Researcher in fault geomechanics 

About the position

Position as Researcher available at Department of Geosciences

The position is for a period of 2 years.

Starting date is 01.03.2025 but can slightly change after an agreement with the appointed candidate.

Knowledge development in a changing world - Science and technology towards 2030

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Job description/project description:

The applicant will work as part of a large 3 years project recently funded by Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CET partnership) on Unravelling fault properties and behaviour in CO2 geological storage. The project starts in December 2024. This international project includes many international partners: IFPEN (project international coordinator), University of Oslo, ETH Zurich, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, SCCS, UEDIN, Hydrafract, and TRACS international. University of Oslo is the national coordinator for the Norwegian partners including Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Shell Norge, OMV, and AkerBP. 

The project is of strategic relevance for the CCS development in the North Sea as the project aims to close remaining gaps in understanding the dynamic changes of fault zones by providing new experimental results and modelling workflows.

The Norwegian partners would contribute with generating new data on fault geometry and properties, empirical relations and correlations between different fault rock properties, relevant for seal integrity and risk assessment. The appointed candidate will work on fault data from outcrops, experiments and subsurface and partly contribute to the experimental work of this project at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute. 

Qualification requirements:

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.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in geomechanics or relevant topics with a special focus on faults and fractures. 
• Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment. 
• The applicant should document a good experience with experimental and numerical analysis of faulted and/or fractured media, including mechanical properties and fluid and rock interaction.
• The applicant should hold a valid driver license in Europe and be able to do fieldworks. 
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

The following qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

Personal skills:

The following qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

• Being motivated and enthusiastic to perform the research tasks.
• To be able to work in a team and have good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Being focused and at the same time be able to deliver tasks before deadlines.

We offer:

• Salary NOK minimum 575 400 – 720 100 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Researcher (position code 1109)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest).
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity). 
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records and letters of recommendation.
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works 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.)                                                            

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).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations:

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact persons:

For further information about the position please contact: Prof. Anita Torabi, anita.torabi@geo.uio.no

For technical questions regarding the recruitment system please contact: HR-adviser Ørjan Pretorius, orjan.pretorius@mn.uio.no