Job description

A position as PhD Research Fellow in Experimental Nuclear Physics is available at the Department of Physics.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.The fellowship will be for a period of 4 years, with 25% compulsory teaching work at the Department of Physics.

Starting date no later than 01.10.2019.

More about the position

The research of the Nuclear Physics group is focused on the study of atomic nuclei under extreme conditions, e.g. nuclei at high excitation energy at the transition from quantum order to chaos, exotic nuclei with an unusual ratio of protons and neutrons, and nuclear reactions in astrophysical environments. To obtain experimental information under such conditions is crucial in order to constrain and improve theoretical models of the nuclear many-body system, and to understand how elements heavier than iron are formed in explosive stellar environments.

The aim of the PhD position is to obtain new insights into the fission process, and to improve current computational models of fission. A deeper understanding of fission is beneficial both in nuclear reactor applications, and in nuclear astrophysics, where the role of fission recycling in nucleosynthesis is a current hot topic. In this project, the nature of the prompt radiation emitted from the fission fragments is of particular interest.

The successful applicant will perform experiments at the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory (OCL) at The Department of Physics, to study the prompt radiation resulting from the fission of actinides using the state-of-the-art LaBr3 detector array OSCAR. The results will be compared to computational fission models and will serve as a benchmark to whether the current description of the prompt radiation is accurate. The candidate will take a leading role throughout the project, including preparation of the experiments, data analysis and interpretation, publication of the results and proposal of new experiments. The project is part of an international collaboration, thus the candidate will also participate in nuclear fission experiments abroad.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being 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 in physics or equivalent, with specialization in experimental nuclear physics
• A solid background in scientific computing
• Sufficient knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language for teaching
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Good communication and collaboration skills.

Candidates without a Master’s degree have until 30 June, 2019 to complete the final exam.

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

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

Other desired qualifications include:

• The applicant will be responsible for analyzing data sets, and should preferably be familiar with data analysis techniques.
• Experience with C/C++ programming and the ROOT data analysis framework.
• Experience with scintillator detectors, particle spectroscopy with silicon detectors, fission detection, and digital data acquisition.
• Good knowledge of nuclear fission and familiarity with computational fission codes such as FREYA

We offer

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

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter including a description of scientific interests and the motivation for applying for the position (max. 2 pages)
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• Documentation of English proficiency if needed (please see admission criteria)
• 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 will normally 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 program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD program must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see:

http://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.

In accordance with the University of Oslo’s equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity. The University of Oslo has a goal of recruiting more women in academic positions. Women are encouraged to apply.

Contact information

• Professor Sunniva Siem, phone: +47 228 56406, email: sunniva.siem@fys.uio.no

For technical questions regarding the application system, please contact HR Adviser Elin Thoresen, +47 22 85 71 96, e-mail: elin.thoresen@mn.uio.no

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