PhD Research Fellow in Heterogeneous Catalysis

About the position

We invite applications for a PhD Research Fellow position in Chemistry is available at the Department of Chemistry, Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology.

Starting date no later than October 1, 2026.

The fellowship period is three years.

A fourth year maybe considered and it will involve 25 percent of other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

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

Place of work is the Department of Chemistry, Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology at Blindern/Gaustad, Oslo.

Job description

The transition from a fossils-based to a circular production of consumer goods requires the development of new chemical processes, especially for the energy-efficient and sustainable conversion of carbon-containing biomass, biogas, and CO2 into higher value products. Heterogeneous catalysis is the key technology and scientific subject to enable urgently needed breakthroughs towards sustainable chemical production.  

In this position, the candidate will contribute to advancing the fundamental science of catalysis by applying cutting-edge methods to industrially relevant reactions. 

The candidate will: 

• Conduct catalytic experiments using advanced transient methods based on mass-spectrometry and surface spectroscopy
• Develop mathematical models to interpret these data in terms of molecular reaction mechanisms 
• Engage in regular internal meetings, seminars, and journal clubs
• Engage in international collaborations 
• Participate in experiments at synchrotron facilities 
• Present their work at international conferences
• Help with routine maintenance of experimental facilities
• Communicate scientific findings in peer-reviewed publications

The Section of Catalysis and Organic Chemistry, in general, studies the correlation between catalyst composition/structure and their effects on chemical reactions. The section has approximately 35 members, subdivided into several groups, depending on the type of catalytic systems under study, various aspects of the subject (e.g. synthesis, characterization, or reaction studies) and/or methodology (e.g. experiments vs. theory). This position will be closely integrated with researchers and engineers who develop, support, and/or execute experiments in catalytic reactors and spectroscopic cells.

As a valued member of our section, the candidate will be integrated within a vibrant social and intellectual environment which brings exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth. Our team values cultural diversity, informal interactions like daily communal lunch breaks, and strives to support each other in all aspects of the academic experience. Game nights, social gatherings, cultural events, and yearly parties both within the group and the Centre make the Section a fun and memorable place to work.

The Section for Catalysis and Organic Chemistry is part of the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) - an interdisciplinary collaboration between five research fields in physics and chemistry, which spearheads the MN Faculty's efforts for sustainable energy solutions. The Centre comprises UiO’s focus on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnology.

Starting in Summer 2026, the Section will be located in a brand new Life Science Building – a state-of-the-art research facility designed to maximize productivity and comfort of our employees. The building is well connected to the rest of the campus and public transport.

What skills are important in this role?

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.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Applied Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or a closely related field
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• For 4-year position: sufficient oral and written communication skills in a Scandinavian language to contribute to teaching at the department’s bachelor courses

Candidates without a master’s degree have until June 30, 2026 to complete the final exam.

Desired qualifications:

• Prior hands-on experience with vacuum equipment, mass-spectrometry, catalytic reactors and/or gas-flow systems, and surface spectroscopy is highly beneficial
• Experience with and knowledge of mathematical modeling techniques (numerical solution of Partial Differential Equations)
• Programming and data analysis in Python
   

Language requirement:

• Good oral and written communication skills in English
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:
  https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8

Grade requirements:
The norm is as follows:

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see:
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

• Ability to work effectively within a diverse group of researchers
• Ability to balance self-reliance and independence with the ability to follow-up on the tasks delegated by the supervisor
• Good communication and collaboration skills
• Motivation to become an independent researcher and clear career goals
• Readiness to travel internationally for scientific missions and research stays abroad

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.

We can offer you

• A pleasant and stimulating work environment
• Good welfare schemes
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities
• Career development programmes
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
• Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund 

We need different perspectives in our work

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues, could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. 

We hope you will apply for the position with us.

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• For 4-year position: include description of which bachelor courses you can or have experience with teaching, or other courses (all levels). Describe you’re your experience with work related to dissemination, recruitment, and associations.
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records
• Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
• List of publications and academic work 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)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job". Foreign applicants should attach an official explanation of their University's grading system.

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.  

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.