Open position for a PhD Research Fellow in experimental porous media physics at the university of Oslo

A position as PhD Research Fellow in experimental porous media physics is available at Centre of excellence (CoE) PoreLab at The Njord Centre.

Deadline: 28th February 2022

You can only apply via jobbnorge here: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/219819/phd-research-fellow-in-experimental-porous-media-physics

The PhD position is of 3 years duration. If the candidate has the necessary qualifications and based on the teaching need of the Department, the candidate can apply for an additional 25 % teaching duty resulting in a total length of the fellowship of 4 years.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

Starting date as soon as possible, no later than 01.10.2022

This position is open at the Njord Centre in the project CO2Basalt (https://www.mn.uio.no/njord/english/news-and-events/news/co2basalt.html) funded by the University of Oslo. It involves a collaboration between geologists and physicists of the Center of Excellence PoreLab (https://porelab.no/)

The aim of PoreLab is to describe the flow in porous media on scales ranging from micrometers to kilometers and for highly different media. The approach is based on a combination of theory, simulations and experiments. The successful candidate must have a strong background in experimental physics, but is expected to collaborate in a cross-disciplinary environment that includes chemists, geologists and engineers.

The candidate will perform experiments on density-driven convection which is of central importance for CO2 storage. When CO2 is dissolved in water, it forms carbonic acid, resulting in a slight increase in density and a change in acidity (pH). The purpose of the project entitled Gravitational instabilities during water-CO2 flows in fractures, is to investigate the convective mechanics of CO2 dissolved in water in model porous media and fractures and estimate the pH field using a pH analysis methods developed by PoreLab. Along with flow experiments on 3D printed fractures and porous models, the candidate may develop numerical models that can simulate density-driven convection.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Required qualifications:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in experimental physics.
  • Foreign completed degrees (M.Sc.-level) must correspond to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system. 
  • Background in hydrodynamics.
  • Background in statistical physics or porous media physics.

Candidates without a Master’s degree have until 30 June, 2022 to complete the final exam.

Desirable qualifications:

  • Background in chemistry
  • Background in numerical simulations

Grade and language requirements:

The norm is as follows:

  • the average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
  • the average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
  • the Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
  • For candidates who apply for a fourth year including teaching, good knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is strongly preferred.
  • English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:

http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/application/application.html

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see:

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/

http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

Personal skills

  • Teamwork skills, as well as the ability to work independently
  • Enthusiasm, personal drive, and ability to take initiative
  • Attention to detail
  • Flexibility, ability to handle pressure and meet deadlines

We offer

  • Salary NOK 491 200 – 534 400 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
  • Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
  • Vibrant international academic environment
  • Career development programmes
  • Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

  • Cover letter – statement of motivation and research interests
  • CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work – scientific publications)
  • Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, transcripts of records
  • Documentation of English proficiency
  • List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
  • Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “Apply for this job”). Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University’s grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Interviews will be used as part of the hiring process.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

Prof. Knut Jørgen Måløy, phone: +47 413 23 979, e-mail: k.j.maloy@fys.uio.no

For technical questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Elin Thoresen, e-mail: elin.thoresen@mn.uio.no, phone +47 22 85 71 96.

About the University of Oslo 

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7500 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society. 

Njord is a cross-disciplinary Geology-Physics center hosted by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Oslo. We focus on the fundamental physics of geological processes related to: transport and reactions in deformable porous media, fracturing and fragmentation processes, interface dynamics during geophysical flows, and intermittency and pattern formation in geological systems far from equilibrium.

We conduct research on earth systems that range in scale from atoms to continents and apply methods where fieldwork, numerical modelling, experiments and theory act in concert.

The center includes the Oslo-branch of PoreLab, which is a Center of Excellence (CoE), the former CoE, Physics of Geological Processes (PGP) and several externally financed projects. There are 10 professors and associate professors at the center, in addition to doctoral research fellows, postdoctoral fellows, researchers and technical and administrative staff – in total about 55 persons.