PhD Research Fellow in Data Assimilation and Uncertainty Quantification

About the position

We have a full-time cross-disciplinary PhD position available in the fields of Applied Mathematics, Statistics and Geosciences at the Energy department of NORCE Research in Bergen, Norway.

The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years at the Bergen office of NORCE. You will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences of our collaboration partner, the University of Stavanger (UoS).

The position is funded within the project “SURF: “Subsurface Understanding for Robust emissions Forecasting”. SURF is funded by the Research Council of Norway and industry partners.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to strengthen our enthusiastic research group, Data Assimilation and Optimization, working at the forefront of ensemble-based data assimilation methodology, optimization under uncertainty and decision support through combining observed data and mathematical models.

The position is available from 19.08.2026 and we expect that the candidate can start the position no later than 01.01.2027.

Project background and work tasks

Subsurface understanding is crucial for petroleum production, CO2 storage, and geothermal energy. Reliable forecasts regarding the process in question are key to making sound decisions. The subsurface is highly complex, and insufficient subsurface understanding is the main obstacle for obtaining reliable forecasts. Assimilating observed data into mathematical process models improves their ability to provide reliable forecasts and to quantify uncertainty in such forecasts. It is, however, very challenging to account for all relevant uncertainties, both with respect to choice of methodology and with respect to computational complexity.

The primary objective of SURF is to develop the tools for a robust history-matching workflow capable of providing better subsurface understanding, uncertainty quantification, and robust forecasts suitable for emissions reduction, increased energy efficiency, and recovery improvements with large amounts of data.

This position is primarily dedicated to improving methods within data assimilation and uncertainty quantification; research fields also relevant outside subsurface applications such as weather forecasting and climate modeling. The focus areas will be on methodology improvements with respect to quality and reliability, and with respect to computational feasibility for large-scale problems, and the emphasis can to some degree be influenced by the interests of the candidate.

The project is a collaboration between NORCE, UoS and Freie Universität Berlin, Germany (FUB), and a shorter research stay there could be a possibility. The candidate will have the opportunity to attend international conferences and to communicate research results to industry partners.

About the research training

As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational program for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. Courses necessary for the fulfillment of the PhD degree can be followed both at the UoS and at the University of Bergen.

The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD program at the Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences of UoS is 3 months after you start your research project that will lead to the PhD degree.

It is necessary that you satisfy the enrollment requirement for the PhD program at the UoS. More about the PhD education at UoS can be found here PhD Programme in Science and Technology | University of Stavanger

The principal supervisor for this PhD position will be Kjersti Solberg Eikrem(NORCE), while Pål Østebø Andersen (UoS) and Trond Mannseth (NORCE) will be co-supervisors.

Your profile, qualifications and skills

Applicants should hold an MSc degree or equivalent education, preferably in mathematics or statistics. Candidates with a degree in physics, computational engineering, or reservoir engineering with very good skills and interest in mathematics and statistics are also welcome to apply.

In case your MSc degree has not been awarded by application deadline, it must be awarded in 2026. To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programs at the UoS, both the grade for your master’s thesis and the weighted average grade of your master’s degree must individually be equivalent to or better than a B grade.

Applicants with an education from an institution with a different grade scale than A-F, and/or with other types of credits than sp/ECTS, must attach a confirmed conversion scale that shows how the grades can be compared with the Norwegian A-F scale and a Diploma Supplement or similar that explains the scope of the subjects that are included in the education. You can use these conversion scales Conversion of results_0.pdf to calculate your points for admission.

Applicants are expected to have:

• Good programming skills, preferably in Python
• Ability to develop and implement computational methods
• Ability to work independently and in a structured manner
• Good collaborative skills

In addition, a good proficiency in English is required for anyone attending the PhD program. International applicants must document this with a valid test certificate from one of the following tests:

• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum result: 90
• IELTS – International English Language Testing Service. Minimum result: 6.5
• Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge
• PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic. Minimum result: 62

The following applicants are exempt from the above test requirements:

• Applicants with one year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA
• Applicants with a completed bachelor’s and / or master’s degrees taught in English in a EU/EEA country
• Applicants who are exempt based on HK-dir’s GSU list Higher Education Entrance Qualification (GSU) | HK-dir

For the right candidate we offer:

• Exciting scientific tasks and good colleagues in an internationally leading and recognized professional environment.
• Collaboration with academic staff and students at universities and colleges involved in the project.
• Flexible working hours arrangements and good pension and insurance schemes.
• Opportunity to interact with industrial partners and solve their challenges.

The annual gross starting salary is NOK 570,000 in a full-time position.

Applications should be submitted electronically by clicking "Apply for the position."

Your application must include

• Curriculum vitae
• A cover letter outlining your motivation for applying for this position (max. 1 page)
• A summary/abstract of your MSc thesis (max. 1 page)
• Names and contact information of at least two references. One of these should be the main advisor for the master's thesis or equivalent thesis.
• Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not yet completed your master's degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the master's thesis submission time.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Dr Kjersti Solberg Eikrem (kjei@norceresearch.no). For more information about NORCE please refer to www.norceresearch.no.

Place of work: Nygårdsgaten 112, 5008 Bergen, Norway.

At NORCE, we are committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for available positions regardless of gender, age, disability, or ethnic background.

Candidates are expected to openly offer relevant information about themselves during the recruitment process. Furthermore, one can expect background checks to be conducted on candidates in the final phase of the recruitment process. NORCE uses external actors to carry out such background checks or security interviews.