项目介绍

2026年5月14日

PhD Research Fellow in Automated Catalyst Discovery 

There is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow in automated catalyst discovery at the Department of Chemistry. 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 Department of Chemistry and is also associated with the project Integrated Catalyst Discovery for Biotechnology (iCat4Bio) funded by the Research Council of Norway. 

About the project/work tasks:

The UiB‑led iCat4Bio project is developing an integrated catalyst‑discovery platform that links computational de novo molecular design with robotic and automated synthesis, testing, and data‑driven feedback, building on UiB’s strengths in molecular design and high‑throughput experimentation. 

The PhD student will, by leveraging the new NorHTE facility together with expertise and resources available in iCat4Bio, create advanced automated workflows, including closed-loop discovery cycles, for catalyst assembly and screening. The position is part of an internationally collaborative research effort, with possibilities for short‑term research stays with project partners abroad.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent education in chemistry. Master students can apply provided they complete their final master exam before 31.08.2026. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
• Candidates must document experience with: 
  • synthesis of organic compounds, including experience involving multistep reaction sequences. 
  • synthesis and/or handling of compounds under inert‑atmosphere (e.g., using a glovebox or a Schlenk line).
• It is an advantage to have:
  • documented experience with robotic equipment for high-throughput chemical experimentation.
  • documented experience with homogenous catalysis.
  • documented experience with NMR spectroscopy. 
  • documented experience with other analytical techniques such as IR, MS, GC-MS, and X-ray crystallography. 
  • good proficiency in a Scandinavian language.
• The appointed person must have: 
  • good abilities for critical thinking and writing. 
  • ability to work in a structured and independent manner, and to collaborate with others. 
  • good knowledge of both written and spoken English.

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

Special requirements for the position 
The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications. If necessary, the university will apply for an export license before an offer of employment is made. If UiB has not received a positive response to the export license application within 16 weeks, the position may be offered to another applicant. 

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 stimulating working environment 
• salary as PhD research fellow (code 1017) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK  593 700. 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 brief account of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• 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 thesis 
• 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 the expected date of award of your master’s degree. Your master’s degree must be documented with transcripts and/or diploma before starting in the position.
• 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.