Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Materials Chemistry Related to Hydrogen Technologies

About the position

Position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow available at the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN), University of Oslo.

Preferred starting date 01.03.2025, and no later than 01.06.2025.

The fellowship period is three (3) years. A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

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

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

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Job description / Project description / Development plan:

We are looking for one Postdoc Research Fellow with qualifications and interest in materials science related to technologies for the production, storage, and use of hydrogen and ammonia.

The work is part of HYDROGENi, a national Norwegian Centre for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME) dedicated to the research and innovations within hydrogen and ammonia crucial for reaching the 2030 and 2050 goals of the Norwegian hydrogen road map. The Centre is coordinated by SINTEF, with the University of Oslo (UiO) as one of the partners. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow is affiliated with Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) and the Department of Chemistry in the research group for Nanostructures and Functional Materials (NAFUMA).

Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) is an interdisciplinary centre, collaboration between five research groups in physics and chemistry, and spearheads the MN Faculty's efforts for sustainable energy solutions. The Centre comprises UiO’s focus on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnology.

The successful candidate is expected to work as part of a team in SMN and the Department of Chemistry, and together with other fellows in the HYDROGENi project.

The overall aim for this Postdoc Research Fellow ship is to improve H-storage capacity and performance of high entropy alloys. These alloys contain many different elements and will be produced by means of arc melting, mechano-chemistry and, potentially, spark plasma sintering (SPS). Such alloys are promising candidate materials for the storage of hydrogen for various technological applications.

The progress of the work will rely on deep understanding based on advanced characterization and feedback into improved materials synthesis. Characterization methods of high relevance are powder X-ray and neutron diffraction as well as Pressure-Composition-Temperature (PCT) analysis.

The Postdoc Research Fellow will chiefly be affiliated with the research group for Nanostructures and Functional Materials (NAFUMA) at UiO and the Department for Hydrogen Technology at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE).

Postdoctoral fellows who are appointed for a period of four years are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency in the course of their fellowship period within the duty component of 25 %.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.
 

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 materials science, inorganic chemistry, metallurgy or equivalent. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defense are eligible for appointment. 
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English. 
• Documented competence within at least one of the following areas:
  • Powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinements
  • Neutron scattering and the PFD method
  • Preparation of alloys (arc melting, SPS or equivalent methods)
  • Hydrogen sorption and desorption studies (PCT studies)
  • Operating SEM-EDX instrumentation
     
• The position's subject area may require licensing under the Norwegian Export Control Act. In order to be considered for the position, it is a pre-requisite that UiO must be able to be granted such license: https://www-int.uio.no/english/for-employees/support/international-cooperation/responsibility/export-control/index.html 

Desired qualifications:

Experience and skills related to collaboration with other fields is valued.

Personal skills:

• Ability to conduct high-quality independent research
• Interpersonal communication skills and strong teamwork ability
• Willingness to collaborate with PhD and/or Master/Bachelor students in a specialty field
• Self-motivation, creativity, genuine curiosity concerning the field of study, work discipline, professional ethics, and ambition
   

We offer:

• Salary NOK 575 400 – 657 300 per year depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (position code 1352)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
Postdoctoral development programmes
• 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, 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:

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months ( thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)

No one can be appointed twice as a Postdoctoral fellow financed with funds from The Research Council of Norway (NFR).

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.

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.

Contact persons:

For further information please contact: Professor Anja Olafsen Sjåstad, phone: +47 228 55848, e-mail: a.o.sjastad@kjemi.uio.no

For questions regarding Jobbnorge, please contact HR Adviser Olga Homlund, e-mail: olgaba@uio.no