PhD Research Fellow position in Mathematics

About the position

We invite applications for a PhD Research Fellow position in Mathematics, available at the Department of Mathematics, as part of QSTAR – Centre for quantum computing and applications.

Starting date as soon as possible and no later than 01.04.2027.

The fellowship period is three years.

A fourth year may be considered, and it will involve 25 % of other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualifications 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 Department of Mathematics/QSTAR at Blindern, Oslo.

Job description

The position is affiliated with QSTAR – Centre for Quantum Computing and Applications, a centre that recently was granted funding from the Research Council of Norway for a period of 5 years. The centre is a collaboration between researchers at Norwegian universities and research institutes (UiO, NTNU, OsloMet, SINTEF, Simula Research Laboratory), researchers in Denmark (University of Copenhagen) and in Sweden (RISE). The research of the centre is organised in four main work packages. The position is advertised within work package 1 “Fault-tolerance and error correction”. More specifically, the successful candidate will work on theoretical questions in one of the following two projects.

The first project studies questions in the fields of quantum groups and tensor categories, with a particular focus on possible applications to fault-tolerant quantum computation through the paradigm of topological quantum computation. We also aim to develop and extend connections between these fields and quantum information science in a broad sense, beyond fault-tolerance.

The second project is concerned with employing methods of group theory, representation theory and operator algebras to construct new families of quantum codes with improved performance and novel features. Another core task in the second project will be to study various families of quantum channels from the perspective of quantifying noise.

The PhD Fellow will join the Operator Algebra group in Section 6 at the Department of Mathematics, where the work will be conducted in close collaboration with other members of the QSTAR project.

The PhD Fellow will:

• Look for application of the theory of tensor category and quantum groups to problems related to topological quantum computation.
• Look for connections between quantum information theory and noncommutative geometry through studying quantum channels as noise models.
• Work in close collaboration with researchers in operator algebras and quantum information theory.
• Join a research group with broad expertise in mathematics, quantum chemistry, and theoretical physics.

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 Mathematics or Physics. Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Relevant experience in operator algebras, representation theory, or quantum information theory
• For applicants with an MSc in Physics, a solid mathematical component in their education is required.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

Candidates without a master’s degree have until 31.03.2027 to complete the final exam.

Desired qualifications:

• Documented, sound knowledge of one or more of the following topics: C*-algebras, noncommutative geometry, representation theory and its applications to quantum groups, quantum field theory, quantum information theory
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in a Scandinavian language

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

For more information see:The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. 

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work precise in a structured manner and swiftly adapts to new tasks
• Good communication and collaboration skills
• Positive attitude and the ability to handle hectic periods

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

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• 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, summarizing scientific work and research interest) of maximum length 2 A4 pages.
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records
• Letters of recommendation: these are not to be submitted with the application, but may be requested later during the evaluation process
• Documentation of English Language requirements. The appointed candidate cannot start in the position until approved documentation of English language proficiency has been submitted.
• 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 be 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.