effects on hydrodynamic instability (baroclinic and barotropic instability) and eddy mixing, and/or ii) incorporating the effects of eddy mixing on the large-scale hydrography and currents in the Arctic. The work will involve analyses of both eddy-resolving numerical model simulations and observational data, all in the context of simplified theory. The student will collaborate with Norwegian and foreign partners, and particularly with a concurrent PhD project at Stockholm University that will focus more specifically on the circulation of Atlantic Water in the Arctic using theory and observations.

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.

• The successful candidate must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in physical oceanography or meteorology.
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system

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

Other selection criteria:

The candidate will benefit from a good understanding of and interest in geophysical fluid dynamics, good computer science skills and, preferably, familiarity with numerical ocean or atmosphere modeling. More generally, the selection among eligible candidates will be based on his or her ability to communicate in spoken and written English, analytical ability, creativity, initiative and independence, and ability to interact in a group.

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:

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/

http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

We offer

• Salary NOK 482 200 – 526 000 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Career development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic experience, scientific publications etc)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, transcripts of records
• Documentation of English proficiency
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The Department of Geosciences offers the opportunity for financing an additional year used for teaching duties (distributed over a 4 years period). If you are interested, the candidate should also provide documentation of teaching experience and a statement of motivation to perform teaching duties.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

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

According to the Norwegian Freedom of 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.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

For further information please contact:

• Pål Erik Isachsen, phone: +47 228 55805, e-mail: p.eisachsen@geo.uio.no

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Torunn Standal Guttormsen, phone:+47 22854272,e-mail: t.s.guttormsen@mn.uio.no.

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