Description of the vacant position

The vacant position will be part of the Space Physics group within the Geophysics Department at UNIS. The Space Physics Group is part of a Norwegian Centre of Excellence, the Birkeland Centre for Space Science (http://birkeland.uib.no). The space physics group now seeks a PhD candidate to work within ionospheric – magnetospheric physics. The candidate is expected to be a part of the Birkeland Centre of Space Science and to take an active part in the appropriate research topics connected to the Dynamics of the Asymmetric Geospace group at the centre.

The Space Physics Group at UNIS owns and operates two world class research facilities. The Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO) is an optical observatory for middle and upper atmospheric studies. The Svalbard SuperDARN radar is part of a global network of radars used primarily to study global plasma convection in the ionosphere. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to capitalize and potentially expand on these unique facilities. The candidate is expected to contribute to the operation of the Kjell Henriksen Observatory and is expected to have knowledge of ground-based observations and physics of the upper atmosphere.

The planned PhD project will focus on optical and radar observations of polar cap patches, both entry on the dayside, and exit on the nightside. Some patches are seen to diminish quite rapidly, while other can be seen to travel across the entire polar cap. What are the physical properties that govern whether or not the patches are depleted by recombination before they can travel across the polar cap?

Qualifications and personal qualities:

Applicants for the position must hold a MSc degree in an appropriate field (space physics or upper atmospheric physics) and satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD program at the University of Bergen. Field work experience as well as earlier experience from Svalbard and / or other polar areas will be an advantage. A successful candidate will have good data analysis skills, positive attitude, speak and write fluent English and have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. The candidate is also expected to hold a valid driving license.

Employment conditions

The duration of the PhD position is 4 years, of which 25 per cent of the time each year comprises required duties associated with teaching, research, fieldwork operations and dissemination of results. The employment potentially includes some supervision duties of Master students.

All salaries are set in accordance with the Norwegian government's University salary scale. PhD fellow research fellows start at a gross salary of NOK 490 000.- annually. The salaries are depending on experience/seniority. As a resident in Svalbard an annual allowance of NOK 34 560 (Svalbardtillegg) will be added to the salary. A Social Security contribution of 2 per cent, to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, will be deducted from the salary. Income tax on Svalbard is 8 per cent, plus 8,2 per cent toward National Insurance coverage. UNIS offers a membership in the Norwegian Public Pension Fund.

Selection and appointment

A committee appointed by the Managing director of UNIS will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants, and invite the highest ranked person(s) for an interview. The appointment will be made by the Director of UNIS based on the recommendation from the committee.

ApplicationInquiries about this position may be directed to:Prof. Dag Lorentzen, phone: +47 79023336, email: dag.lorentzen@unis.noAssociate Prof. Lisa Baddeley, phone: +47 79023362, email: lisab@unis.no

Please apply online on www.jobbnorge.no

Please include the following documents to the online application form:

• a brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master's thesis or equivalent thesis
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor's and master's degrees, or official confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted
• relevant certificates/references
• a list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list)
• any peer review publications in your name

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.Deadline for applications is May 1st 2019.

You can request to have your application kept from public access cf. the open files act § 25. The request must be explained. UNIS will determine if the application will be kept from public access or not, based on the explanation and the regulations from the open files act. If the application will not be accepted, the candidate will be contacted.

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