Stipendiat i geovitenskap

PhD Fellowship in Geosciences

PhD Fellowship in Geoscience at UiS

Job description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in Geoscience - Triassic salt-sediment interactions and their impact on reservoir systems at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering.

The PhD fellowship leads to a doctoral degree and provides an opportunity to develop research expertise in an active and stimulating academic environment.

The successful candidate will be admitted to the PhD programme in Science and Technology. The programme includes coursework, an independent research project culminating in a doctoral thesis, participation in national and international research communities, dissemination of research, a trial lecture, and a public defence of the thesis. For more information about the PhD education at UiS, please visit our website.

The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively.

As a PhD Fellow at UiS, you will receive supervision and support for your academic and professional development through mentoring, skills development, and career planning.

Research project

The research project focuses on the regional reservoir evolution of the Triassic in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Although the Triassic reservoirs in the North Sea are promising for both hydrocarbons and CO2-storage, the Triassic is underexplored in the Norwegian sector. The geological processes controlling the development of the Triassic depositional systems are also generally less well understood than in the North Sea sectors of neighbouring countries. Salt mobilisation has played a major role in shaping the Triassic depositional systems in many areas. Therefore, this project will investigate the interplay between tectonic processes and sedimentation during the Triassic, and the influence of Palaeozoic basin structures on deposition. In addition, it will evaluate the petroleum systems and their potential.

The project activities will integrate the following tasks:

• regional geological mapping of the North Sea using seismic and well data, and integration of previously published information
• geological restorations and basin modelling to improve the understanding of the interplay between tectonic and sedimentary processes, particularly where salt is present
• petrological, whole-rock- and mineral-geochemical investigations of cores and cuttings to determine the composition of the sedimentary rocks, their provenance, and their diagenetic evolution
• construction of detailed palaeogeographic maps in key geographical areas.

The PhD project will be adapted based on the background of the PhD candidate within the overall focus of the project.

Qualification requirements

You must have a strong academic background with a five-year master degree within geosciences, preferably acquired recently; or who possess corresponding qualifications that could provide a basis for successfully completing a doctorate.

You must have competence within interprestaion of seismic and well data, sedimentology, and structural geology.

In addition, competence in the following areas will be considered an advantage:

• basin modelling
• salt tectonics
• petrology
• geochemistry
• subsurface interpretation software (e.g., Petrel, Landmark DSD, etc.)

Admission to the PhD programme requires that both your master's thesis grade and your weighted average grade for the master's degree correspond to a grade of B or better.

If you have completed your education at an institution that uses a grading scale other than A-F, please provide documentation explaining how your grades correspond to the Norwegian grading scale. You may use these conversion tables to calculate your admission score.

Emphasis is also placed on your:

• demonstrate high academic integrity and a strong commitment to quality in your work
• are curious and motivated to carry out the research project and contribute to academic communities across disciplines
• show potential for research within the field, as well as the personal qualities required to complete the doctoral programme within the period of employment
• are able to work effectively both independently and in collaboration with other researchers
• demonstrate the ability for critical reflection, innovative thinking, and independent problem-solving, and work in a structured and goal-oriented manner
• have strong interpersonal and communication skills and contribute to a constructive working environment
• have good English language skills, both written and spoken

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is required for admission to the PhD programme.

International applicants who do not qualify for one of the exemptions listed below must document their English language proficiency by submitting a valid test result from one of the following tests:

• TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language): minimum score of 90/4.5
• IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): minimum score of 6.5
• Cambridge English: Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
• PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic): minimum score of 62

You are exempt from this requirement if you:

• have completed at least one year of university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States
• have completed a master's degree taught in English in an EU/EEA country or in India
• qualify for an exemption according to the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) GSU list
• applicants who do not fall within any of the exemption categories listed above, but who have resided in Norway for the past five years.

We offer

• a PhD education at a university with a strong societal mission and ambitious academic goals
• an ambitious and inclusive research environment. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
• free Norwegian language courses if you do not have proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 at the time of employment.
• access to Lifekeys, a digital service that supports mental health and well-being
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, code 1017, NOK 580.000 gross per year, with salary progression during the employment period. A statutory 2% contribution is deducted for membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, providing favourable pension and insurance benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the SIS sports club on campus
• discounted public transport through the "Hjem-jobb-hjem" programme
• access to Norway's public welfare system, including parental leave benefits, healthcare services and affordable childcare
• support through relocation programme for international employees

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is a strength at the University of Stavanger. Different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds contribute to better solutions and a positive working and learning environment. We welcome applicants with diverse qualifications, life experiences and perspectives, and encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of gender, age, disability, cultural background, or whether they have experienced periods outside the workforce. UiS is committed to supporting employees in different stages of life and to providing reasonable accommodation for employees with individual needs.

In accordance with applicable regulations, at least one qualified applicant with a disability, a gap in their CV, or an immigrant background will be invited for an interview. If this applies to you, you may indicate this in the application portal. Read more about the scheme here.

The University seeks to improve gender balance in PhD positions within this field and therefore particularly encourages women to apply. In cases where applicants are considered equally qualified, women may be given preference in accordance with applicable regulations.

How to Apply

Apply for the position through the "Apply for this job" button on this page.

In Jobbnorge, you must register your application, relevant education and work experience, as well as language skills. In your application letter, please describe your research interests, your motivation for applying for the position, and how your background is relevant to the research project.

The following documentation must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• a CV containing a complete overview of your education, experience, and any scientific or scholarly work
• a diploma and transcript of records documenting completion of a master's degree. If you have not yet completed your master's degree, you must submit an up-to-date transcript of records
• a Diploma Supplement or equivalent documentation, and a confirmed grade conversion scale if required
• documentation of English language proficiency, if required
• publications or other relevant research work
• references and other documentation considered relevant to the application

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English

Applications will be assessed based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. Please ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your qualifications and experience meet the requirements described in the advertisement and that all required documentation has been uploaded. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 100 MB, the files must be compressed before uploading.

UiS only considers applications and attachments submitted through Jobbnorge.

Information about applicants may be made public even if an applicant has requested not to be included on the public list of applicants, cf. Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Ac. If such a request is not granted, the applicant will be notified accordingly.

Employment Conditions and Recruitment Process

The University of Stavanger (UiS) is subject to the Norwegian Security Act. Employees are expected to demonstrate security awareness and and comply with applicable security and export control regulations and procedures. Qualities such as reliability, sound judgement, and loyalty will be given emphasis in the recruitment process.

Employment as PhD Fellow is regulated in Regulations to the Universities and Colleges Act, chapter IV. Admission to the doctoral programme is governed by the Regulations for the degree of Philosophia Doctor (PhD) at the University of Stavanger.

Your qualifications for the position will be assessed by an internal committee based on the documentation registered in Jobbnorge by the application deadline. Based on the committee's assessment, selected applicants will be invited to an interview. References will also be obtained for relevant candidate. Read more about the recruitment process on our website.

The doctoral work will primarily be carried out at the University of Stavanger. It is a condition of employment that the successful candidate resides in a location that enables regular presence at and active participation in the academic environment during normal working hours.

This position is advertised in both Norwegian and English. In the event of any discrepancy between the two versions, the Norwegian text shall prevail.

UiS - challenge the well-known and explore the unknown

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for green and sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.

In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.

Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown.

The Faculty of Science and Technology offers degree programmes at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The faculty has strong ties to both research institutions and industry. Nearly 40% of its budget is externally funded. Our students have close contact with the business sector, and many master’s and doctoral theses are written in collaboration with industry. The faculty has established research collaborations with universities around the world and includes several academic environments that are internationally leading. The faculty has approximately 3,000 students and around 500 employees, distributed across the faculty administration and six departments: the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; the Department of Mechanical, Structural and Materials Engineering; the Department of Mathematics and Physics; the Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Engineering; the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering; and the Department of Safety, Economics and Planning.

Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering offers education and conducts research in geoscience, drilling and well engineering, and sustainable energy technology. The department offers programmes at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. It has close collaboration with relevant industry, particularly within the energy sector. The department places a strong emphasis on internationalisation, with high mobility among both academic staff and students.