PhD scholarship within environmental radiochemistry

About the position

Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year position as PhD research fellow in Environmental Radioactivity/Environmental Radiochemistry

Knowledge of the behaviour of radionuclides in the environment is fundamental in limiting the potential impact on humans and the environment. Such research is applicable to a wide range of challenges in nuclear sciences, including decommissioning and waste management, emergency preparedness, and assessment of new nuclear technologies.

The PhD position is funded by the Research Council of Norway through the Norwegian Nuclear Research Centre (NNRC) which is a cross-disciplinary collaboration between Norway’s leading institutions within nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry research: University of Oslo (UiO), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), and Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) as well as several associated partners (https://www.nnrc.uio.no/english/research-themes/rt-5/).

The main aim of this PhD project is to perform research on the transport and fate of radioactive isotopes in the environment.

Such information can support decision makers with a scientific basis for risk assessment, associated with a wide range of topics such decommissioning and waste management, emergency preparedness, and assessment of new nuclear technologies. The research involves laboratory and field experiments with the aim of generating new knowledge about ecosystem transfer of radionuclides. Furthermore, the project will support development, parametrization and calibration of computational models aiming at predicting the behaviour and impact of radionuclides.

The PhD candidate will be part of a vital and productive team of professors, researchers, and PhD students, with a large international network covering several research disciplines and the successful candidate will also be able to work closely with other national and international NNRC partners.

The applicant is made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.

Main tasks

This is an open advertisement reflecting that we look for candidates that are interested in one or more of the following research tasks:

• Developing and refining analytical methods for identification and characterisation of radioactive materials from nanoscale to macro sized samples
• Characterisation of nuclear sources and source terms, which encompasses several scientific fields and a broad spectrum of destructive and non-destructive techniques to provide detailed information (elemental, isotopic, chemical and physical signatures) on the origins (source) and history (age, release scenario and environmental conditions) of radioactive materials.
• Environmental transfer and impacts of radionuclides in the environment, including environmental factors (e.g., anoxic/oxic environment), and the way physico-chemical properties influence their behaviour.
• Parametrization and calibration of computational models predicting the behaviour and impact of radionuclides.

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

Competence

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.

The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.

Required Academic qualifications

• Master degree within a relevant field, such as environmental sciences, chemistry including radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry, or physics.
• Fundamental knowledge in mathematics, chemistry and physics

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:

• It is considered advantageous to be able to meet any of these criteria:
• It will be considered an advantage if the successful candidate has experience with work with ionizing radiation. For candidates without competence within ionizing radiation, a Radiation protection course (e.g., the one given at MINA, NMBU) will be mandatory.
• Experience with radiometrics (measurement of alfa-, beta-, and gamma-radiation), mass spectrometry analysis or with X-ray based analytical methods.
• Experience with programming and data analysis, including applied statistics.

You need to have:

• Strong scientific capacity and analytical skills
• Good social and collaboration skills but also good ability to work independently.
• Have oral and written communication skills in English and a Scandinavian language.
• Strong motivation for the PhD education and for the research project
• Creativity and ability to find solutions to practical problems.
• Dissemination skills

Personal suitability will be given weight.

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow. PhD. Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 532.200) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.

For further information, please contact Professor Lindis Skipperud, Head of Section. E-mail: lindis.skipperud@nmbu.no; phone +47 91001777

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 31.05.2024

Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• Complete CV 
• Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3). 
• Names and contact details for two references
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

About The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management

The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) works with nature and the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, biological and geological processes.

MINA’s employees undertake teaching, research and dissemination within the fields of geology, hydrology and limnology, soil science, environmental chemistry, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism.

Our vision is to be a key actor in knowledge production and dissemination, and our goal is to deliver research of high, international quality, and varied and excellent teaching. The faculty’s employees are significant participants within their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The faculty is dominated by a vital research culture and high levels of scientific production.

The faculty has about 200 employees, 90 PhD students and 650 students.

Read more about MINA here.

DIVERSE INFO

Kilde: NAV stillingsannonser
https://arbeidsplassen.nav.no/stillinger/stilling/dcc41ab8-dad1-4755-b67c-2f53caaa0d03
IMPORTAPI
https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige-stillinger/stilling/262276