PhD Research Fellow position at the Department of Biosciences and the Center for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene
We offer a 3-year PhD Research Fellow position at the Department of Biosciences and the Center for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, University of Oslo.
The position will be within the interdisciplinary research project ” Biogeochemical processes governing boreal C cycling – Biogov”, cofunded by The Norwegian Research Council and UiO. The position is one of 4 PhDs and 2 PDs to be employed within Biogov, and we expect a collaborative group with these and the supervisor teams.
Other positions related to the project:
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than 01.10.2022.
The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, or eventually 4 years, with 25 % compulsory work (e.g. teaching responsibilities or other relevant tasks at the department) contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department.
Project description:
The Center for Biogeochemistry of the Anthropocene (CBA) focuses on feedbacks between biogeochemical process and climate across the boreal biome as well as the Arctic and sub-arctic. Within Biogov we will quantify the changes in, and fluxes from carbon stores like organic matter pools in soils and vegetation, to surface waters and subsequently to the atmosphere as CO2 and CH4. We will focus on the direct and indirect impacts on fluxes of C and other key elements (like Ca, Si, Fe, N and P) as a result of (i) warming and changes in precipitation, (ii) growing forest biomass, and (iii) the activation of huge stores of organic C through thawing of permafrost. Changes in flux and fates of C-stores are prone to boost emissions of GHGs and volatile organic compounds, as well as transport of organic matter into lakes, rivers, and coastal areas affecting optical properties and productivity in these systems.
The biogeochemical mechanisms governing organic matter quality and lateral fluxes, as well as its subsequent microbial transformation into GHGs in lakes and rivers, are poorly understood and poorly constrained. Through combinations of cross-disciplinary and novel approaches, as well as comparative studies, Biogov will identify key processes with the aim of improving process understanding and parameterization of climate models (Earth System Models) that will be a core output of the Biogov project.
Job description:
Catchments, lakes, streams and rivers are part of the aquatic continuum where element transport and element cycling affect the carbon sink and source strength of the landscape in the context of climate change. Aquatic ecosystems are both channels and incubators that control transport and emissions of terrestrial organic matter (tOM) and greenhouse gases.
In this PhD project, we will identify links between catchment processes, water chemistry and greenhouse gases at various scales: at intensively studied field sites and through analysis of large-scale monitoring datasets. We will describe governing processes and quantify catchment export of tOM, and its mineralization to GHGs at field site and regional level, and how climate and other factors control these processes and fluxes. To achieve this the PhD will work both with large, existing datadasets and time-series, as well as obtaining new data from selected study sites. We will incorporate process understanding in models for quantification of catchment tOM export at regional scale.Foto: Colourbox
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.
- Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental sciences, physical geography or freshwater biology with a documented focus on terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemistry
- Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
- Documented training in biogeochemistry is a requirement
- Good skills in handling of big data, statistics and ideally also coding and graphic visualization
- Experience with stable isotopes is desirable
- Candidates with training and experience in field work are especially encouraged to apply
Candidates without a Master’s degree have until 30 June, 2022 to complete the final exam.
Grade 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
- 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/ and http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/
Personal skills
We are seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic and hard-working candidate with the ambition to gain new insights and publish papers in leading, international journals. Applicants must show good interpersonal skills and be willing to work in close collaboration with the project PIs and other members of the project team, as well as have the ability to work independently.
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 with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.
Formal regulations
Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period 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.
Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.
If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.
Contact information
For further information please contact:
Heleen de Wit (heleen.de.wit@niva.no) or Dag Hessen (d.o.hessen@mn.uio.no)
For technical questions regarding the recruitment system please contact: HR adviser Nina Holtan: +47 22 85 44 24, e-mail: nina.holtan@mn.uio.no
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.
Department of Biosciences (IBV) is one of nine departments at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Research in the department is organised in five sections covering topics within biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, cell biology, genetics, aquatic biology, toxicology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Education across these topics is offered for around 350 bachelor, 250 master, and 120 PhD students. With 52 permanent professors/associate professors, post-docs, researchers, technical, and administrative personnel, the Department has a total staff of 340 from more than 30 different countries. The Department aims to maintain high international standards within both research and teaching. The new bachelor program in bioscience is the first of its kind to include programming and computational modelling as core elements.