Job description

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in experimental heavy-ion physics is available at The Department of Physics. The appointment is a fulltime position for a period of three years. Starting date preferably no later than 01.02.2021.

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

More about the position

The position is associated with the «Charm in Heavy Ion Collisions (CHARMHI)» Norwegian-Polish project, funded by the Norwegian Research Council through the GRIEG call. The main physics objective is to perform the first total charm production cross-section measurements in heavy ion collisions in the CERN SPS energy domain, using the upgraded NA61/SHINE experiment. This project is also aiming to upgrade the read-out electronics of the Time Projection Chambers (TPC) of the NA61/SHINE experiment as part of its more extended upgrade programme conducted at CERN during the Long Shutdown 2 period (2020 and 2021). This will enable an increase of the data taking rate by an order of magnitude which will allow the recording of a large Pb+Pb collisions sample needed for open charm measurements.

The successful candidate is expected to take a leading role in the analysis of the acquired data sets aiming for open charm measurements, in particular D-mesons but extending the search also to charm baryons. This will involve contributing to the analysis software developments, Monte-Carlo simulation productions and the physics interpretation of the results.

The candidate is also expected to participate in the upgrade and maintenance of the TPC readout system, which will include TPC electronic installation and tests, commisioning, software development and data taking shifts.

The candidate will mainly be based in Oslo, working within the heavy-ion physics group at the Department of Physics, but he/she will be required to spend some time at CERN in order to contribute to the NA61 upgrade efforts and for shifts during the data taking periods.

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

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.

Required qualifications:

• A Ph.D. degree or equivalent in experimental heavy-ion physics / high-energy subatomic physics. 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.
• Good programming skills with solid experience in data analysis and / or simulations.
• Good social and collaboration skills and ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary scientific environment
• A good command of the English language

Desired qualifications:

• Experience from working in large experimental collaborations and from instrumentation, software and firmware development.
• A scientific profile matching the CHARMHI research programme as outlined above.

We offer

• Salary NOK 526 000 – 608 200 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (position code 1352)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral 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, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works 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 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).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications (including publications, international conferences), the quality of the research statement, as well as the candidates’ motivation, personal suitability, mobility experience and capacity to join interdisciplinary academic communities. Interviews with the best-qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships 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:

Dr. Ionut C. Arsene, e-mail: i.c.arsene@fys.uio.no or Prof. Trine S.Tveter, e-mail: t.s.tveter@fys.uio.no, or Prof. Dieter Rohrich, e-mail: dieter.rohrich@ift.uib.no.

For thechnical questions regarding the recruitment system; contact Elin Thoresen, elin.thoresen@mn.uio.no

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