PhD Candidate in "Polar Marine Geology and Geophysics"

Application deadline: 30. August 2012
Applications shall be marked: Ref. 2012/1341

The University of Tromsø, Faculty of Science and Technology, has a PhD position vacant for applicants who wish to obtain the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD). The position is attached to the Department of Geology and the research group in "Polar Marine Geology and Geophysics". The appointment is for a period of four years starting at 01.01.2013 and ending at 31.12.2016.

The PhD position is for a fixed term, with the objective of completion of research training to the level of a doctoral degree. 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. Information about the application process for admission to the PhD programme, application form and regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) are available at the following address: Research education .

Further information about the position is available by contacting Professor Jurgen Mienert, phone: +47 77644446, e-mail: jurgen.mienert@uit.no or Head of Administration Stig Arne Holtedahl, phone: +47 77644465, e-mail:stig.holtedahl@uit.no.

Application documents (see below) shall be sent to: Department of Geology, Faculty of Science and Technology, N-9037 Tromsø. In addition, the application must be submitted electronically via the application form available on www.jobbnorge.no.

The position's affiliation

The Faculty of Science and technology consists of the following departments: Department of Physics and Technology, Department of Geology, Department of Computer Science, Department of Chemistry, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and Department of Engineering and Safety.

The position is organized under the Department of Geology, which currently has 12 professors/associate professors, 4 adjunct professors, 9 post doctoral/researchers, 21 PhD fellows and 4 technical staff members. The department conducts research and offers Master and PhD programmes in "Polar Marine Geology and Geophysics", "Coastal and Terrestrial Geosciences" and "Crustal Dynamics". The Department also has a Research School in "Arctic Marine Geology and Geophysics" (AMGG)", which is organized by the University of Tromsø in collaboration with The Norwegian Polar Institute, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) and The Geological Survey of Norway (NGU). The University of Tromsø possesses a sea-ice going research vessel RV Helmer Hanssen, a 3D seismic national infrastructure and ocean bottom seismometers for Arctic Research allowing yearly research cruises to identified target areas.

The position's field of research/research project

The position is connected to the research group in Polar Marine Geology and Geophysics. The candidate will work on the PhD project "Seismic studies of gas hydrates and fluid flow in the Arctic". The project is part of the activities of the AMGG trainee school, and is also connected to the national Norwegian Research School in Climate Dynamics (ResClim).

The PhD project aims at i) studying some of the largest gas-escape features and related gas hydrate areas in the Barents Sea including their evolution and ii) identifying the history of fluid release and factors of importance for a potential climate impact. The successful candidate will interpret the 3D seismic data to analyze the coupling between deeper petroleum and large fluid leakage systems as well as shallow gas hydrates. We hypothesize that large gas chimneys have formed during Cenozoic uplift/erosion and Pliocene glaciations. The research fellow will have access to three- and two-dimensional seismic and bathymetry data from target areas in the Barents Sea. Sediment cores and well data will also be available. The project will involve participation in marine geological/ geophysical cruises to collect new 3D seismic data and sediment samples. The PhD student will have the opportunity to stay for half a year at another institution increasing interdisciplinary and modeling research ideally to further advance his knowledge.

Qualification requirements

The successful applicant must fulfil the requirements for admission to the faculty's PhD programme, cf. Regulation for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Tromsø. In addition, he/she must be able to document proficiency in English equivalent to Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification, refer to the website about PhD regulations at UiT.

The ideal candidate will have a background in seismic techniques and will be able to learn various modelling techniques relevant for fluid flow and gas hydrates. He/she has equivalent relevant experience in marine geology/geophysics, physics, hydrogeology, petroleum geology or sedimentary basin modelling at Master level. Experience with seismic interpretation, GIS and/or digital imaging programmes would be an advantage. It is also an advantage if candidates will have experience in the collection and processing of seismic data. Knowledge in one or more geophysical techniques such as multicomponent seismic or AVO modeling would be an additional strength as well as data knowledge within Windows, Unix or Linux operational systems. The applicant must present a short description outlining his/hers interest in and academic basis of the PhD project.

Emphasis shall also be attached to personal suitability.

Working conditions

The normal period of employment is four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year, distributed as 25 % of each year, shall be used for teaching or other duties for the university, cf., directive for research fellow duties (in Norwegian only).

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

Remuneration for the position of PhD Candidate is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017 (or code 1378) (or both codes depending on qualifications). A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

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
• Other academic works

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. Information and material to be considered during the assessment must be submitted by the stipulated deadline.

The applicants who are assessed as the best qualified may be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things aim to clarify the applicant's personal suitability for the position.

Application

The application must be submitted electronically via the application form available at:http://www.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=84379

Note, however, that it is not possible to send attachments via jobbnorge.no

In addition, by the application deadline, four (4) copies of the following shall be sent directly to Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tromsø, NO-9037 Tromsø:

• Letter of application
• CV (containing a complete overview of education, supervised professional training and professional work)
• Certified* copies of:
• diploma and transcript from your Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• diploma and transcript from your Master's degree or equivalent
• diploma supplement for completed degrees
• documentation of English language proficiency
• references
• list of works and description of these (see below)

The list of works shall contain the following information:

• author(s), the work's title
• for articles: the journal's name and volume, the first and last page of the article, year of publication
• for publications: publisher, printer, year of publication, number of pages

The works (published or unpublished) which the applicant wishes to be taken into consideration during the assessment process must be submitted in three (3) copies arranged as three (3) complete sets.

The works are to be sent by the deadline for applications directly to: Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tromsø, NO-9037 Tromsø.

Applicants shall also refer to the Supplementary regulations for appointment to postdoktor (Postdoctoral Research Rellow), stipendiat (PhD) and vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant) positions at the University of Tromsøand to the Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for posts of postdoktor (Postdoctoral Research Fellow), stipendiat (PhD), vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant) and spesialistkandidat (Resident).

Questions concerning the organisation of the working environment, such as the physical state of the place of employment, health service, possibility for flexible working hours, part time, etc. as well as questions about the PhD programme may be directed to the telephone reference in this announcement.

The University of Tromsø has HR policy objectives that emphasize diversity, and therefore encourages qualified applicants to apply regardless of their gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background.

The University of Tromsø is an IW (Inclusive Workplace) enterprise, and will therefore emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.

Personal data given in an application or CV will be processed in accordance with the Act relating to the processing of personal data (the Personal Data Act). In accordance with Section 25 subsection 2 of the Freedom of Information Act, the applicant may request not to be registered on the public list of applicants. However, the University may nevertheless decide that the name of the applicant will be made public. The applicant will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.