About the position

TThe Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences has a vacancy for a temporary 100 % position as PhD Research Fellow in CO2 capture from November 1st, 2025, or by agreement.

The position is at the Department of Process, Energy and Environmental Technology and reports to the Head of Department. The place of employment is Porsgrunn.

The employment period will be three years of full time with no teaching obligations, and there is a premise for employment that the PhD Research Fellow is enrolled in USN’s PhD-program in Technology within three months of accession in the position.

About the PhD-project

The build-up of CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere is recognized as the single most important environmental challenge to the global society. All climate change mitigation plans depend on CO2 capture, sequestration and storage (CCS) as the ‘immediate response’ technology.

Gas-liquid absorption processes are expected to be the CO2 capture technology for early large-scale deployment. A detailed understanding of the CO2 capture solvent is therefore necessary to ensure development and application of an optimal technology.

The focus of this PhD-project is the development of a reliable analytical technique for liquid phase on-line quantitative analysis of the chemical composition of CO2 capture solvents. In addition, in-service solvent stability is another central issue. Important aspects are:

extending the method application area, i.e. satisfy solvent management information needs
self-adaptive multivariate calibration of Raman spectra, FT-NIR and FT-IR with focus on quantitative monitoring and prediction of selected ‘lead molecule’ concentrations
good understanding of the chemical species and reactions involved related to spectroscopic information
evaluation of optimal information content in the alternative analytical modalities
evaluation of in-service solvent stability

The work will take place in the CO2 analytical laboratories at USN campus Porsgrunn.

Qualifications

Required selection criteria

you must have an academically relevant background within chemical processing or equivalent
you must have a master’s degree (M.Sc.) in analytical and/or physical chemistry, including knowledge in organic chemistry and spectroscopy
your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students are welcome to apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position, and no later than August 2025.
you must document a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation.
experience with experimental analytical work is an empowering additional priority
you must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Program in Technology

Preferred selection criteria

interest in applied research with industrial relevance
good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian

Personal characteristics

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

work independently, but also participate in teamwork
work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
present and discuss your research with other professionals
get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions
be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed
have the professional and personal qualifications to complete the doctoral education within the employment period

Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

Documentation of skills in English language

Strong communication skills, and fluency in English language, both orally and in writing,

is a requirement for participation in the doctoral program. International applicants must document this with a valid certificate from one of the following tests:

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum result: 90
IELTS – International English Language Testing Service. Minimum result: 6.5
Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from Cambridge University
PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic. Minimum result: 62

The following applicants are exempt from the above requirements:

applicants with one year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States
applicants with a completed master's degree with English as the language of instruction in an EU/EEA country

Research proposal

Applicants are required to submit a tentative research proposal with the application. The project description shall be brief and concise, maximum 2-4 pages, and contain the following elements:

the topic for the planned PhD research and a research problem (area),
relevant theory and a preliminary plan for data collection (source, methods and statistics)
an account of expected outcome, preferably with verifiable hypotheses
a time schedule
list of partners, participation in meetings and conferences etc.
reference list (maximum 25 references)

We offer

an exciting job with an important mission for society
a stimulating and growing research environment, with good opportunities to develop your career and your academic skills
an open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
attractive welfare benefits in the State Pension Plan
opportunity for physical activities within working hours

Salary

PhD Research Fellow (code 1017): NOK 550 800 a year. Further promotion will be based on time served in the position.

A statutory contribution to the state pension plan will be deducted from the employee’s salary.

Other information

The Academic Appointments Board for PhD Research Fellowships is responsible for the appointment. An expert assessment of applicants will be carried out. The candidates deemed best qualified will be invited to an interview.

The person appointed must comply with the laws, regulations and agreements that apply at any given time to the post. Please note that approved work permit is a prerequisite for the employment.

According to its human resources policy, the University of South-Eastern Norway targets a balanced gender composition and aims to recruit persons with a background as an immigrant.

The University contributes to the Inkluderingsdugnaden (a voluntary scheme to promote inclusion), and it is our aim that our employees, to the fullest extent possible, shall reflect the diversity of the general population. We therefore encourage qualified applicants with disabilities to apply for the post. The University will facilitate the workplace for employees with disabilities.

Pursuant to section 25, 2nd paragraph of the Freedom of Information Act, information on the applicant may be disclosed even if the applicant has requested not be included on the list of applicants. Applicants will be notified if such requests are not allowed.

License or security clearance requirements

Employment in this position requires a license under the Export Control Act and the Export Control Regulations. Applicants must therefore state their citizenship and the citizenship of any spouse/partner in the application. Citizenship must also be documented, for example by attaching a copy of their passport.

Applicants who hold citizenship in countries that make it likely that a license will not be granted, may be excluded from the further application process. The same applies to applicants who have a spouse/partner with citizenship in such countries, or where it is likely that a license will not be granted for other reasons.

Contact information

For more information about the position, please contact:

Assoc. Prof. Kjell-Arne Solli, telephone +47 35 57 52 16, e-mail: kjell-arne.solli@usn.no
Prof. Maths Halstensen, telephone: +47 35 57 51 87, e-mail: maths.halstensen@usn.no
Prof. Klaus Joachim Jens, telephone: +47 35 57 51 93, e-mail: klaus.j.jens@usn.no

How to apply

The University of South-Eastern Norway makes use of online application management. Applicants to the post must register their application and CV with enclosures online via the Jobbnorge recruitment portal by clicking on the link “Søk stillingen”/Apply for the post.

The following documents shall be attached to the online application:

Transcripts and diplomas of Bachelor's and Master's Degrees (120 ECTS). The diplomas must be in a Scandinavian language or translated to English.
Other relevant certificates (if applicable, must be specified).
A 2-4 page project description and a 1 page motivation letter.
Documentation of English proficiency, see the documentation requirements above.
Any scientific publications and a list of these.
Three references (contact information).

Please note that all documents must be in a Scandinavian language or in English. Any translations must be certified.

If your higher education is from a university outside of Norway, we require it to be recognized by the Norwegian Directorate of Higher Education and Skills. You must apply for the recognition before the application deadline for this position expires. Add a receipt on your application or recognition when applying. The recognition must be sent to us and is a requirement for being hired.

Employment in this position requires a license under the Export Control Act and the Export Control Regulations. Applicants must therefore state their citizenship and the citizenship of any spouse/partner in the application. Citizenship must also be documented, for example by attaching a copy of their passport.

Applicants who hold citizenship in countries that make it likely that a license will not be granted, may be excluded from the further application process. The same applies to applicants who have a spouse/partner with citizenship in such countries, or where it is likely that a license will not be granted for other reasons.

The application will be assessed on the basis of the attached documentation as requested above. Each applicant is responsible for ensuring that the required documentation has been uploaded with the application deadline.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

The University has been awarded a Charter & Code certificate by the European Commission, and is entitled to use the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) logo. The University is also a member of the EURAXESS network, which contributes to good working conditions for mobile researchers.

About us

The University of Southeastern Norway (USN) ranks as the country's fourth largest higher education institution. We are a vibrant community of approximately 18,000 students and 1,900 employees.

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