The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow position
The Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen and The Norwegian Centre for Hydrogen Research (HyValue) are recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow in energy and business law. Applicants are encouraged to submit a project proposal on regulatory aspects related to hydrogen and ammonia transport (in pipelines or ships), storage, and contracts.
The position is a fixed term contract. The term of employment for a Postdoctoral Fellow position is 3 years, or 4 years if the applicant is qualified to teach in compulsory courses at the Masters level at the Faculty of Law. The starting date is as soon as possible. Residence in the Bergen area for the duration of the position is compulsory and non-negotiable.
About the project/work tasks:
About The Norwegian Centre for Hydrogen Research (HyValue)
The Postdoctoral Fellow will be included in an interdisciplinary and industry-cooperative Centre for Environmental-friendly Energy Research (HyValue) led by NORCE. The centre has received funding from The Research Council of Norway for an 8-year period (15.6.22 – 01.07.30). HyValue aims to develop knowledge, methodology, and innovative solutions for hydrogen energy carriers to build and support a competitive hydrogen energy sector. A transition to hydrogen-based fuels can only be achieved through a holistic development covering technical solutions, regulatory frameworks, economic incentives, and societal and environmental impact and safety.
The Faculty of Law will lead a task in work package 2 Storage and distribution. In this work package, the legal research will be connected to the assessment of access rights, capacity allocation of the hydrogen transport network, and compare management to other network intensive industries, as well as rules related to hydrogen storage. Additionally, the faculty will co-lead work package 6 Integrating hydrogen in value chains along with the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). In this work package, the focus is to analyze opportunities to develop maritime-linked hydrogen value chains and study how regulations and economic incentives can be designed to avoid barriers and promote business models for hydrogen-based fuels. The faculty will also contribute to legal research on solutions for technical safety and public trust in a hydrogen economy.
The legal team working in HyValue will have a two folded research focus on private law aspects of hydrogen regulation as well as aspects related to more public law/regulatory matters. In the first case, the team seeks to generate innovative legal research connected to contractual models for selling hydrogen, investment mechanisms (public and private), industrial practices, and business strategies for the use of hydrogen as a renewable energy source. In the regulatory perspective, the team will contribute with better understanding related to rules on transportation of hydrogen, EU/EEA internal energy market, offshore marine/maritime hydrogen interactions, and sector coupling regulation.
About the postdoctoral position
Public and private law rules will shape the way that hydrogen industrial and commercial applications are rolled out, and a strong legal understanding of limits and opportunities will support the development of industrial models and practices. At the same time, regulatory trends and tools are pivotal to address the issue of transportation and storage of hydrogen and ammonia. In such light, HyValue aims to identify regulatory barriers and propose incentive structures to accelerate implementation of a hydrogen-based energy sector.
Candidates applying for this postdoctoral position are encouraged to submit a project proposal on regulatory aspects related to hydrogen and ammonia transport (in pipelines or ships) and storage. Furthermore, it is encouraged to integrate into the project plan a section related to the use of contracts to develop hydrogen energy markets (long term, power purchase agreements, transport contracts). Understanding of Norwegian law and the Norwegian energy marked is an asset. However, comparative, or international legal research are also relevant and may be included in the proposal. Lastly, comparative analysis and experiences drawn from other jurisdictions are encouraged.
The project proposal should also relate to the overall research aims in HyValue, with emphasis on work package 2 Storage and distribution and partially in tasks of work package 6 Integrating hydrogen in value chains.
Required qualifications and essential personal qualities:
Applicants must hold a Norwegian PhD or an equivalent degree abroad within law in legal sub-disciplines connected to the project. These could be energy law, law of the sea, administrative law, environmental law etc. Experience in Norwegian law is an asset.
Applicants must have submitted their doctoral thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded.
Applicants must be proficient in both written and oral English. Proficiency in Scandinavian languages is an asset.
Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and to collaborate with others.
Applicants will particularly be expected to show resourcefulness and enthusiasm and demonstrate the ability to collaborate with colleagues and work as part of a supportive team.
The applicant is expected to do the following during the period of employment:
A minimum of 4 academic publications in well-reputed journals and/or as book chapters. The publications and academic output must include both areas (transport, storage and contracts). Joint publications with other researchers in the project will be counted towards this goal and encouraged.
Collaborate in the drafting of industrial reports related to transport, storage and contracts.
Attend all research activities in the project and present the research project at international conferences.
Collaborate closely with the other members of the project as part of a supportive team.
Communicate results from the project actively in relevant arenas.
Be an active member of the Research group Natural Resource Law, Environmental Law and Development Law and the Bergen Offshore Wind Centre.
We can offer:
An excellent opportunity for exciting carrier development in a professionally challenging interdisciplinary working environment.
To be a part of an outstanding research environment in Energy and Environmental Law with an ocean focus at the Faculty of Law in Bergen. Participation in interdisciplinary research at the scientific frontline.
Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
A position in an inclusive workplace (IA enterprise) at a recognized law faculty in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Generous welfare benefits
Opportunities to get a mobility grant for research stays abroad during the period of employment.
Salary at pay grade 72 (code 1352) according to the state salary scale upon appointment. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 689 100 per year. For particularly highly qualified applicants, a higher salary may be considered.
A brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position and how this agenda fit with the aims of HyValue. It is expected that the applicant reads the project description for HyValue that will be provided after request to Ingrid Birce Müftüoglu ingrid.muftuoglu@uib.no.
Project proposal for the planned research (3 - 7 pages). This proposal shall include a plan for the dissemination of the research. The project proposal will be included as part of the contract.
Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts of grades and official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted. Applicants whose education is from another country than Norway, need to also attach a certified translation of the diploma and transcript of grades to English or a Scandinavian language, if the original is not in any of these languages. They are also advised to attach an explanation of their university’s grading system.
CV, including a complete list of scientific publications.
Academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee. If the submitted publications are co-authored, the division of work between the authors must be confirmed in the form of a co-author statement. The submitted publications must be in English or in a Scandinavian language unless otherwise specifically agreed upon. The doctoral thesis and its report by the evaluation committee must be included among these documents.
The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these must be the main supervisor of the PhD thesis.
The application can be written in English or Norwegian.
The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be sent electronically via the link «Apply for position» on this page.
General information:
Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting:
Vice-Dean for research Ragna Aarli, email: Ragna.Aarli@uib.no tel. +47 55589552, or
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. We encourage women to apply. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.
Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
Further information about our employment process can be found here.
The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time. Successful applicants may be called in for an interview.
