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Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Global glacier modeling using machine learning

Deadline: 25.07.2023

Universitetet i Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.


The geosciences are the studies of the planet Earth and its comparative planetology; the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and cryosphere, the Earth's surface and its interior. The Department of Geosciences conducts research and teaching in most of the domains of geoscience; geology, geophysics, physical geography, geomatics, hydrology, meteorology and oceanography. The Department is the broadest geoscience research and education environment in Norway. The Department encompasses five sections; Meteorology and Oceanography, Geography and Hydrology, Geology and Geophysics, Physics of Geological Processes (Njord centre) and one Centre of Excellence CEED - Centre of Earth Evolution and Dynamics.

The Department aims to contribute to the new and important UN Sustainability Development Goals. The staff consists of 40 professors and associate professors, in addition to postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, researchers, technical- and administrative staff. Approximately number of employees are 240 at the Department.

Job description

Position as 4-year Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Global glacier modeling using machine learning available at the Department of Geosciences at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway.

Earliest starting date is January 1, 2024 but the exact date can be negotiated.

The appointment is a fulltime position for a period of four years (25 % of which is devoted to required duties other than research, usually in the form of teaching activities).

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

The position aims to develop a modeling framework suitable to reconstruct and project the multi-decadal/century evolution of all >200,000 glaciers on Earth outside the ice sheets. The work will build on the Python Glacier Evolution Model (PyGEM) but markedly enhance its physical basis regarding surface mass balance and glacier dynamics while retaining computational efficiency through inclusion of machine learning techniques. The ultimate goal is to provide reliable policy-relevant multi-decadal/century-scale global glacier projections and scenarios.

The position is part of the recently funded EU ERC Advanced Grant “Past and Future High-resolution Global Glacier Mass Changes (GLACMASS)”. The postdoctoral fellow will be part of a growing team of researchers, postdocs and PhD students working on reconstructing and projecting global glacier mass changes using machine learning and data assimilation as part of GLACMASS (see also other positions announced). The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the supervision of the project´s PhD students. Funding is available for conference attendances as well as research visits with external collaborators at universities in Europe and the USA. No fieldwork is anticipated for this project, but possibilities to gain field experience may well arise within other projects in the glaciology group.

Postdoctoral fellows who are appointed for a period of four years are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency in the course of their fellowship period within the duty component of 25 %.

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.

  • Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in geosciences, physics, computer/data science, environmental sciences, engineering, mathematics or any other relevant field. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and thesis defense prior to the actual starting date are eligible for appointment.
  • The candidate must have a strong quantitative background and extensive experience in scientific programing (using e.g., Python, Matlab, and/or Julia), numerical modeling and machine learning, as well as an interest in glaciology.
  • Experience using neural networks and/or bayesian statistics on spatiotemporal processes as well as modern data science tools including conda, git, docker are an asset.
  • Experience in glacier, snow or climate research and handling of large data sets such as climate reanalyses and Earth observations are an advantage.
  • The candidate must have proof of excellence in research as demonstrated through publications in high-impact refereed journals and presentations at scholarly conferences. The candidate’s publication record must show evidence of creativity and capability of independent research.
  • An excellent command of written and spoken English is required.
  • Applicants must be able to work independently while having the ability to actively communicate and co-operate within the larger research team.

We offer

  • Salary NOK 575 400 – 657 300 per year depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (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 (including statement of motivation, brief overview of scientific work and research interest)
  • CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical, administrative and mentoring experience, and any other relevant other relevant activities/skills/information (e.g., github username)
  • Complete list of publications (incl. ORCID)
  • Copy of PhD degree certificate (or documentation indicating the anticipated date of completion of the PhD degree)
  • Names of 2-3 references (name, affiliation, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting 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 as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. 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.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow 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.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months (thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

For further information please contact: Regine Hock, phone: +47 228 55804, e-mail: regineho@uio.no

For questions regarding Jobbnorge, please contact HR Adviser Ole Rustad, e-mail: ole.rustad@mn.uio.no

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