Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Hydrology/Hydrogeology

• English

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow available at Department of Geosciences, Section for Geography and Hydrology.

Preferable starting date as soon as possible.

The appointment is a fulltime position and is for a period of two years and two months, of which the additional two months are devoted to required duties in form of management support and collaborative activities within the GroundedExtremes project.

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

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

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How do groundwater extremes develop and recover as a result of complex and interacting physical and anthropogenic processes under ongoing and future global change? What are the key drivers of groundwater drought in different climate regions and hydrogeological settings? And how does cycles of wet and dry conditions of different durations impact drought development and recovery? At the department of Geosciences, University of Oslo (UiO), we aim to answer these questions as part of our role in the GroundedExtremes project.

The GroundedExtremes project is a European funded research project that aims to investigate key processes controlling the development of hydrological extremes and the potential for improved groundwater management as a powerful adaptation strategy to both droughts and floods. In GroundedExtremes six postdoctoral researchers will study and compare groundwater dynamics, management and governance across four case studies: Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden. 

At the University of Oslo, we are now searching for a postdoctoral researcher with a groundwater data and statistical/physically-based modelling background to join our team. The postdoc will analyse groundwater level observations and related climate and site-specific data to assess the development, duration and recovery of groundwater droughts, their climate drivers, subsurface characteristics, vegetation and water use, as well as effects of ongoing and future global changes. Focus is on drought, but include situations of high groundwater table/head as groundwater can act as a buffer to both flood and drought. We will analyse and compare groundwater dynamics in the four case studies, with a specific focus on Sweden. Emphasis will be on (compound) drivers of groundwater drought across the case studies, including large-scale climate drivers and local scale characteristics, taking into account the importance of wet extremes in the development and recovery of groundwater drought.

We are looking for a person who is interested in interdisciplinary research and enjoys working collaborative within a diverse international group. Additionally, we are seeking a person who is positive to support the project administration and management and engage in joint project activities. The postdoc will be based at the Section for Geography and Hydrology at the Department of Geosciences and will collaborate closely with the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Gothenburg on the Swedish case study.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

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.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in hydrology or hydrogeology, physical geography, or other relevant quantitative disciplines.
• Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Strong analytical, computational and programming skills.
• Experience with statistical (time series analysis) and/or physically-based hydrological modelling.
• Experience in scientific publishing, exemplified by relevant and good quality peer-reviewed publications.

Desired qualifications:

• Proficiency in groundwater hydrology and/or time series analysis.
• Experience with handling and analysing large datasets.
• Experience with working in interdisciplinary research projects.
• Knowledge of a Scandinavian language is considered beneficial.

Personal skills:

• We are looking for someone who enjoys teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration, but the successful candidate must also be able to work independently.

The candidate is expected to spend some time in southern Sweden as part of our research collaboration.

• Salary NOK 575 400 – 657 300 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (position code 1352)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity) 
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records 
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works 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).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability.

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months ( thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)

No one can be appointed twice as a Postdoctoral fellow financed with funds from The Research Council of Norway (NFR).

According to the Norwegian Freedom and 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 a.o.

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.

For further information about the position please contact: Prof. Lena M Tallaksen, phone: +47 228 57214, e-mail: [email protected]

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Ole Rustad, e-mail: [email protected]

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society. 

The geosciences are the studies of the planet Earth and its comparative planetology; the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and cryosphere, the Earth's surface and its interior. The Department of Geosciences conducts research and teaching in most of the domains of geoscience; geology, geophysics, physical geography, geomatics, hydrology, meteorology and oceanography. The Department is the broadest geoscience research and education environment in Norway. We perform research at a high international standard and have five ERC (European Research Council) research projects ongoing.

The Department encompasses six scientific sections; Meteorology and Oceanography, Geography and Hydrology, Study of sedimentary basins, Environmental geosciences. and Crustal Processes. We host now a third in the line of three Centre of Excellences:  PHAB – Centre for Planetary Habitability, and have a Norwegian Research School for PhD students (Research School for Dynamics and Evolution of Earth and Planets, DEEP).
The Department aims to contribute to the new and important UN Sustainability Development Goals, and are important contributors to IPCC (UN’s Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change). The staff consists of 40 professors and associate professors, in addition to postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, researchers, technical- and administrative staff. The Department has around 200 employees.

3rd April 2024

University of Oslo

Oslo

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Temporary

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