项目介绍

2026年3月19日

PhD position

There is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow in isotope based paleoclimatology at the Department of Earth Science and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research. The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years with the possibility of a 4th year with career-promoting work (e.g. teaching at the Department). The position is funded by the University of Bergen.

About the project/work tasks:

Geochemical analysis of sediments, fluids, and fossil remains provides a unique window into past climate variability. The facility for advanced isotopic research and monitoring of weather, climate, and biogeochemical cycling (FARLAB) is developing new isotopic approaches to study past and current climate, weather, ocean circulation, and the carbon cycle. We are seeking a candidate to aid in the development of these approaches and apply them to advance our understanding of outstanding questions in the field of past climate variability, with a focus on abrupt changes in Atlantic ocean circulation and their causes and consequences.  Advances are being made on several fronts allowing some freedom for the study to be tailored to reflect the candidate’s interests and strengths. One key focus area will be the refinement and application of micro-analytical capabilities for oxygen and carbon isotope analysis on carbonates. This development can be used to fill critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of past climate and ocean circulation which have limited our ability to resolve how the ocean and climate are coupled and generate variability. Likewise, this method can be used to constrain how ocean ventilation varies on very short timescales, how intra- and interannual climate variability can be altered as the world warms into a greenhouse state, and how the hydrological cycle and ice sheet stability might be altered under such conditions. The exact application of the new methods will be co-designed with the candidate to best match their research interests. 

As a PhD-candidate at the Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, you will also be affiliated with the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (BCCR). BCCR is the largest climate research centre in the Nordic countries and among the leading centres in Europe. Research and PhD students are encouraged to enroll in the “Norwegian research school for Climate-informed Innovation and Decision-Making“, offering career development courses and many networking opportunities. 

Work tasks

• Contributing to the refinement of micro-analytical stable isotope approaches and other system developments at FARLAB (done as a collaborative effort in the group with help of engineers and technicians).
• Preparing samples for analysis (including wet-sieving sediment samples, picking foraminifera under a microscope, cleaning, and weighing)
• Scientific data analysis and interpretation, also possibly in collaboration with climate modelers. 
• The project may also involve field work (cruises/expeditions) to gather sample material and isotope data. 

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent education in Earth Science or a related discipline or must have submitted his/her master’s thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline.  It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
• Experience with paleoclimate or paleoceanography theory and/or methods is an advantage.
• Hands-on experience in geochemistry, preferably stable isotope geochemistry, is an advantage. 
• Hands-on experience with mass spectrometers and related peripherals, including maintenance or method development, is an advantage.   
• Good knowledge of data processing software is an advantage.
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner, and demonstrate both initiative and good collaborative skills.
• Applicants must have good written and oral English skills 

Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Research experience, ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates. 

About the PhD position:

About the PhD Research Fellow position 

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the head of department upon appointment. If a 4th year is granted, one year of career-promoting work associated with teaching, dissemination or research infrastructure/services, will be distributed over the full employment period and thus corresponding to 25 per cent of the time each year. 

The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a qualifying post (e.g. research fellow, research assistant).

About the research training

As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Science and Technology is 2 months after you start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that you satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen. 

We can offer:

• a good and professionally challenging working environment. 
• salary as PhD research fellow (code 1017) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 568 700. Further increases in salary are made according to length of service in the position.
• enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• good welfare benefits.

Your application must include:

• a letter briefly outlining the applicant’s motivation together with a short proposal stating their research interests for the position (total 1-3 pages). 
• a detailed justification of your qualifications in relation to the listed requirements, explaining how you meet each criterion. Additionally, you should address the “advantages” mentioned above, as these will be taken into account when ranking the candidates.   
• the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent.  
• CV
• 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 that the master’s thesis has been submitted.
• relevant certificates/references
• approved documentation of proficiency in English (if required, cf. English language requirements for PhD admission) 
• a list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list with links)

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.