PhD Fellow in Computer Science

2 May 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Department

Department of Computer Science

Research Field

Computer science
Technology
Information science
Mathematics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Norway

Application Deadline

28 May 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Oslo)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37,5

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description
The position

An exciting PhD position is available at the Department of Computer Science  at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The position is associated with the Visual Intelligence  centre of excellence in research-based innovation. The project is within the earth observation innovation area and will be done in collaboration with leading companies in the field. The focus of the project is therefore development of novel satellite data analysis algorithms and solutions that will form the technology foundation for new products.

The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree in Computer Science. Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD candidate shall participate in the Faculty’s organized research training, and the PhD project shall be completed during the period of employment. The PhD fellow is expected to write research papers publishable in reputable international venues, present results at international conferences, write progress reports on the ongoing thesis project, and work constructively towards collectively defined research goals.

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.

Note! During the project, the candidate may be required to access secret information (i.e. information that is secret according to Norwegian legislation). It is required that the appointed candidate fill the criteria to obtain a security clearance at level SECRET, according to the Norwegian Security Act § 5-3.

The project 

The PhD project will address one or more of the four research challenges that the centre focuses on: limited training data, context and dependencies, confidence and uncertainty, and explainability and reliability. The project will have an applied focus, so the aim is to develop algorithms and implement these in systems that enable testing and evaluating these in collaboration with the centre’s user partners such as KSAT. The goal is to develop and verify prototype solutions that can be further developed into commercial products. We are therefore seeking a computer scientist with an interest in machine learning and with strong programming skills, and with an interest in working in close collaboration with industry.

Working environment:

The project will be done in an interdisciplinary team. The successful candidate will work at the research centre Visual Intelligence  at the  Department of Computer Science  at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The goal of Visual Intelligence is to develop novel deep learning-based solutions to extract knowledge from complex image data to enable new innovations. Deep learning has led to a range of new image-based technologies that is rapidly changing society. Despite these advances, it is still a long way before the potential of deep learning for visual intelligence is realized for applications and industries relying on more complex visual data, e.g within medicine and health, the marine sciences, the energy sector, and within earth observation. This project is in the earth observation area, and will be done in collaboration with industry partner Kongsberg Satellite Services .  The successful candidate will take part in the Visual intelligence Graduate School.

Contact

Further information about the position is available by contacting Professor Lars Ailo Bongo:

• phone: +47 92015508
• email: [email protected]

For administrative questions, contact Head of administration Svein Tore Jensen:

• phone: +47 77 64 40 36
• email: [email protected]

Qualifications

This position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science. The master’s thesis must be included in the application. We are looking for applicants with solid expertise in experimental computer science, machine learning, and strong programming skills. Previous experience in systems development, data management, networking, satellite data, and applied machine learning is therefore considered a benefit. It is also beneficial if the applicant has an interest and previous experience in collaboration with interdisciplinary or industrial collaboration.

We are looking for an interested, active and highly motivated candidate, who likes to explore new technologies, is both independent thinking and also enjoys working in collaboration with other researchers and industry partners. The position is part of an interdisciplinary project, and close interaction with other project participants will be required. Good communication skills in English are necessary and applicants must document proficiency in English equivalent to Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification. Working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language is also beneficial.

In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant's potential to complete a research education based on the master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.

Candidates in the final phase of their Master study may apply. They must submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must still submit your transcript of grades for the master’s degree with your application.

As many people as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

Admission to the PhD programme 

For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Science and Technology   and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Admission normally requires:  

• A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master's degree

UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

In order to gain admission to the programme, the applicant must have a grade point average of C or better for the master’s degree and for relevant subjects of the bachelor’s degree. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here . 

Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from NOKUT . Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor's degree and a 2-year master's degree. 

If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position. 

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project 
• Good career opportunities 
• A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues  
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement  
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund 
• PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 532 200 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme  which also include health care services.

More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility

Application 

Your application must include: 

• Cover letter, including a 1-page summary of your motivation for applying for this position and a description of why you are qualified for this position
• CV (containing a complete overview of education, supervised professional training and professional work)
• Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree
• Link to your open-source projects
• Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor's and master's degree
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• Documentation of proficiency in Norwegian  (or a Scandinavian language)
• 2-3 references with contact information
• Master’s thesis, and any other academic works

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 still submit your transcript of grades for the master’s degree with your application.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline. 

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. During this assessment process, emphasis will be attached to the applicant’s potential for research as shown by:

• Master’s thesis or equivalent
• Publications
• Any other academic works
• Knowledge and interest of the specific project and it`s topic

In addition, consideration may be given to work experience or other activities of significance for the implementation of the PhD studies, and to any teaching qualifications. This includes teaching education, teaching experience, experience from popularization and experience/education from other types of dissemination. The applicants assessed as the best qualified can be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability for the position. The candidate programming skills may also be assessed during or after the interview.

General information 

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants . 

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no .

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years. 

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure. 

Eallju - Developing the High North

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus comprehensive university at the international forefront. Our vision is to be a driving force for developing the High North. The Northern Sami notion eallju, which means eagerness to work, sets the tone for this motive power at UiT. Along with students, staff and the wider community, we aim to utilise our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio and interdisciplinary advantage to shape the future.

Our social mission is to provide research-based education of high quality, perform artistic development and carry out research of the highest international quality standards in the entire range from basic to applied. We will convey knowledge about disciplines and contribute to innovation. Our social mission unites UiT across various studies, research fields and large geographical distances. This demands good cooperation with trade and industry and civil society as well as with international partners. We will strengthen knowledge-based and sustainable development at a regional, national and international level.

Academic freedom and scientific and ethical principles form the basis for all UiT’s activities. Participation, co-determination, transparency and good processes will provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and far-sighted priorities. Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Founded on academic integrity, we will be courageous, committed and generous in close contact with disciplines, people and contemporary developments.

We will demonstrate adaptability and seek good and purposeful utilisation of resources, so we are ready to meet the expectations and opportunities of the future. We will strengthen the quality and impact of our disciplines and core tasks through the following three strategic priority areas.

Requirements

Research Field

Computer science

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Technology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Information science

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Mathematics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Country

Norway

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/261587/phd-fellow-in-computer-sc…

Contact

City

Tromsø

Website

http://en.uit.no/om/art?p_document_id=343547&dim=179040

Street

Hansine Hansens veg 18

Postal Code

N-9019

STATUS: EXPIRED