University of South-Eastern Norway

The University of South-Eastern Norway, USN, is one of Norway’s largest higher education institutions, with around 18,000 students and 1,900 employees across eight different campuses.

We offer studies, research and knowledge dissemination, all targeting various professions and working life and with a high level of quality internationally. Our goal as a University is to create value both for the individual student and for business and commerce, the public sector and society in general. We achieve this by utilising the best tools we have: education and research.

USN is a University with a strong social commitment where studies and working life are integrated. At USN, we focus on practice-relevant, profession-oriented and applied research and education.

The students shall benefit from innovative educational methods and challenging studies closely associated with society's requirements and needs.

They will learn how to adapt to a society and working life that is constantly changing. The University shall meet major social challenges with knowledge and expertise, helping to promote practical solutions, structural changes and new ways of thinking. USN’s academic activities shall be embodied by a clear dedication to the UN’s sustainable development goals. The University aims to realise this main profile in close cooperation with society and working life.

For more information on USN, please go to www.usn.no

The Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences have a vacancy for a position as PhD “Hydrogen safety - Dynamic loads and structural response from hydrogen-air detonations"

About the position

Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences has a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow position in “Dynamic loads and structural response from hydrogen-air."

The position is organized underneath the Department of Process, Energy and Environmental Technology and reports to the Head of Department. The PhD Research Fellow will be working in the research group for Process Safety, Combustion and Explosions. The place of employment is Porsgrunn.

The employment period will be three years of full time with a premise for employment that the Ph.D. Research Fellow will be enrolled in USN's PhD-program in Process, Energy and Automation Engineering within three months of accession. 1

About the PhD-project

This PhD-project will be a multidisciplinary project on hydrogen safety and focus on detonations, structural response, and system engineering. Presently, we see hydrogen as part of the coming energy transition, and numerous new hydrogen projects are starting up in Norway and internationally. According to The Norwegian government’s hydrogen strategy – towards a low emission society (2020), “Hydrogen is an energy carrier with a significant potential for reducing local, national and global emissions, and for creating economic value for Norwegian businesses.” Telemark and Porsgrunn are a center for hydrogen technology and production in Norway. This activity goes back nearly100 years with Hydro (Norsk Hydro). Today Yara (Hydro Agri until 2004) produces 100 000 tonnes of hydrogen per year in their ammonia plant in Porsgrunn. The activity on hydrogen safety at USN goes back to Hydro in the 80-ties. Since 2005 USN has taken part in several national and international research programs on hydrogen safety. Presently we are part of FME-MoZEES, the EU-Horizon 2020 projects; i) HyTunnel and CS and ii) HyResponder and the IAHySafe, NHF organizations, and the H2Cluster (h2cluster.com). The USN-research group on Combustion, Explosions and Process Safety is 15 people, including 5 PhD students.

This PhD project's research activity will be experimental and theoretical studies on dynamic loads and structural response from hydrogen-air detonations. This area has received little attention. However, we have experienced that fragments represent a severe hazard in accidental hydrogen explosions. To improve our knowledge in this field will be the task of this PhD project. The student will work in close cooperation with our extremely financed research projects the industry. The student will have access to a well-equipped laboratory,including high-speed video cameras with frame rates up to 5 000 000 per sec.

Qualifications

Applicants to the PhD position must have a Master's degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent higher education qualifications in mechanical engineering, physics, energy technology, process technology, or civil engineering. The candidate should have some academic knowledge of fluid mechanics or/and structural response. The MSc.-degree must be accomplished within the summer of 2021.

It is a requirement that the successful applicant is granted admission to the university’s doctoral program in Process, Energy and Automation Engineering. According to the formal PhD regulations, an average grade B or better from the Master's degree, in addition to a grade B or better of the final master thesis, is required.

In addition to formal qualifications, the emphasis is on motivation for research, working independently and focused, working in a team, good communication skills, good command of the English language, and good computer programming skills.

The candidate may have to apply for a Norwegian security clearance during the project period.

We offer

• A stimulating and active research environment.
• Good opportunities to develop your career and your academic skills
• Access to well equipt laboratory facilities.
• Access to a large international research network.
• Access to a uniq industry network.
• A good social environment and partner in a unique research team
• Attractive welfare benefits in the State Pension Plan
• Opportunity for physical activities within working hours
• A location offering many opportunities for outdoor activities nearby; Skagerrak coast with its clear, blue sea and mountain plateau of Hardangervidda

Salary

PhD Research Fellow (code 1017): NOK 482 200 a year. Further promotion will be based on time served in the position. [In special cases, employment in code 1378 (NOK 482 200 – 618 600 a year) may be considered.]

A statutory contribution to the state pension plan will be deducted from the employee’s salary.

Other information

The Academic Appointments Board for PhD Research Fellowships is responsible for the appointment. An expert assessment of applicants will be carried out.2. The candidates deemed best qualified will be invited to an interview.

The person appointed must comply with the laws, regulations, and agreements that apply at any given time to the post. Please note that an approved work permit is a prerequisite for employment.

According to its human resources policy, the University of South-Eastern Norway targets a balanced gender composition. Women are, therefore, particularly encouraged to apply.

Pursuant to section 25, 2nd paragraph of the Freedom of Information Act, information on the applicant may be disclosed even if the applicant has requested not to be included on the list of applicants. Applicants will be notified if such requests are not allowed.

Contact information

For more information about the position, please contact:

• Professor Dag Bjerketvedt, dagbj@usn.no, Phone +47 35 57 52 32,
• Professor Lars Erik Øi, Head of Department of Process, Energy and Environmental Technology, Lars.Oi@usn.no Phone: +47 35 57 51 41

For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact:

• Senior Executive Officer Ruth Helen Haugerud, email: ruth.haugerud@usn.no

How to apply

The University of South-Eastern Norway makes use of online application management. Applicants to the post must register their application and CV with enclosures online via the Jobbnorge recruitment portal by clicking on the link on the right-hand side – “Søk stillingen” (Apply for the post).

The following documents shall be attached to the online application:

• Transcripts and diplomas of Bachelor's and Master's Degrees (120 ECTS)
• Other relevant certificates (if applicable, must be specified)
• A one page project description or motivation letter
• Documentation of english proficiency.
• Any scientific publications and a list of these
• Three references (contact information)

Please note that all documents must be in a Scandinavian language or in English. Any translations must be certified.

The application will be assessed on the basis of the attached documentation as requested above. Each applicant is responsible for ensuring that the required documentation has been uploaded with the application deadline.

The University has been awarded a Charter & Code certificate by the European Commission, and is entitled to use the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) logo. The University is also a member of the EURAXESS network, which contributes to good working conditions for mobile researchers.

Apply for the post