Job description

One or two positions as PhD Research Fellow in Mechanics are available at the Mechanics Division at the Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo.

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

Latest starting date September 1, 2025.

The fellowship period is 3 years.

PhD Research Fellowship available at the Department of Mathematics in the research group of Prof. Andreas Carlson at the University of Oslo (UiO). The position is part of the TWIST project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) for optimizing droplet transport on twisted fibers.

The project will provide a fundamental understanding of the physical processes at play as droplets wet and spread onto twisted fiber structures. Essential to the project is developing a new understanding of the capillary flow and wetting in grooves. The PhD research fellow will develop experiments or numerical simulations of the droplet flow on twisted fibers.

The project has the ambition to understand how we can optimize capillary flows on twisted fibers to help improve the fog net technology. A fog net is a low cost, efficient and simple technology for harvesting water from the atmosphere. The project provides opportunities to collaborate with both national and international collaborators, as well as helping develop the fog harvesting technology.

The PhD student will: 

• Develop experiments or numerical simulations of droplets on twisted fibers and measure the flow.
• Be directly involved in integrating experiments and computational predictions in the research team.
• Develop independence and be self-driven to advance with their research project.
• Work in an interdisciplinary team with expertise in mechanics, complex fluids, physics and biophysics and sustainability thinking.
• Follow our PhD program that include an educational component.

This is the right position if you are highly motivated about fundamental science and excited about questions related to fluid flows, droplets, wetting and interfacial fluid mechanics. The PhD research fellow will join an international and interdisciplinary research group lead by Prof. Andreas Carlson.

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 Master’s degree or equivalent in mechanics, fluid mechanics, physics or applied mathematics
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (English)
• A strong theoretical educational background in mathematics, continuum mechanics and fluid mechanics
• Good social and collaboration skills, as well as the ability to work independently
• Earlier involvement in research projects in fluid mechanics or droplets will also be considered positively, as well as experience with programming or experiments

Candidates without a master’s degree have until 1st of July 2025 to complete the final exam.

Personal skills:

• Self-driven and highly motivated about fundamental science
• Very good communication and collaboration skills
• Want to contribute to good social environment at the workplace 
• Pro-active, result oriented and high performance capabilities

Grade requirements:

• 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

Language requirements:

Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/EEA/EFTA countries and exemptions from the requirements:

https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8

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/

We offer

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a vibrant international academic environment.
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities.
• 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.
• Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK 536 200 – 575 400, 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

The application must include:

• A brief cover letter including a description of scientific interests and the motivation for applying for the position
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of educational certificates and transcript of records 
• Documentation of English proficiency if needed (please see admission criteria)
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

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 original transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Foreign applicants should attach an official explanation of their University's grading system.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “Apply for this job”). 

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.

Contact persons

For further information please contact: Professor Andreas Carlson, phone: +47 22857223, e-mail: acarlson@math.uio.no, web: https://acarlson-uio.github.io 

For questions regarding Jobbnorge, please contact HR Adviser Ole Rustad,  e-mail: ole.rustad@mn.uio.no