Researcher at Tromsø Geophysical Observatory

 The position

A position as Researcher with a doctoral degree, code 1109, is available at Tromsø Geophysical Observatory within the field of geomagnetism. 

Tromsø Geophysical Observatory (TGO), a unit under the Faculty of Science and Technology at UiT the Arctic University of Norway,  seeks a scientist within the field of geomagnetism to work on quality control related to geomagnetic observations, research on external magnetic field topics and acquisition of external funding. The candidate will work closely with the observatory leader and overall staff. The position will have limited academic freedom in order to function within the framework of the overall strategic direction of TGO. 

The position will initially be funded through income that TGO receives from provision of geomagnetic data and services in relation to offshore activities along the Norwegian coast. The candidate will be responsible for this activity including following up the external partners and maintaining funding.  In addition it is expected that the candidate also will be working independently to increase the external funding to TGO through participation in international projects and programs such as SWARM Disc or the ESA Space Safety Program, the Norwegian or European Research Councils. 

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position in Tromsø within 6 months after receiving the offer.

Tromsø Geophysical Observatory

TGO is a unit under the Faculty of Science and Technology at UiT the Arctic University of Norway. TGO’s main responsibility is to maintain long time series of geomagnetic, ionospheric and upper atmosphere observations from Norway including Svalbard. These are time series that stretches more than a hundred years backwards in time. The responsibility has its origin from the incorporation of the Auroral Observatory into the University of Tromsø in 1972.  

TGO maintains 18 magnetometer stations across Norway and Svalbard, also including the Troll station in Antarctica and Jan Mayen, as well as a wide range of passive and active radio instruments for investigations of the upper atmosphere. Research by means of data generated by TGO instruments is considered important in order to maintain high scientific quality of our observations, and TGO staff is actively working in the local and international science community. TGO also has a wide contact with industry as well as governmental bodies and delivers space weather forecasts and real-time services. 

TGO is responsible for Ramfjordmoen Research Station and Skibotn Observatory where a wide range of guest instruments are hosted. TGO is also responsible for the EISCAT staff in Norway.

The position’s field of research or work

The position will be part of TGO’s core activities, and it is expected that the successful candidate will work closely with the overall staff. Some fieldwork will be expected, and good collaborative skills and qualities are required in order to function at the unit.  

The position will be responsible for provision of services to companies performing directional drilling along the coast and making geomagnetic surveys, including invoicing and relationship building and development.  

The successful candidate will work under supervision of the observatory leader to perform quality control and calibration of magnetometer data. He/she will also be expected to be integrated in the general observatory activity, which includes fieldwork, deployment, and maintenance of magnetometers or other relevant instruments.  

In order to secure the long-term funding of the position it is expected that the researcher will take a leading role applying for continued and new external funding. Funding related to directional drilling activities is expected to cover the position during the first years. Eventually it is expected that other funding sources will take over as the main source, such sources may be Swarmd DISC, ESA space weather program, ERC grants or the Norwegian Research Council. 

The successful candidate needs to be motivated to obtain the necessary language skills to function in a Norwegian speaking environment.

Contact

Further information about the position and UiT is available by contacting Magnar Gullikstad Johnsen, Observatorie leder, Tel: +47 776 46956 E-post: magnar.g.johnsen@uit.no 

Qualifications

The successful candidate will 

• Have a PhD in space physics and/or geomagnetism with focus on external fields 
• Have a deep understanding of why the ionosphere and geomagnetic field is different at high latitudes. 
• A high quality and independent scientific track record, but not necessarily a very long one. 
• Speak and write English fluently 
• Have proven skills within project work and application writing 
• Good programming skills in python 
• Good knowledge of Linux systems and an interest in observational infrastructures and real-time data streams and processing.
• Proficiency in a Scandinavian language equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
  • the position requires proficiency in a Scandinavian language equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). New employees who do not fulfill the language criteria by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language. Arrangements will be made to facilitate the completion of Norwegian courses.

Ideally the candidate will: 

• Already master Norwegian at minimum level B2
• Have knowledge of other programming languages such as pascal, idl and fortran 
• Be able to obtain a security clearance according to the Norwegian Security Act §5-3
• Experience with high latitude observations, auroral physics 
• Broad understanding of Solar wind – Earth interactions 
• Knowledge about space weather 

We will emphasize the applicants motivation for the position and personal suitability.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Good collaboration skills
• Abilities for good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
• Abilities and desires to contribute to a good working environment

To meet the qualification requirements for researcher with a doctoral degree, the following are required: 

• Doctoral degree in a relevant subject area, or competence at an equivalent level documented either by scientific work or artistic work of the same scope and quality 
• Norwegian language skills at level B2 
• Personal suitabilit

At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

UiT wishes to increase the proportion of females in academic positions. In cases where two or more applicants are found to be approximately equally qualified, female applicants will be given priority.

We offer

• Good welfare arrangements for employees
• Good arrangements for pension, insurance and loans in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• If you have to relocate to Tromsø then the Faculty of Science and Technology may reimburse your moving costs. Further details regarding this matter will be made available if you receive an offer from us.

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.

Work- and salary conditions 

The successful candidate must be willing to get involved in the ongoing development of their department and the university as a whole.

The allocation of working hours is flexible and allocated on a case-by-case basis. In general, Researcher  primarily involves research, research-related activities, and research administration.As a norm, the time resources spent on administrative duties constitutes 5 % for academic staff. 

The remuneration for Researcher is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1109.  

As a state employee, you have one of the best pension schemes availiable. For more information see: spk.no.

Application

The application must include: 

• Cover letter including a short description of interests and reasons for applying for the position  
• CV containing a complete overview of education, experience and professional work 
• Diplomas, diploma supplements and transcripts (all degrees, in original language and translated) 
• Letter(s) of recommendation if applicable
• Two references with contact details 
• A list of your academic production 
• Description of your academic production, stating which works you consider most important 
• Academic works, up to ten. The doctoral thesis is regarded as one work. 
• Documentation of English proficiency.  

Proficiency in the English language can be documented in the following ways: 

• Diploma from a Norwegian upper secondary school with both spoken and written English (140 hours) 
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 
• IELTS (International English Testing Service) 
• Completed university degree in the field of English language or literature 
• One year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or USA, for which English was the language of instructions. 

Documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language. The application and submitted documents must be sent electronically via www.jobbnorge.no 

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications on the basis of the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailde description draw up for the position.

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things, aim to clarify the applicants personal suitability for the position and motivations. A trial lecture may also be held.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

More information about moving to Norway and working at UiT: http://uit.no/mobility

​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.

In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.