The Department of Geosciences has a vacant Postdoctoral fellowship in the area of marine geophysics to work with 4D seismic studies in fluid flow systems and gas hydrate dynamics. The position is for a fixed term of three years, and is connected to the Norwegian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Arctic Gas Hydrates, Environment and Climate (CAGE, https://cage.uit.no/ ) at the Department of Geosciences.

The postdoctoral candidate will work within the work package 1 (WP1: “Gas hydrate and free gas reservoir”) of CAGE, and will benefit from cooperation with cross-disciplinary groups within the centre, as well as with other groups at the department working with relevant problems in Geosciences.

The position’s field of research

The WP1 of CAGE focuses on two key questions: (1) how much carbon is stored in methane hydrate and free gas reservoirs in the Arctic, and how much of it is susceptible to climate change, and (2) at what rates, by which means and under which circumstances is methane expelled from subseabed reservoirs? Both of these key questions link with other work packages on quantification of methane emissions, ecosystem impacts, coupling of ice sheet and gas-hydrate models and potential climate feedbacks. In order to achieve these goals we employ state-of-the-art technology in sub-seabed imaging using broadband high-resolution data, and develop 4D time-lapse studies of subsurface gas migration to improve models for fluid flow in subsurface sediments.

The position’s field of research will be to advance high-resolution 4D seismic studies into fluid flow systems and gas hydrate dynamics. The postdoctoral candidate shall develop and apply high-resolution 4D time-lapse interpretation workflows to time-lapse seismic data from a fluid flow system. These interpretation workflows shall be combined with seismic modelling and rock physics, relating subsurface amplitude changes to migrating gas and thereby quantify real flux rate through focused fluid flow systems. The project shall significantly advance the current understanding of the mechanisms of focused fluid flow and develop geophysical models necessary for fluid flow simulations.

The successful candidate is expected to greatly contribute to this field of research as well as to participate and develop activities in CAGE within WP1 but also cross-linking several work packages. The appointed post doc candidate will further participate in geoscientific expeditions (on board R/V Helmer Hanssen and/or R/V Kronprins Haakon) to collect cross-disciplinary data, workshops with team members and external collaborators, seminar series at the department and the university, and presentation of results at national and international conferences.

Further information about the position is available by contacting:

• Professor Stefan Buenz, email: stefan.buenz@uit.no, tlf. +47 77646266, or
• Director of CAGE Professor Karin Andreassen, email: karin.andreassen@uit.no, tlf. +47 46929027

Work place, affiliation and collaboration

The successful candidate will live and work in Tromsø, and is expected to engage himself/herself in the ongoing development of CAGE, the Department of Geosciences and the University as a whole. The project will be conducted in a cross-disciplinary, interactive and stimulating working environment. The candidate will receive guidance and support to identify and apply to relevant research grants on national and international levels. Work place will be the Department of Geosciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø. The candidate may also spend periods abroad working at partner institutions.

Qualifications

The applicant must have a PhD in geophysics, seismology or closely-related geoscience field. Experience with the use of seismological or seismic software is a requirement. The candidate must have a good understanding of the processing of 3D, and preferably 4D time-lapse seismic data. Furthermore, the candidate should demonstrate proficiency in advanced 3D seismic interpretation. The candidate should also show a good understanding of fluid flow and gas hydrate systems in marine sedimentary environments. Good programming skills (e.g., in Matlab, C-shell, Python) are advantageous.

The results shall be presented at national and international conferences/workshops, as well as published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Therefore, a good communication level in English, both written and oral, is required. Applicants not being able to communicate in Norwegian will be encouraged to learn the language within a reasonable time.

The assessment will emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. The candidate must be willing to engage in the ongoing development of his/her discipline and the university as a whole.

Application

The application must be submitted electronically via the application form available on www.jobbnorge.no and shall include:

• Motivation letter including academic highlights that provided experience relevant for conducting the work within the vacant position (max 2 page)
• CV including the track record and a selection of up to five publications relevant to the vacant position (max 3 pages)
• Academic works (papers, PhD thesis, etc) relevant for the position
• Diplomas and transcripts
• Three references, preferably including PhD advisors.

All documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Submit applications electronically via Jobbnorge.

We offer

• A cross-disciplinary, interactive and challenging working environment.
• National and international mobility to work closely with the project partners and to present the work in conferences.
• Possibility of joining research cruises to collect experimental data
• Opportunity to develop academic components of the career, i.e., working closely with PhD and master students.
• Guidance and support to identify and apply to relevant grants.
• A fantastic hosting hometown – Tromsø, always generous with extreme experiences and nature adventures both in summer and winter.

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

UiT also has good welfare arrangements for employees including beneficial arrangements for pension and insurances.

Remuneration of Postdoctoral Fellow positions are in salary code 1352. There is a 2 % deduction for contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. In addition, UiT pays 12 % directly to the pension fund on top of the salary.

The objective of the appointment as a Postdoctoral Fellow is to qualify for work in senior academic positions, and no one may be appointed to more than one fixed term period at the same institution.

General

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 is an IW (Inclusive Workplace) enterprise, and we 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.

Apply for position