About the position

A position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Porous Media Physics is available at the Centre of excellence (SFF) PoreLab at the Njord Centre/the Department of Physics.

Starting date no later than October 1, 2024.

The fellowship period is 3 years. A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that normally consists of teaching. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

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

Job description / Project description / Development plan:

PoreLab is a Norwegian Center of Excellence created in 2017 and situated at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, and the University of Oslo (UiO). The research activities at the center are focused on the physics of porous media using experimental, theoretical and computational methods. The center is led by 8 principal scientists from physics, chemistry and geophysics.

The post falls under the wide issue of understanding the fundamental physical mechanisms driving the coupled motion of liquids, gases, and granular materials, including magnetic interactions. The researcher project's goal is to improve our understanding of how different forces, both short-range (e.g., capillary and friction forces) and long-range (e.g., viscous and gravitational forces), act in various flow regimes. These interacting forces can result in instabilities and emergence of complex patterns. We are particularly interested in frictional fluids and the relationship between fluid motion, friction, and magnetic interaction, as well as understanding the pattern formations that result. Experiments will be the primary emphasis of the research, including the development of experimental setups, design, image processing, data collecting, and analysis. The research will also incorporate theory and simulations connected to the experimental investigations. 

The position is an excellent possibility for a young scientist to qualify for an academic position. It is therefore expected that the candidate actively pursues possibilities for new projects within the field, by participating/submitting applications at the EU, The Research Council of Norway or industry. The candidate will also take part in supervision of students, and possibly teaching. 

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:

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in physics including statistical physics and hydrodynamics. 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.
• Experience with the design and execution of experiments
• Extensive research experience with experiments on granular materials, and flow in porous media
• Extensive research experience in numerical simulations of granular materials
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

Desired:

• Experience with image analysis techniques (for example using Matlab, Python, ImageJ etc.)
• Background in soft matter physics
• Good communication and outreach abilities

Personal skills:

• Excellent teamwork capabilities, social skills
• Ability to work independently and take initiative

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)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records
• Two 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 three references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
• Applicants who are interested in teaching need to add to this application a description of their motivation for and (if any) experience with teaching.

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.

The research area for the position may include technologies referred to in the Ministry's export control regulations and all candidates will be evaluated in accordance with these regulations.

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 please contact:

• Professor Knut Jørgen Måløy, e-mail: k.j.maloy@fys.uio.no
• professor Eirik G. Flekkøy, e-mail: e.g.flekkoy@fys.uio.no

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Elin Thoresen, e-mail: elin.thoresen@mn.uio.no

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