Job description

Two Positions as PhD Research Fellows in Solar Physics are available at the Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics (ITA).

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

The fellowship period is up to 4 years, with 3 years devoted to research education. The position entails a compulsory work load of 25% that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and research assistance.

Starting date no later than 01.10.2020.

More about the position

The two positions are connected to the Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics (RoCS) funded by the Research Council of Norway and the University of Oslo from November 1st, 2017. The primary goal of RoCS 10-year effort lies in understanding the workings of the energetic Sun. To attack this goal a concerted effort of numerical modelling, both fluid (extended MHD) and particle oriented, are combined with high quality observations taken at ground based and space-based observatories to produce models of the active Sun. The Solar group at the ITA is led by Mats Carlsson, who is also the leader of RoCS. The group has an internationally leading competence in radiative transfer and radiative hydrodynamics. Observationally, the group has access to the Swedish 1-meter Solar Telescope on La Palma, to ALMA, to several satellites such as NASA’s IRIS and SDO, JAXA’s Hinode and in the near future ESA’s Solar Orbiter. The group utilizes strongly local and national High-Performance Computing facilities.

RoCS, and with it the solar physics group at the University of Oslo, is known world-wide for its expertise in numerical simulations and observations of the solar atmosphere and thus offers an attractive work environment and access to world-class computational and observational infrastructure.

Each PhD position is associated with one specific research project, as summarised below. Candidates may apply to one, or (preferably) both of these positions through a single application, and should rank the positions in order of their preference in the cover letter. All applications will be reviewed in a joint selection process, taking into account the stated preferences of each candidate.

The available positions are dedicated to the following projects:

1) WHOLE SUN. The project is connected to the ERC Synergy grant “Whole Sun Project: Untangling the complex physical mechanisms behind our eruptive magnetic star and its twins”, a collaboration between RoCS and Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Paris, France, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Göttingen, Germany, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK and Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain. The main supervisor will be from RoCS and a secondary supervisor from one of the collaborating partners. The WHOLE SUN project attempts to link the eruptive phenomena observed in the solar atmosphere to the motions of plasma deep in the interior of the Sun, where its magnetic field is generated.

2) RoCS. This is a general PhD position with a project within any of the activities of the centre.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition is to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. 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 astronomy/astrophysics or a related discipline.
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English. Please see English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries

Candidates without a Master’s degree have until 30 June, 2020 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

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:

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/

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

We offer

• Salary NOK 479 600 – 523 200 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
• Career development programmes
• 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
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and 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.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of 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:

• Mats Carlsson, e-mail: mats.carlsson@astro.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

Apply for this job