Job description

A 3 year position as Researcher within the field of materials chemistry for Li-ion batteries is available at the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) located at the Department of Chemistry.

Starting date is preferably October 1, 2022.

We search for a skilled, creative and ambitious researcher to join our scientific activities within battery materials.

In addition to the experience with battery materials, the candidate should be willing to learn and apply new methods and chemistries. A candidate will work in a dynamic team of approximately 10 PhD/MS students and several researchers and, therefore, should be skilled to work independently as well in a team.

The successful candidate will be primary responsible for the development and advanced characterization of Si-based materials for the anodes of Li-ion batteries under the projects funded by the Research Council of Norway. Specifically, the candidate will focus on electrochemical evaluation and advanced characterization by the X-ray-based techniques: diffraction, scattering and pair distribution function including design of experiments.

The successful candidate should also be experienced in operando characterization of battery materials. Experiments using synchrotron facilities are foreseen, depending on access and travel regulations.

The candidate will work closely with relevant industrial, academic and research partners within projects as well as with the research center MoZEES.

You can find more information at http://www.mn.uio.no/kjemi/english/research/groups/nafuma/

Qualification requirements

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. 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 Chemistry or a related field, and with documented experience within the fields of battery science and/or electrochemistry and X-ray-based characterization. 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 candidate must have fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

The following qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

The applicant should possess a degree equivalent to a Norwegian PhD degree in Chemistry or a related field, and with documented experience within the fields of battery science and/or electrochemistry and X-ray-based characterization. The candidate must have fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

In the cover letter the applicant must describe his/her experience within the following areas:

  • Chemistry of battery materials
  • Electrochemical characterization of battery materials
  • X-ray diffraction and pair distribution function
  • Operando methods for characterization of battery materials
  • Crystal structure and total scattering/PDF analysis, IR/RAMAN spectroscopy
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Expertise with using large scale facilities (ESRF, Diamond, etc) and expertise in tomography will be considered as highly beneficial

Qualifications mentioned above will be given major weight in the evaluation of the candidates.

An expert committee will evaluate the applications. The committee will put emphasis on scientific qualification with focus on documented skills required for the position. Information that should be considered in the evaluations must be submitted within the deadline. The names of at least two reference persons should be provided.

We offer

  • Salary NOK 544 400 – 626 300 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Researcher (position code 1109)
  • Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
  • Professionally stimulating working environment
  • Vibrant international academic environment
  • Oslo’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 and research interest)
  • CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
  • Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
  • List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. 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, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. 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.

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 futher information regarding the position and the recruitment process, please contact:

Associate professor Alexey Y. Koposov, phone number: +47-96694531; email: alexey.koposov@kjemi.uio.no

For technical questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact:

HR Advisor Olga Holmlund, e-mail: olga.holmlund@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 7000 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society. 

Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) is an interdisciplinary focus field for material and energy research at the University of Oslo. SMN has focused on basic research in renewable energy and environmentally friendly use of fossil energy sources. The center consists of research groups from the Department of Physics (Fi) and Chemistry (Ki), has about 100 employees from around the world and manages more than 80 projects funded by the EU, the RCN and others.

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