Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Planetary Radar

About the position

One position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow is available at the Centre for Space Sensors and Systems (CENSSS) at the Department of Technology Systems (ITS).

CENSSS is a Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI), funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and UiO for up to eight years, starting in November 2020. CENSSS has three research partners and nine user partners. 

CENSSS addresses challenges and opportunities in science, technology and business related to “New-Space” satellites and systems for Earth Observation, as well as Space Exploration, by focusing on novel sensors, systems and services. CENSSS is operating the RIMFAX ground penetrating radar on the NASA Perseverance Mars rover.

Starting date is as soon as possible.

The appointment is for a full-time position for a period of three years.

A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

Knowledge development in a changing world – Science and technology towards 2030.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Job description / Project description / Development plan:

The postdoctoral fellow will be part of the RIMFAX team on the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission.

RIMFAX is a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and one of seven scientific instruments aboard the Perseverance rover. The RIMFAX Science team is an international team with participants from institutions in both US and Europe, see: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/instruments/rimfax/

The main goal of the RIMFAX experiment is to study the environmental and geological history of Mars at the Perseverance landing site in Jezero crater.

The Post Doc research work will include the following topics and tasks:

• Contribute to the operation of RIMFAX on Mars
• Process and interpret RIMFAX GPR data from Mars
• Present RIMFAX results to the Mars 2020 Science Team
• Publish scientific results at conferences and in scientific journals
• Supervise Master students and PhDs

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

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 degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in physics, geoscience, or related fields. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• The topic of the doctoral degree must be of relevance to the position
• Applicants must have experience in one or more of the topics:
  • Planetary radar systems,
  • Ground Penetrating Radar
  • Near Surface Geophysics
  • Operation of planetary science instruments
• The Pos Doc candidate must have experience in Python programming
• The Post Doc candidate must be eligible to be able to join the NASA Mars 2020 Science Team

Personal skills:

• Ability to take initiative and come up with new ideas to solve theoretical and practical problems
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• Good personal communication skills

We offer:

• Salary NOK 575 400 – 657 300 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (position code 1352)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee.  A copy of the PhD thesis may be included.
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations:

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months ( thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)

No one can be appointed twice as a Postdoctoral fellow financed with funds from The Research Council of Norway (NFR).

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

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.

Contact persons:

For further information about the position, please, contact:

Professor Svein-Erik Hamran, e-mail: s.e.hamran@its.uio.no

Senior Advisor Tor Berger, e-mail:  tor.berger@its.uio.no

For technical questions regarding the recruitment system, please, contact:

HR Adviser Olga Holmlund,  e-mail: olga.holmlund@mn.uio.no

DIVERSE INFO

Kilde: NAV stillingsannonser
https://arbeidsplassen.nav.no/stillinger/stilling/94d65777-6128-41f3-88ff-e86233db6d0f
IMPORTAPI
https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige-stillinger/stilling/262126