About the position

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow available at the Department of Geosciences, Section for Meteorology and Oceanography, University of Oslo.

The appointment is a fulltime position and is for a period of two years.

Preferable starting date August 2024

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

Job description

The position is associated with NORCLI (Nordic Climate History. Using the past to envision the future. The candidate is expected to present a research project closely connected to the main project. 

NORCLI is an interdisciplinary project jointly run by the Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History (Prof. Dominik Collet) and the Department of Geosciences, Section for Meteorology and Oceanography (Prof. Kirstin Krüger) and is financed by UiO: Energy and Environment. It investigates what happened when Nordic societies faced abrupt climate change in the past 1000 years, aiming to contribute to and broaden contemporary discussions. NORCLI progresses from reconnecting and integrating data from historical and natural archives as well as climate models to narrating the result to a wider societal audience. The project collaborates closely with several other current projects (CLIMCULT, NORLIA, VIKINGS, CLIMCRIS, Force-VOL) in the field of paleo climate and climate history. 

The postdoctoral fellow is expected to pursue a research project within this framework focusing either on paleo climate modelling and/or on paleo proxies (f.e., lake sediments, tree rings, ice cores). As the candidate will be working closely with the second NORCLI postdoc based in historical sciences, we ask for potential areas of collaboration to be highlighted in the application. During the first year the position is connected to an international research group on Nordic Climate history at the Center for Advanced Study (CAS) in Oslo (cas-nor.no/project/nordic-little-ice-age-1300-1900-norlia). Previous documented experience with paleo climate modelling or paleo climate proxies, interdisciplinary designs and the historical archives on climate is appreciated. The prospective candidates are welcome to contact the NORCLI project leaders ahead of submission of the job application. 

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 Paleo Climate or a related discipline. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

In the evaluation of the applications, emphasis will be placed on:

• The research project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance, and innovation.
• The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to carry out the project within the allotted time frame and to contribute to the main project.
• The potential to integrate and develop interdisciplinary approaches and to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Good co-operative skills, and the ability to successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines.

We offer:

• Salary NOK 575 400 – 657 300 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

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest for the position)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity) 
• List of publications
• Project description (appox. 3 pages. See Template for project descriptions for an outline). The project description must present a feasible progress plan. It should highlight potential areas of interdisciplinary cooperation with the corresponding postdoctoral fellowship in the climate history and the two PIs. It is expected that the applicant will be able to complete the project during the period of appointment. 
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records 
• 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, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project 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.

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)

According to the Norwegian Freedom and 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.

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 persons:

For further information about the position please contact: Kirstin Krüger (kirstin.kruger@geo.uio.no) and Dominik Collet (dominik.collet@iakh.uio.no)

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

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