PhD Fellow in "Risk-Informed decision-making for vessel routing and navigation in the Arctic waters"

22 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Department

Department of Technology and Safety

Research Field

Engineering
Engineering » Maritime engineering
Technology » Marine technology
Mathematics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Norway

Application Deadline

14 Apr 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

A PhD position is available at the Department of Technology and Safety , Faculty of Science and Technology  in “Leveraging ship AIS data using machine learning techniques for making risk-informed decisions for Arctic offshore operation”. The PhD Candidate will have also close collaboration with the Laboratory of Signal and Risk Analysis (LASAR) at the Department of Energy at the Politecnico di Milano.

The position is for a period of three years. 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 workplace is at UiT in Tromsø , Norway. The department has approximately 90 employees and approximately 500 students. It offers undergraduate, master’s, and PhD degree programmes as well as research in the areas of nautical science, aviation, societal safety, environment, and international preparedness.

You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.

The position’s field of research

The PhD position is a part of a research project called “Leveraging AIS Data and Field Knowledge for Making Spray Icing Risk-Informed Decisions (SPRISK) ” funded through Arktis2030 scheme with SINTEF and Norwegian Coastal Administration as key project partners. It is closely linked to a nationally funded research project “Multidisciplinary approach for spray icing modelling and decision support in the Norwegian maritime sector (SPRICE) ”.

A major safety-related issue for the maritime activities and shipping in the Arctic waters is severe weather and sea conditions, in particular, the accumulation of sea spray ice on vessels. Available standards and codes are mainly technical instruments, and do not adequately address making decisions with regards to risks of navigating in Arctic harsh weather conditions and spray icing events. The main goal of this PhD project is to develop risk-informed decision-making frameworks by leveraging historical ship Autonomous Identification System (AIS) data using machine learning techniques, and by incorporating meteorological and oceanographic parameters, and harsh Arctic offshore harsh weather conditions.

To this aim, this project

• develops AI-based models for studying and predicting vessel behaviour using AIS data and then detect vessel behaviour anomalies with respect to metrological and oceanographic conditions.
• integrates the identified vessel behaviours with frequency and severity of icing events (estimated by utilising existing icing models) and existing operational knowledge in order to propose decision sequences given rough sea and weather conditions and various icing event scenarios.
• finally proposes a decision-making framework informed by the risks of harsh weather and sea conditions for navigating in Arctic waters (for instance, by adapting a sequential decision-making approach )

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Project Leader Associate Professor Masoud Naseri: 

• phone: +47 77660327
• email: [email protected]

or Head of Department Associate Professor Bjørn-Morten Batalden:

• phone: +47 77660329
• email: [email protected]

Qualifications

This position requires a master’s degree or equivalent in Engineering, or a relevant master’s degree with relevant knowledge and education in the area of, maritime operation, nautical science, risk and safety analysis. 

Applicants must document fluency of in English and be able to work in an international environment. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.  

It is highly desirable if the candidate has good knowledge and experience within following fields:

• Mathematical modelling and simulation
• Machine learning (supervised/unsupervised/reinforcement learning) and data science
• Probabilistic risk analysis
• Computer Programming (preferably MATLAB/Python/C++/Fortran)

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. Project description is not mandatory, but is encouraged In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.

We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. We are looking for candidates who:

• Have good collaboration skills
• Have good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
• Wants to contribute to a good working environment

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, 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 . 

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 explaining your motivation and research interests, highlighting how your qualifications fits the announced position
• CV (containing a complete overview of education, publications, supervised professional training, and professional work, etc.)
• Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree
• 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
• List of 2-3 references (name, relationship with the candidate, email address, and telephone number)
• Master’s thesis or any other (published or unpublished) academic work such as peer-reviewed scientific articles, conference proceedings and presentation

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 submit your transcripts 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. 

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 to UiT.

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

Engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Engineering » Maritime engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Technology » Marine technology

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/257646/phd-fellow-in-risk-inform…

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