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Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Nanoscale modeling of reaction-induced fracturing

Deadline: 06.02.2022

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.


Njord is a cross-disciplinary Geology-Physics center hosted by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Oslo. We focus on the fundamental physics of geological processes related to: transport and reactions in deformable porous media, fracturing and fragmentation processes, interface dynamics during geophysical flows, and intermittency and pattern formation in geological systems far from equilibrium.


We conduct research on earth systems that range in scale from atoms to continents and apply methods where fieldwork, numerical modelling, experiments and theory act in concert.

The center includes the Oslo-branch of PoreLab, which is a Center of Excellence (CoE), the former CoE, Physics of Geological Processes (PGP) and several externally financed projects. There are 10 professors and associate professors at the center, in addition to doctoral research fellows, postdoctoral fellows, researchers and technical and administrative staff - in total about 55 persons.

Job description

Applicants are invited for a 3 year position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow available in "nanoscale modeling of reaction-induced fracturing" to be based at the Njord Centre, a cross-disciplinary research unit at the interface between Physics and Geosciences.

Starting date for the position is no later than 01.04.2021.

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

More about the position

This position is open in the project "CO2Basalt" funded by the University of Oslo.

Micro- and nano-fractures may form in basalts due to the precipitation of carbonate minerals in the pore space. This process, called reaction-induced fracturing, controls the opening and closing of flow pathways. The candidate will study how these fractures form in basalts through micro-scale experiments that use synchrotron X-ray tomography and through nano-scale molecular dynamics numerical modelling. The main questions will be how dynamic fractures damage basalts and silicate glasses, how water enters these fractures in the wake of the rupture and how mineral precipitation can clog porosity or open fluid pathways through reaction-induced fracturing.

At the Njord Centre, the candidate will work in collaboration with François Renard, professor of geosciences, Henrik Andersen Sveinsson, assistant professor in computational physics and Anders Malthe-Sørenssen, professor of physics.

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 is 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 geoscience. 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.
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English is required.
  • Good and documented skills in programming languages such as Matlab or Python is required.
  • Documented experience with performing state-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulations on high-performance computers is required.
  • Experience with molecular dynamics simulations of fracture of geologically relevant materials is highly desired.
  • Experience with micro- or nanoscale experiments with geologically relevant materials is highly desired.

Personal skills

  • Njord actively works for the creation of a friendly and welcoming work environment and the applicant is expected to actively contribute to this.
  • Ability to work independently and to take initiative.
  • Good communication skills

We offer

  • Salary NOK 534 400 – 615 800 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 including statements of motivation and research interests
  • CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
  • Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records
  • Letter(s) of recommendation
  • A complete list of publications
  • References of up to 3 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, as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

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 a.o.

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:

For technical questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Elin Thoresen, e-mail: elin.thoresen@mn.uio.no, phone +47 22 85 71 96.

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