PhD position within reuse of stabilised excavated soil
Deadline: 25.05.2025
Publisert
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About the department
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.
Join us in shaping the future of sustainable construction and soil management!
About the position
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) offers a 3-year PhD position to investigate valorization options for stabilized excavated soils from construction sites. The PhD work will be part of the research project “Don’t waste: Framework to support valorization of excavated stabilized soil”, funded by the Research Council of Norway (2025-2028). The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI).
Our new PhD candidate will explore the properties of excavated stabilized soil and identify new uses for it. Potential applications include creating construction materials, impermeable barriers, landscaping, and filling. Soil with high binder content can be recycled as aggregates for e.g. concrete and asphalt.
We will study the chemical and technical properties of the soil to assess its potential. The goal is to develop methods for quick field assessment of soil properties. Using 3D data and building information modelling (BIM), we will optimize excavation planning. The project requires interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced technological tools.
The results obtained in the project will contribute to improved solutions for waste treatment and will be useful for both private and public users: entrepreneurs, landfill owners, environmental authorities, municipalities.
Main tasks
The candidate is expected to plan, execute theoretical and practical work, and complete a PhD within the scholarship period (3 years).
Main tasks:
Compile and analyse existing data, including georeferenced 3D ground information.
Plan and conduct field sampling campaigns and laboratory studies to investigate geochemical and hydro-geotechnical properties, and evaluate material heterogeneity.
Develop a novel approach to optimize excavation planning, temporary storage, and transport of masses out of the site using BIM.
Present research findings at scientific meetings and conferences, write scientific articles for publication, and prepare a PhD thesis
Field, laboratory work and pilot scale testing will be carried out in close collaboration with the project partners.
Competence
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 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.
Required qualifications:
Master’s degree in geoscience within a relevant scientific field such as: environmental science/engineering, environmental geotechnics, civil engineering or geological engineering.
Experience with field or laboratory work (geochemical, hydro-geotechnical).
In addition, the following would be considered advantageous:
Experience in environmental engineering
Experience with characterization of geological materials.
Experience working in a geotechnical and chemical laboratory
Experience working with georeferenced data
Strong quantitative skills, including experience using numerical approaches.
Experience working with industrial partners, hence basic understanding of Norwegian or another Scandinavian (Swedish, Danish) language.
The personal qualities that are sought in the PhD student include:
A curious mindset and a strong desire to tackle complex questions
Motivation for the topic and the ability to drive work forward individually and as part of a group.
Resilience and adaptability, with a willingness to adjust working plans in response to field conditions and the applied nature of the study
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD Fellow, normally NOK 536.200 – 630.000. PhD Fellows will normally have a starting salary of NOK 536.200. The position follows 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: 25.05.2025
Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.
In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.
The following documents must be attached to the application:
Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
Complete CV
Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
