UiB – Knowledge that shapes society
Through robust and close interaction with the world around us – globally, nationally and locally – we shall be instrumental in building a society based on knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Do you want to take part in shaping the future?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=oyaThmIq6Kg%3Fautoplay%3D0%26modestbranding%3D1%26playsinline%3D0%26rel%3D0%26start%3D0%26enablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.jobbnorge.no%26widgetid%3D1
PhD Research Fellow in Acoustics
There is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow in acoustics at the Department of Physics and Technology (IFT) at the University of Bergen (UiB). The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years, with employment from 1 October 2022.
The position is financed by the Research Council of Norway under the CRIMAC Centre for Research-based Innovation, hosted by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), with UiB as one of 10 centre partners.
We offer an opportunity to join one of the world’s most active and leading research and innovation clusters within fishery acoustics, in an exciting time for marine life, environment, and observation technologies. The CRIMAC Centre makes up about 30 researchers, working in close collaboration with the Centre’s industry partners. The group is closely linked to the SFI Smart Ocean Centre for Research-based Innovation.
The PhD candidate will be affiliated with the Acoustics Research group at UiB/IFT, building on 55 years of experience within experimental, theoretical, and numerical acoustics, currently making up a group of 22 people (permanent employees and emeriti, postdoctoral fellow, PhD and master students). The group focuses on fundamental research and collaborates with external partners on applications, with interests spanning a broad range of areas (including guided ultrasonic waves, ultrasonic fiscal flow measurement of oil and gas, marine/fisheries acoustics, distributed acoustic sensing, and material/fluid characterization).
The PhD candidate will work closely with the Ecosystem Acoustics Research Group at IMR, building on more than 50 years of experience within fisheries acoustics, currently making up a group of 44 people (permanently employed scientists and emeriti, postdoctoral fellows, PhD and master students).
About the project/work tasks:
The United Nations has announced a decade of ocean science for sustainable development. This involves methodologies for marine biomass to be accurately estimated and harvested sustainably. The PhD project is part of the SFI CRIMAC Centre for Research-based Innovation in marine acoustic abundance estimation and backscatter classification. The overall aim of the Centre is to improve and automate the interpretation of acoustic data and images using matched-filter (“wideband”) acoustics on research and fishing vessels.
The PhD candidate will work on methods to improve our understanding and use of modern wideband echosounder methodologies and acoustic signals scattered from marine organisms, employing mathematical and numerical modelling, supported by measurements in lab and field.
The objective of the PhD work is to acquire a better understanding of the acoustic signals scattered from single and multiple marine organisms. This includes frequency responses for the target strength of relevant fish species. The work consists of (i) implementation and use of mathematical-numerical models for efficient simulations of frequency dependent backscatter by single and multiple targets (marine organisms and reference objects); (ii) measurements of such acoustic backscattering in laboratory and field; and (iii) comparison of measurements and simulations. The results shall provide an improved basis for further development of acoustic wideband methods in fisheries acoustics, with focus on abundance estimation, species identification, and size distribution.
The PhD candidate will collaborate closely with a parallel PhD project focusing on fundamental properties of wideband echosounder methodologies, operation, and processing. The PhD work is to be carried out in a cooperation with the Centre partners, co-supervised by IMR. The candidate is expected to participate in the guidance of master students in acoustics.
Qualifications and personal qualities:
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent education in physics, industrial mathematics, or equivalent discipline, with specialisation in acoustics or similar. Master students can apply provided they complete their final master exam before 20.08.2022. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
- Experience from mathematical and numerical modelling in physics or equivalent discipline is a requirement.
- Good programming skills is a requirement, e.g., using Python or Matlab.
- Good skills in measurement physics laboratory work involving acquisition and processing of electronic signals, is a requirement.
- Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner, and demonstrate good collaborative 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.
Experience from one or several of the following areas is an advantage:
- Good knowledge of acoustics (preferably ultrasonics).
- Good knowledge of underwater acoustics and/or fisheries acoustics.
- Good skills in numerical modelling in acoustics.
- Experience from finite-element modelling of acoustic wave propagation in solid and fluid media (programming, use, or both), e.g., using COMSOL Multiphysics.
- Good skills in ultrasonic laboratory and/or field measurements.
- Good skills in digital signal processing.
- Good command of the Norwegian language.
About the PhD position (applies to university PhD positions):
About the PhD Research Fellow
The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years.
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 at pay grade 54 (Code 1017/Pay range 20, alternative 10) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 501 200. Further promotions 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 your research interests and how your background fits the project description, and motivation for applying for the position
- the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis
- 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 that the master’s thesis has been submitted and the expected date of award of your master’s degree. Your master’s degree must be documented with transcripts and/or diploma, alternatively a confirmation from your institution on completed degree and your grade, by 20.08.2022.
- 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)
- any publications in your name
The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge. Applications sent by email will not be evaluated.
General information:
For further details about the position, please contact Associate Professor Audun O. Pedersen, Dept. of Physics and Technology, University of Bergen, e-mail:audun.pedersen@uib.no, tel. +47 98682644; or Researcher Tonje Nesse Forland, Institute of Marine Research, email:tonje.nesse.forland@hi.no, tel. +47 40825537.
The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation can be applied in the processing of the applications.
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.
We encourage women to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.
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.
The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.
For further information about the recruitment process, click here.
Life as a PhD candidate at UiB
Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nrtp6VxMeJ4%3Fautoplay%3D0%26modestbranding%3D1%26playsinline%3D0%26rel%3D0%26start%3D0%26enablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.jobbnorge.no%26widgetid%3D2
About UiB
The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.
There are seven departments and several centres at Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments.