PhD position at the Department of Geography

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PhD position

There is a vacancy for a PhD position in System Dynamics at the Department of Geography. The position is within the project INTEGRATOR and for a fixed-term period of 3 years. Starting date is latest 1 April 2027.

System Dynamics Group at the Department of Geography

The System Dynamics group carries out research in several areas. The most important areas are: sustainability transitions, natural resources management, water-energy-food-ecosystems (WEFE) nexus, and model-based learning and communication. The group makes use of a variety of tools and techniques: stakeholder mapping, governance analysis, participatory modeling, non-linear feedback modeling, computer simulation, non-linear model analysis, interactive learning environments and decision-laboratory experiments.

About the project/work tasks:

Description of the INTEGRATOR project

The position is within the EU Horizon Europe project ‘Integrated Innovation Ecosystems for Transformative Nexus Governance towards Enhanced Water Resilience (INTEGRATOR)’. The overarching project objective is to strengthen Europe’s climate-resilient and fair water management by enabling anticipatory, evidence-based decision making at river basin scale under changing climatic and socio-economic conditions, directly supporting the implementation of the EU water strategy. Specific objectives of INTEGRATOR pertaining to this call include: (1) promoting system-wide transformation in water governance and management to strengthen resilience, preparedness, and fair allocation; (2) establishing site-specific, stakeholder-led strategies; (3) creating seasonal and long-term foresight by developing and coupling a suite of models, including data-driven, process-based, and system-dynamics approaches; (4) delivering a digital water intelligence system orchestrated by a prompt compiler translating human language into executable simulations.

INTEGRATOR is built on six case studies in Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Spain and Türkiye with various socio-economic, sectoral development, land use, water quality and water quantity challenges. Among these case studies, two of them are particularly relevant to this call: (1) Ergene River Basin (Türkiye), a 17K km2 watershed and a major industrial and agricultural hub with 2M inhabitants, facing severe pressure on groundwater resources, water quality and allocation. (2) Jucar River Basin – Albufera system in Spain, a highly interconnected river-water-coastal continuum centered on the 210 km2 Albufera Natural Park with high ecological value, facing pressures from intensive irrigated agriculture, and urban and industrial development.

Responsibilities following the position:

The research fellow will use participatory system dynamics modelling and computer simulations to support INTEGRATOR in all work packages (abbreviated as WP), with a concentrated focus on two WPs: WP3 (Participatory Co-Design for Resilient and Equitable Water Solutions using a Decision Theatre Approach) is going to strengthen inclusive and transformational governance through structured participatory process in the INTEGRATOR’s Decision Theatres (DTs). More specifically, WP3 will deal with stakeholder mapping, problem co-definition, participatory scenario analysis and policy exploration embedded in INTEGRATOR’s Decision Theatres Approach (DTA). WP6 (Digital Water Intelligence System and the HydroFellow) is going to provide a Digital Water Intelligence System (DWIS) and a prompt compiler, integrating multisource information, including models and model generated data. More specifically, WP6 will work on integrated hydrological and system dynamics modeling, site-specific digital twin development and integration, and the prompt compiler HydroFellow development through interaction with the DTs. The research fellow will be working on the Ergene and Albufera case studies to fundamentally support the activities under WP3 and WP6 through systems thinking, dynamic systems modeling and computer simulations.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a master’s degree in System Dynamics or another discipline with a strong system, modeling and simulation focus. The master’s degree must have been completed by the application deadline.
• The requirements are generally a grade B or better on the Master thesis and for the master’s degree in total.
• Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in socio-economic-hydrological scenario building; experience in participatory model-building is desirable.
• Applicants must have strong quantitative and computational foundations.
• Teaching assistance experience in the field of System Dynamics will be considered an advantage.
• The applicant must be proficient in both written and oral English. Proficiency in Spanish and/or Turkish languages will be considered an advantage.
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner.
• Applicants should have experience of working as a member of a multidisciplinary and multicultural research team and demonstrate good collaborative skills.
• Experience in interdisciplinary working, linking social/economic and environmental sciences, is desirable.
• Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates.
• The place of work for this position is Bergen, and the work requires that you are physically present at the Department of Geography on a daily basis.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. 

About the PhD position:

The duration of the PhD position is 3 years. 

About the PhD training:

As a PhD research fellow, you will take part in the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, UiB. The programme corresponds to a period of three years and leads to the PhD degree. To be eligible for admission you must normally have an educational background corresponding to a master’s degree with a scope of 120 ECTS credits, which builds on a bachelor’s degree with a scope of 180 ECTS credits (normally 2 + 3 years), or an integrated master’s degree with a scope of 300 ECTS credits (5 years). Master’s degrees must normally include an independent work of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits. It is expected that the topic of the master’s degree is connected to the academic field to which you are seeking admission.

We can offer:

• Salary as PhD (code 1017) NOK 593 700,- per year. Automatic salary increases for up to 3 years with a 3% annual increase 
• A good and professionally challenging working environment
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Project proposal:

A research proposal of maximum 2500 words (excluding reference list) must accompany the application. The project description should present the topic, the research questions(s) and choice of theory and methods. It should also include a progress plan for the different parts of the project. The research proposal must also include a short description of how the applicant envisions a fit with the INTEGRATOR project. Admittance to the PhD programme will be based on the research proposal. The faculty has prepared a guide for writing project descriptions.

Your application must include:

• A cover letter including a brief account of your research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of them must be the main advisor for the master's thesis or equivalent thesis
• Project proposal
• CV
• Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor's and master's degrees.
• Relevant certificates/references
• A list of academic publications
• Academic publications that you want to submit for assessment (including your master’s thesis or equivalent)
• If you have a master's degree from an institution outside of the Nordic countries, or a 2-year discipline- based master's degree (or the equivalent) in a subject area other than the one associated with the application, you may later in the application process be asked to submit an overview of the syllabus for the degree you have completed

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge following the link on this page marked “Apply for this job”.

Closing date: November 1, 2026.

Applications submitted without a project proposal or applications sent as e-mails will not be considered. Only submitted documents will be subjected to an expert assessment.

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting Professor Ali K. Saysel, ali.saysel@uib.no.

Practical questions regarding the application procedures, please contact the HR section at: personal.svfa@uib.no. 

Appointed research fellows will be admitted to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Questions about the programme may be directed to Adviser Elina Troscenko, elina.troscenko@uib.no

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrtp6VxMeJ4&index=2&list=PLf8ZIYfAO0qjhROTj6SthDbSScg0lSO6G