PhD Research Fellow in Deep learning for imaging

About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in machine learning available at Department for Informatics with the research group Digital Signal Processing and Image Analysis as part of Visual Intelligence , Norway’s leading research centre in deep learning for image analysis.

Starting date as soon as possible. 

The fellowship period is three years. A fourth year maybe considered and it will involve 25 percent of other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, 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 PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. 

Job description

You are keen on contributing to new advances in deep learning methodology for earth observation. You will work on deep learning methods for detection of oil spills in the ocean based on satellite imagery. A key focus will be to develop oil spill segmentation approach based on optical sensors, and how this can be integrated with SAR sensors, current satellite imagery, previous observations in the area, weather parameters like wind speed and direction, and prior knowledge about the way oil spills and natural phenomena in the ocean can appear given the observed data. The models can build on recent research results in foundational neural network models.

The work will be done in collaboration with Kongsberg Satellite Services in Tromsø. The position is located in Oslo, but regular visits to Tromsø are expected.

Your interests are in neural networks research and environmental monitoring. You have a strong motivation to both contribute to new methods in neural networks, and to develop models suited to monitoring the marine environment.

The position is in the Digital Signal Processing and Image Analysis (DSB) research group, Section for Machine Learning, Department of Informatics. For more information about the position, see:
Open posititions at Visual Intelligence

You will be part of Visual Intelligence and the DSB research group. We expect that you will engage in collaborative research with other members of the centre and the research group. You will collaborate with user partners within Visual Intelligence, to contribute to the centre’s seminars, to collaborate across innovations areas within the centre, and to seek collaboration between the research partners within the centre. You will be part of a network of young researchers in deep learning in the Visual Intelligence Graduate School. 

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.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in machine learning or equivalent fields. A background in computer science/physics/statistics/applied mathematics/electrical engineering can also be considered given that the candidate has formal competence in machine learning and/or image analysis/computer vision
• A solid and documented background in machine learning, mathematics, linear algebra, and/or statistics
• Documented knowledge and experience in Python programming
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system

Candidates without a master’s degree have until December 2025 to complete the final exam.

• Solid experience with deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent or collaborative research 

• 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

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see:
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

Note that for this position a national security clearance is required.

What are we looking for in you?

• Solid analytical skills  
• Dedication to work with important applications
• Ability to lead and conduct research in a collaborative environment
• Ability to work independently as well as in multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to give and receive constructive scientific criticism

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

• 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 

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

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.

We hope that you will apply for the position.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. 

How to apply

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records
• Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
• 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 the position".

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 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.