Job description
A position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow is available at the University of Oslo (UiO) Centre for Space Sensors and Systems (CENSSS). We are seeking a postdoc to act as a mission manager for an Earth observation satellite, working in concert with other CENSSS activities related to sensor development as well as data analysis and exploitation.
The appointment is a fulltime position and is for a period of three years (10% of which is devoted to required duties, usually in the form of teaching activities).
Starting date as soon as possible and preferably no later than August 1, 2022.
No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.
More about the position
CENSSS is a Centre for research-based innovation (SFI) at the UiO Department of Technology Systems (ITS), located at Kjeller. The Centre is funded by the Research Council of Norway for up to eight years, from November 2020. The Centre operates in collaboration with nine industry partners, and benefits from co-location with several industries and research institutes at Kjeller. CENSSS will address challenges and opportunities in the new-space paradigm for science, technology and business related to earth observation, as well as exploration of the Moon and Mars. A part of CENSSS is the operation of the RIMFAX ground penetrating radar on the NASA Perseverance Mars rover.
CENSSS aims to strengthen competence and capabilities of all its participants in development of space systems by designing, building, testing, commissioning and operating a research satellite. The postdoc hired in this position will act as the mission manager for the satellite project. A central task will be detailing of the mission objectives and system requirements together with the CENSSS consortium.
The postdoc will be responsible for acquisition as well as assembly, integration and test of the satellite. The work will be carried out in close cooperation with industrial and academic partners who have experience from similar projects and who can assist with laboratory and test facilities. The postdoc will be central in the day-to-day work of CENSSS, including teaching and supervision of PhD candidates and master students, and will work in close contact with the CENSSS partners.
The tasks can be adapted to the competence and interests of the successful candidate.
Development plan:
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.
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.
Must have qualifications:
- The candidate must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in space systems, physics, electronics, cybernetics 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.
- The topic of the doctoral degree must be of relevance to the position
- Fluent oral and written communication/presentation skills in English
- The candidate must be eligible to obtain a “restricted” security clearance according to the Norwegian National Security Act (Lov om Nasjonal Sikkerhet, a.k.a. “Sikkerhetsloven”), i.e. preferably be a citizen of Norway, Sweden or a NATO country.
Desired skills (not requirements):
- Design of satellites and subsystems
- Integration and testing of spacecraft or subsystems, including electronic, mechanical, thermal and radiation aspects
- Space systems engineering
Personal skills
- Ability to take initiative and come up with new ideas
- Abilty 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
In the evaluation of applicants, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, as well as motivation and personal suitability.
We offer
- Salary NOK 534 400 – 615 800 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
- Lillestrøm’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
How to apply
The application must include
- Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work performance and research interest relevant for this position (including interdisciplinary perspective), together with explanation on how your background will allow you to conduct the research tasks in this project)
- CV (summarizing education, positions, any other relevant experience and qualifying activity)
- Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts)
- A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
- 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).
Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.
It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.
Formal regulations
Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.
No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period 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)
According to the Norwegian Freedom of 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.
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 information
For further information please contact: Professor Svein-Erik Hamran e-mail: s.e.hamran@its.uio.no
Work-package leader (WP2) Lars Erling Bråten, e-mail: l.e.braten@its.uio.no
For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Torunn Standal Guttormsen, e-mail: t.s.guttormsen@mn.uio.no
About the University of Oslo
The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7500 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.
The Department of Technology Systems (ITS) is a newly established department at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Oslo. ITS has taken over the activities at UNIK from January 2017. The Institute is located in the Kjeller Research Park, which is one of the largest research and development centers in Norway. ITS collaborates with the research institutes at Kjeller, and with industry, while it is also tightly integrated with complementary activities at UiO in Oslo. The department has two sections: section for energy systems and section for autonomous systems and sensor technologies. An important goal of ITS is to provide wider opportunities at UiO within applied technologies.