University of Oslo PhD Research Fellowship in Glacier Modelling, Norway

University of Oslo PhD Research Fellowship in Glacier Modelling

A PhD Research Fellowship is available at the Department of Geosciences, Section for Geography and Hydrology. The fellowship will be for a period of 4 years, with a 25% workload for teaching at the department, dependent on the qualifications of the candidate and the needs of the department. 

Starting date no later than 1 October, 2016. No one can be appointed for more than one fixed-term period at the same institution.

Section for Physical Geography and Hydrology

The position is affiliated with the Section for Geography and Hydrology, which has long-term experience in investigating the terrestrial cryosphere (permafrost, snow, glaciers) and is involved in various high-level research projects and centers. (See for instance Geomatics and remote sensing or Cryosphere). We offer a lively, friendly and collaborative research environment in cold regions sciences, in particular in cryospheric sciences, remote sensing, geohazards, and geomatics. We participate in international projects such that the successful candidate will have excellent opportunity to participate in international research networks. The project will contribute to the interdisciplinary research group EarthFlows which aims for fundamentally new understanding of the dynamics of fluid-solid interfaces for a number of important geophysical systems.

Job description

The aim of the project is to test the relevance of cryo-hydrologic warming for rapid mobilization of formerly stagnant parts of poly-thermal glaciers. This mechanism is to be implemented into a glacier modelling framework, preferably Elmer/Ice and will be tested in a case study. Austfonna, Svalbard has been intensely investigated by the glaciology group and a >5year time series of surface velocities (GPS) guide a forward simulation of the surge history. Research stays of the candidate at the collaborating institutions LGGE(Olivier Gagliardini) and CSC (Thomas Zwinger) are anticipated.

Requirements/qualifications

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. Candidates will be selected in accordance with this, and are expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials. Applications are encouraged from dedicated candidates with excellent writing skills and the ability to work in a highly team-orientated environment.

The successful candidate should have a Masters degree or the equivalent awarded by a Geoscience, Physics, Geophysics, Mathematics, Hydrology or Computer Science faculty, with experience in glaciology and numerical modeling in particular of glacier dynamics. The successful candidate should further demonstrate:

• Technical expertise in one or more programming language(s), in particular experience in Fortran and/ or C++ is considered a strong advantage. Scripting skills (e.g. Python/Matlab or likewise are required)
• Good communication skills and the willingness to manage tasks and project deliverables in an international research environment 
• Evidence of creativity and capability of independent research

In addition, candidates with experience in one of the following topics will be given priority:

• Glacier dynamics
• Subglacial hydrology and thermodynamics
• Ice flow and glacier modelling, e.g. using the Elmer/Ice package

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see here and here.

A good command of English is required.

This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

http://uio.easycruit.com/vacancy/1630163/64289?iso=no