项目介绍

2025年4月11日

There is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow in remote sensing and photogrammetry of the cryosphere at the Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Norway. 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 duties at the Department). The position is financed by the SnowAI project through the Akademiaavtalen at UiB.

About the project/work tasks:

The SnowAI project aims to use to produce new high-resolution datasets on snow depth in Western Norway derived from machine learning and radar remote sensing. The successful PhD candidate for this position will work within the scope of the project but will be free to shape their own project related to the impacts of a variable snowpack in Western Norway. Potential topics include quantifying recent changes in glaciers in Western Norway from archival and contemporary aerial datasets as well as Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or modelling the future state of the cryosphere using the Bergen Snow Simulator (BESSI), or combinations of the aforementioned. The results of this work will be used for assessing the impact of variable snowpack conditions on glacier retreat, the hydrological cycle including hazards like flood events, hydropower production, and wild reindeer populations. 

The SnowAI project also includes using low-cost sensors to monitor snowpack properties in real-time, and collecting UAV, geophysical, and in-situ field data, all of which will be used for model calibration and validation purposes. The PhD candidate may participate in these activities if desired, although it is also feasible to complete the PhD as a desk-based study. The candidate will benefit from a diverse supervisory committee from the University of Bergen, the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate and international collaborators in New Zealand, Austria, Germany, and Canada, with the potential option of a research stay at one of these partner institutions.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent education in Earth Science, Geography or Geoscience. Master students can apply provided they complete their final master exam before 01.08.2025. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
• Experience working with intermediate to advanced remote sensing data and methods is a requirement regardless of the project choice.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient technical skills required for their proposed project, for example prior experience in photogrammetry, time-series analysis, or cryospheric modelling.
• Applicants must have good skills in programming (e.g. Python, R, Java Script)
• Experience (for example a master project or internship) working with snow or the cryosphere is a requirement.
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative and communication skills.
• Applicants must be proficient in both written and oral English.

Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. 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.

About the PhD position 

About the PhD Research Fellow

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year, consisting of 25% career-promoting work (e.g. teaching responsibilities at the department) distributed over the employment period. The 4th year is 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. 

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 Mathematics and Natural Sciences 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 540 500.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 (1 page max)
• the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis.
• Short statement detailing the applicants research plan on the PhD topic (2 pages max).
• 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).

General information:

For further details about the position, please contact Associator Professor Benjamin Robson, Department of Earth Science, benjamin.robson@uib.no, phone +47 55589282.

For HR related questions contact Adviser Mathilde Høgalmen, Mathilde.hogalmen@uib.no. 

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.