Ledig stilling på Universitetet i Oslo

Blindern og Urbygningen (Foto: Wikimedia og Colourbox)

Postdoctoral Researcher Fellowship in Advanced S(TEM) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

Deadline: 24.06.2019

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.


Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) is an interdisciplinary focus field for material and energy research at the University of Oslo. SMN has focused on basic research in renewable energy and environmentally friendly use of fossil energy sources. The center consists of research groups from the Department of Physics (Fi) and Chemistry (Ki), has about 100 employees from around the world and manages more than 80 projects funded by the EU, the RCN and others.

Flere stillinger fra Universitetet i Oslo

A position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in advanced (S)TEM and electron energy loss spectroscopy ef embedded nanoparticles in semiconductors is available at The Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology/Department of Physics, as part of the project ‘Functionalization of conducting oxides by ion beam and defect engineering’ (FUNCTION).

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than 01.01.2020.

The appointment is a full time position and is made for a period of 3 years, with the possibility of 4 years if mandatory work is included.

More about the position

One of the most central challenges facing our common global future is access to sufficient supply of clean energy. Global energy demand is expected to double by year 2050 and the electricity demands will even triple. In this respect, solar energy conversion using photo-voltaic and photoelectrochemical devices is an outstanding alternative to fossil fuels. The goal of the FUNCTION project is to explore embedded nanostructures for energy harvesting applications, and is an application motivated basic research project. In particular, the project aims at tailoring the properties of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), for example zinc-oxide (ZnO), by introducing semiconducting nanoparticles, and by that functionalizing the TCO.

The post-doc position will be part of a larger team consisting of researchers at UiO and SINTEF, including one PhD student focusing on synthesis and functional properties of devices and materials. The post-doc will be main responsible for structural characterization of the manufactured nanostructures, and will furthermore focus on studies of optical and electronic properties the embedded nanoparticles using STEM-EELS. These studies will be performed with high spatial and spectral resolution by STEM-EELS using probe corrected and monochromated FEI Titan and JEOL 2100F instruments.

FUNCTION is conducted in collaboration with a wide network of international partners in USA, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Switzerland. Visits to and from these partners are an integral part of FUNCTION.

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 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.

We are seeking a candidate with extensive experience in utilizing (S)TEM and EELS for studies of the structure and properties of inorganic materials. Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in Physics or Materials Science. Candidates who have submitted their PhD thesis by the closing date of this call will be evaluated. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defense are eligible for appointment.

For a three year postdoctoral position, the successful candidate should have a background in physics with a preferred expertise in semiconductor materials. Previous experience with writing custom code for data analysis, data acquisition, or simulation of experiments is advantageous, as is experience with interpretation of valence EELS spectra.

For a four year position with 25% mandatory work, we are seeking a service minded candidate who in addition to the above requirements can document a good track record in cross-disciplinary research and collaboration, as well as experience with project initiation and implementation towards research groups in other fields.

Good communication and collaborative skills as well as fluency in written and oral communication in English are in all cases a prerequisite. Previous experience with advanced experiments using FEI Titan instruments will be evaluated positively.

We offer

  • salary NOK 523 200 – 605 500 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
  • a professionally stimulating working environment
  • attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
  • 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
  • CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
  • A letter describing the motivation to apply for the position, the project aspects that the applicant considers most important.
  • Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records for BSc, MSc and PhD, or equivalent
  • A complete list of publications
  • Attach up to 5 academic works that the applicant wants to attract special attention to
  • Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to the applicant, e-mail and telephone number), and letters of recommendation

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, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

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 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 question regarding our application system, please contact HR Officer, Ørjan Pretorius, orjan.pretorius@mn.uio.no

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