PhD Research Fellow in Paleontology

About the position

Applications are invited for a 4 year position in a Research Fellowship as a PhD Candidate in invertebrate paleontology to be based at the Natural History Museum, Økern facility, University of Oslo. Project title:
"Earth system events recorded in the Lower Paleozoic of the Oslo Region".

The Oslo Region is a classical area for the study of the Lower Paleozoic (Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian). The literature about the Oslo Region successions is extensive, providing a solid foundation for further research. NHM in Oslo has large collections of fossils and rocks, and field exposures are well known and easily accessible. The PhD candidate will carry out a thorough review of the whole succession in the light of new knowledge about global and regional trends and events, including climate change, evolutionary events (radiations and extinctions), plate tectonics, and changes in geochemical cycles. The project will have a focus on invertebrate paleontology, with new sampling of sections with precise stratigraphic control, supported by chemostratigraphy. New work in the Silurian is particularly urgent.

We envisage a PhD project that can combine a broad, modern, cross-disciplinary view of the whole Lower Paleozoic in Norway with detailed field studies to fill in gaps in present knowledge.

The supervision will mainly be done by Prof. Øyvind Hammer, Prof. Jørn H. Hurum, and Assoc. Prof. Kjetil Lysne Voje at the museum. The laboratories, collections and office facilities that will be utilized for this project are located at NHM Økern. Laboratory facilities include fossil preparation (mechanical and chemical), microfocus CT, SEM-EDS, XRD, pXRF, optical microscopy, and 3D surface scanning.

More about the position

The fellowship period is up to 4 years, with 3 years devoted to research education. The position entails a compulsory work load of 25% dedicated to career-enhancing work, which may include curation, teaching and outreach - activities that will help provide valuable skills: It consists of three main parts. 1. Maintenance of the collection database and migration to a new system (museal competence and conservation skills). 2. Teaching parts of GEO 4212 Paleozoology and GEO 3030 Evolution of Life (teaching skills). 3. Participating in extensive outreach activities at the museum (outreach skills). 
Learn more about career support and career-enhancing work available at NHM

The research fellow must take part in the University’s/ Faculty’s/ Department’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.
The fellowship requires admission to the PhD program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD program must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position.
For more information see:
http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/ 
https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/ 

Qualification requirements

Required:
•    Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) in paleontology or an equivalent qualification in paleobiology, minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS, see admission requirements: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc3  

• Excellent written and spoken English skills, see requirements: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8 

Desirable qualifications:
•    Knowledge of mechanical preparation, microscopy and SEM on fossil material.
•    Knowledge in computed X-ray microtomography with segmentation in Avizo.
•    Skills in scientific illustration.
•    Knowledge of a Scandinavian language.

Personal skills

•    Enthusiastic about the subject and a personal drive
•    Likes to work with others to reach a common goal
•    Can also work well independently
•    Can collaborate with people from other subjects
•    Has good communication skills
•    Is structured and systematic
•    Takes initiative and is solution oriented 
•    Attention to detail
•    Flexibility and ability to meet deadlines

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

We offer you

• A professional, stimulating, and international work environment that emphasises diversity and inclusion, and equal opportunities for all researchers regardless of their background.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities
• Good welfare schemes. 
• A strong support system available for PhD candidates, including access to wide-ranging career support for both academic paths and jobs outside academia.
• An attractive start-up package. NHM follows UiO's onboarding programme to ensure a smooth transition for new employees. 
• Support for international staff moving to Norway
• A workplace located in Oslo, a dynamic city that offers a family-friendly environment rich in opportunities for cultural and outdoor activities.
• Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow (position code 1017) in salary range NOK from 550 800 to 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO/NHM

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

How to apply

-    The application must include cover letter with statement of motivation and research interests
-    CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work) copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
-    Documentation of English proficiency if applicable, see: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8 
-    A complete list of publications and academic works
- List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)
-    The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).
-    When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the cover letter and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Shortlisted applicants will be called in for an interview.

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. 

Formal regulations

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

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 cannot, 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 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.