PhD scholarship in Sustainable Energy Systems - Bio4Fuels
Deadline: 02.06.2020
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
NMBU has a special responsibility for research and education that ensures the basis of life for future generations.
Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we provide knowledge for life.
NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students and is organized in seven faculties. NMBU has a campus in Ås and in Oslo. In 2021 we are co-located on Ås. Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.
About The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) works with nature and the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, biological and geological processes.
MINA’s employees undertake teaching, research and dissemination within the fields of geology, hydrology and limnology, soil science, environmental chemistry, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism.
Our vision is to be a key actor in knowledge production and dissemination, and our goal is to deliver research of high, international quality, and varied and excellent teaching. The faculty’s employees are significant participants within their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The faculty is dominated by a vital research culture and high levels of scientific production.
The faculty has about 200 employees, 90 PhD students and 650 students.
Are you interested in sustainable energy systems and transitions?
About the position
Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD position in renewable energy within the research centre for environmental friendly energy research, Bio4Fuels
The centre aims to develop innovative technology and support industries to realize economic and sustainable conversion of lignocellulosic biomass and organic residues to transportation fuels, along with added value chemicals, heat and power.
The PhD candidate will work within the areas economics, markets and policy. Within the PhD-project, the candidate is expected to further develop the quantitative models at MINA (Balmorel and NFSM) used to assess competitiveness of biofuel technologies, market development and impacts of policies for biofuels in Norway, the Nordic countries and Northern Europe. The PhD position will build on ongoing projects focusing on the role of bioenergy in future energy systems with low shares of fossil fuels.
Main tasks
The PhD student’s tasks will include:
Collecting data from national and international data sources and performing statistical analyses
Develop and apply quantitative models applied to biomass and energy markets
Write scientific papers
Collaborating with private and public actors in the energy sector
The PhD student will be involved in study design and development of specific research questions.
The successful candidate is expected to submit a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with ambition to complete a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Qualification requirements, desired experiences, knowledge and personal qualities
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits (ETS) are at master's degree level. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description. The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required academic qualifications:
A background (MSc) in engineering, economics, or interdisciplinary energy studies
Documented knowledge of energy and the energy system
Documented knowledge in operational analysis and ability to perform quantitative model analyses
The following experiences and skills will be considered advantageous:
Experience in modelling biomass or energy markets
Ability to communicate in a Scandinavian language
Programming skills in GAMS or similar programming languages
In addition, the applicant should have the following:
Strong scientific capacity and analytical skills
Technical and computer skills
Good collaboration skills
Flexibility with respect to work tasks
Good capabilities in English, both orally and in writing
Creativity and ability to find solutions to practical problems
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD Fellow. PhD Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 479.600,-) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Application deadline: 02.06.2020
Applications should include (electronically) a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, full publication list, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified), and a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses). Publications should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant NMBU Faculty may require further documentation, e.g. proof of English proficiency.
Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway, within 02.06.2020. Please quote reference number 20/01783.
If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
