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Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Department of Geosciences

Deadline: 15.05.2021

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship related to drone-based (UAV) technology applied to geoscientific research

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

We seek a motivated and skilled person for a 4 years PostDoc position at the Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo. 25% of the position is reserved for teaching, supervision of students at all levels and helping organizing our drone laboratory that is being established for the Departments of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo.

We seek a candidate with a research focus within any geoscientific sub-discipline who is familiar with drone technology, field investigations using drones and various drone-based datasets.

Starting date no later than October 1, 2021.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.

More about the position

In cooperation with other Departments at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, The Department of Geosciences will build up a drone laboratorium consisting of different UAVs (quadcopters, fixed-wing) and payloads (camera, laser altimeter, gas analyser etc). Information from these platforms are used for studying the distribution and three-dimensionality of geoscientific information (geological, geomorphological and mineralogical mapping/photogrammetry), changes of the earth surface (measurement of surface/slope movement, deformation and fluxes) and atmospheric conditions (measurements of gas content and turbulence).

The main research work of the Post Doc. must be related and be an integrative part of at least one of the main research fields covered at the Department . The successful applicant is expected to collaborate with research groups of the Department of Geosciences, and apply drone technologies to address relevant scientific questions. The Post Doc. will also help with running the collective drone and drone-related material in the newly established drone lab at the department, and will support researchers and students at the Department.

This is an open position where the applicants will be evaluated based on:

  • A research plan, where the topic must align with at least one of the research fields covered at the Department. The research plan can be developed in collaboration with one of the Faculty members at our Department and must relate to application of advanced drone technology
  • A plan how to contribute in teaching and other duties at the Department, and documentation of any past teaching experience.

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 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 are expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Applications are encouraged from dedicated candidates with excellent writing skills and the ability to work in a highly team-orientated environment.

Required qualification:

  • The successful candidate must have a PhD degree or the equivalent within any field of Geoscience or a related field.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.
  • Field experience
  • Experience from assimilation and analysis of data collected remotely, through images and sensing across all visible and non-visible light, and/or other data-capturing mechanisms mounted on unmanned vehicles.
  • Good communication skills and the willingness to manage tasks and project deliverables in an international research environment
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English are required

Desired qualification:

  • Drone pilot certification will be considered advantageous, but is not required at start of employment
  • Photogrammetry and assimilation of digital image information in visible and non-visible light, including geomatics and 3D computer tool related to photogrammetry, air-borne lidar, multispectral analyses, atmospheric processes etc,
  • Use of scripting languages, such as R, MATLAB and/or Python
  • Use of advanced numerical modelling tools
  • Experience from research in wild areas (cold-climate, deserts etc) is an advantage as much of our research focus is related to high-mountain and/or boreal/polar environments.
  • Experience with teaching and supervising students

We offer

  • salary NOK 526 000 – 608 200 per annum 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

  • Application letter including a statement of research– particular weight is placed on the deployment of drones to provide novel data to research questions that cannot be answered without unmanned technology
  • A teaching statement and documentation of previous teaching experience
  • CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work, and other qualifying activity)
  • Copies of educational certificates and academic transcript
  • 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, 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.

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.

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:

  • Researcher Norbert Pirk, phone: +47 228 56243, e-mail: norbert.pirk@geo.uio.no
  • Head of Department Bernd Etzelmüller, phone: +47 90631089, e-mail: bernd.etzelmuller@geo.uio.no

For question regarding the recruitment system, please contact Senior Adviser Torunn Standal Guttormsen, t.s.guttormsen@mn.uio.no.

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