Ledig stilling ved UiT Norges arktiske universitet

PhD Candidate in climate dynamics related to climate sensitivity

Deadline 21.04.2019

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

UiT The Arctic University of Norway with its main campus located in Tromsø is the northernmost university in the world. Its focus on climate and environment is clearly dictated by the geographical location at the edge of the Arctic.


The main task of the Faculty of Science and Technology is to conduct research and teaching at high national and international level. Prioritized research areas include energy, climate, environment, maritime, marine, nano-, space-, and information technology; addressing both general topics and topics relevant for the High North.


The Department of Physics and Technology
consists of five research groups: (1) Earth Observation, (2) Energy and Climate, (3) Machine Learning, (4) Space Physics, and (5) Ultrasound, Microwaves and Optics. The department provides education on the Bachelor, Master, and PhD level, and comprises 22 permanent scientific positions and a technical/administrative staff of 12 persons.


The Department of Mathematics and Statistics
has 17 permanent scientific positions and five research groups: (1) Complex Systems Modelling, (2) Algebra, (3) Differential Geometry and Mathematical Physics, and (4) Machine Learning.

The position’s field of research and the role of the PhD Candidate

The Department of Physics and Technology announces a vacant PhD candidate position in the area of atmospheric and climate science at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Faculty of Science and Technology. The appointment is for a period of four years.

A forcing of the Earth’s climate system – for instance due to a change of the atmospheric CO2 content – will change the Earth surface-air temperature. The magnitude of the change relative to the magnitude of the forcing may be defined as the climate sensitivity. In addition to impact temperature, a forcing will alter precipitation, sea level, and various other aspects of the Earth’s climate. All these responses are strongly modified through internal feedback processes in the climate system which are activated by the responses themselves.

The feedbacks essentially control the Earth’s climate sensitivity and lead to polar amplification of the temperature response. Since the feedback processes are affected by the back-ground climate and regions on the Earth, the climate sensitivity is dependent on both time and space.

Climate sensitivity has been intensively studied based on both models and observations, and the special role of the Arctic has been notified. However, a systematic investigation of the dependence of the Arctic climate sensitivity on forcing and climate state, and how this dependence in the Arctic differs from that of the global mean have not earlier been undertaken.

Based on model experiments and observational analyses, this PhD project is dedicated to investigate the dependence of Arctic climate sensitivity on time and space.

The position’s affiliation

The position is entitled “Climate Sensitivity and its dependence on climate state, forcing, and region”, and is a part of the project “Ice-ocean-atmosphere interactions in the Arctic – from the past to the future” which is a joint project between three departments at the faculty, Department of Physics and Technology (IFT) and Department of Mathematics and Statistics (IMS), and Department of Geosciences (IG).

The position will be jointly supervised by IFT and IMS.

This position will be associated with the Energy and Climate groupat the Department of Physics and Technology. The group consists of five permanent academic staffs and several postdoctoral and PhD fellows.

Within the Energy and Climate group, the position is affiliated with the disciplines polar meteorology and atmospheric and climate sciences. The position is also associated with the Complex Systems Modelling group at Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Contacts

Further information about the position, UiT, and project details is available by contacting professor Rune Graversen:

Qualifications

This position requires a Norwegian Master’s degree within either atmospheric physics and meteorology, oceanography, physics or similar, or a corresponding foreign Master’s degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian Master’s degree.

The suitable candidate must have a background within fluid dynamics and climate dynamics, and should have excellent skills in programming and English. Knowledge of atmospheric physics and climate modelling is an advantage.

Other required qualification skills include:

  • Excellence in master thesis work and from grade transcripts
  • Independence and self-motivation
  • Creativity and ability to think outside the box
  • Excellent work ethic and commitment to the job

To gain admission to the PhD program, you must have a minimum grade average of C or better. Further information about requirements for admission to PhD studies is available here: https://uit.no/nt/phd

International experience is an advantage. The assessment will emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position.

Application

Your application must include:

  • Application and motivation letter (max 1 page)
  • CV (max 2 pages)
  • Documentation of English language proficiency
  • Three references, preferably including the Master’s thesis supervisor
  • Master’s thesis and any other academic works, up to ten
  • Diplomas and transcripts (diploma supplement) for both bachelor and master level education

Qualification with a Master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your Master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must document completion of your degree before commencement in the position.

All documents and letters must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Thesis and other academic works should preferably be in English or a Scandinavian language.

The application must be submitted electronically through Jobbnorge.

We offer

  • Involvement in an interesting research project
  • A fantastic work environment with nice and dedicated colleagues
  • Good career opportunities
  • A large degree of independence in work
  • Opportunities to travel and meet other leading scientists within the field
  • Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
  • Pension scheme through the state pension fund

The UiT campus is located near the center of Tromsø, a vibrant city located in Northern Norway with approximately 75 000 inhabitants, surrounded by the stunning landscape of Northern Scandinavia. The location also offers ample opportunities for e.g., sighting aurora, hiking and skiing.

More information about moving to Norway: http://uit.no/mobility

Terms of employment

Remuneration of PhD positions are in salary code 1017, and normally start at salary grade 51 on the pay scale for Norwegian state employees corresponding to approx. 37 400 NOK/month. There is a 2% deduction for contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

UiT has good welfare arrangements for employees, including beneficial arrangements for pension, insurances and loans in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The nominal length of the PhD program is three years. The fourth year is used for teaching or other duties for the department. The duties are normally distributed evenly over the four years.

You have to be qualified for and participate in our PhD study program. As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training; thus if you already hold a PhD, or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

General information

We make the appointment in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway has HR policy objectives that emphasize diversity, and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their age, gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background. The university will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act. You may request to not be registered on the public list of applicants, but the University may decide that your name will be made public. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.

We look forward to receiving your application!

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