Ledig stilling på Universitetet i Oslo

Blindern og Urbygningen (Foto: Wikimedia og Colourbox)

PhD Research Fellowship in Catalysis

Deadline 07.04.2019

Job description

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 Department of Chemistry is Norway's largest institution within research and education in chemistry. Our research excels internationally and we educate students to a wide variety of jobs in industry, academia, research institutions, schools and public administration. Our research ranges from the core topics of chemistry to applied science within in environmental, health, energy and materials. The Department has extensive contacts with industry, research and educational institutions at home and abroad. As partner in the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology our researchers contributes to a significant interdisciplinary efforts in cooperation with the Department of Physics. The Department of Chemistry has its own school laboratory as a great resource for teachers, public outreach and the didactics of chemistry.

Flere stillinger fra Universitetet i Oslo

Position as PhD Research Fellow in Catalysis available at Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than 01.10.2019

The fellowship period is up to 4 years, with 3 years devoted to research education and a project entitled: Adsorption and reaction studies over functional materials in a Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP) reactor. A 4-year employment requires proficiency of a Scandinavian language and entails a compulsory work load of 25% that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and research assistance

More about the position

The transition from a fossil-based to a circular production of consumer goods requires development of new chemical processes, to enable energy-efficient and sustainable conversion of carbon-containing biomass, biogas, and CO2 to higher value products. A combination of experimental and computational studies is key to rational design of sorbents and catalysts for such processes, and the Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP) technique has unparalleled capability to probe the intrinsic interaction strength and conversion kinetics of gas molecules on functional sites in solid sorbents and catalysts.

For a short description of the TAP technique, see:

https://www.mn.uio.no/kjemi/forskning/grupper/katalyse/laboratorier/tap.html

One of the most promising routes for converting C1 building blocks into valuable products is via methanol production, followed by acid-catalyzed methanol coupling into hydrocarbons. In the current project, focus will be set on two classes of functional materials – zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) – that enable different steps in this conversion route. The first part of the project will be devoted to studies of sorption and conversion of light alkenes in (pre-methylated) Brønsted-acidic zeolites. This activity is a continuation of on-going studies in our team. Next, focus will be set on the interaction of CO2 with bifunctional zeolites and MOFs.

The project will involve advanced experimentation and data analysis employing a complex instrument (TAP), which is rather different from doing materials synthesis or using standard characterization tools.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is a leading research faculty. 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.

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in chemistry
  • Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
  • A successful candidate must possess
    • The basic understanding (undergraduate level) of transport phenomena (i.e. mass transport) and reaction kinetics, especially in the area of catalysis by porous materials
    • Prior hands-on experience with vacuum equipment, mass-spectrometry, catalytic reactors and/or gas-flow systems is highly beneficial
    • The ability to work effectively within a diverse group of researchers, balancing self-reliance and integration of the workflow with other team members.
  • Candidates without a Master’s degree have until 30 June, 2019 to complete the final exam

Please, clearly indicate in your motivation letter why you are attracted to this research project!

Grade requirements:

The norm is as follows:

  • the average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
  • the average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
  • the Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
  • fluent oral and written communication skills in English evt. and a Scandinavian language

http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/application/application.html

We offer

  • Salary NOK 449 400 – 505 800 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017).
  • Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
  • Vibrant international academic environment
  • Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

  • Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests; clearly indicate in your motivation letter why you are attracted to this research project
  • CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
  • Copies of the original Master’s degree diploma, transcripts of records and letters of recommendation
  • Documentation of English proficiency
  • List of publications and academic work 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).

Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

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 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:

For technical question regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Officer; Ørjan Pretorius, orjan.pretorius@mn.uio.no

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