PhD Fellow in societal safety, underground applications and spatial analysis

About the position

The University of Stavanger has two vacancies for PhD Fellows in societal safety, underground applications and spatial analysis at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Security, Economics and Planning.

The PhD fellowship leads to a doctoral degree and provides the opportunity to develop research competence in an active and stimulating academic environment. Through the doctoral education, you will acquire knowledge, skills, and experience that qualify you for further careers within research, higher education, and other knowledge-intensive sectors.

The person appointed will be admitted to the PhD program in technology and natural sciences. The program includes a training component, work on a scientific dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, research dissemination, a trial lecture, and a public defense. Read more about researcher education at UiS on our websites.

The position is for three years of pure research training.

As a PhD Fellow at UiS, you will receive support for professional and career development through supervision, competence development, and career planning.

The position is funded by the Research Council of Norway.

Research theme

The PhD Fellows will be affiliated with the Research Centre for Innovative and Sustainable Underground Use (CISU), a Centre for Research-driven Innovation (SFI) funded by the Research Council of Norway. CISU is a triple helix collaboration between leading research institutions, industry partners, and public entities, addressing pressing societal challenges: urban densification, climate change, geopolitical instability, and the need for more resilient cities.

The core task in this position is the mapping and analysis of the underground in one of the pilot cities — Stavanger and Trondheim, as well as Tromsø — using geographic information science as the primary methodological basis. The projects are located in Trondheim or Stavanger (one in each city), and are responsible for the mapping of their respective cities, while the projects collaborate on the mapping of Tromsø. In this way, case studies are established that will provide opportunities for both comparative analyses and more unified analyses of the pilot cities based on the cities' data material related to critical societal functions. The students will work closely with the cities. Existing data material, such as GIS maps and databases, geological data (soil, rocks, and groundwater), existing infrastructures and critical societal functions, relevant events, and more, will be systematically analyzed, expanded, further developed, integrated, and assessed against the cities' planning values and opportunities to move functions underground. The work may also utilize complementary spatial technologies such as digital twins, photogrammetry, and spatial modeling.

Based on this GIS foundation, the candidates will continuously participate in co-creation arenas with the user partners in CISU to develop research directions within the CISU context.

The candidates' parallel projects enable direct comparison and knowledge transfer across urban contexts. Both candidates will be part of SFI-CISU, which, during the center period, will have at least 13 PhD fellows working on innovation projects across the three pilot cities, supported by a dedicated PHD forum in SFI-CISU and an interdisciplinary supervision team from academia and industry. There are opportunities for international research stays and collaboration as part of the PhD studies (some alternative locations are Singapore, Helsinki, and Switzerland).

The PhD Fellow will contribute to answering the following preliminary research questions in the center:

• RQ1: To what extent are the precise locations and technical condition of existing underground infrastructure known?
• RQ2: To what extent can the transformation of existing infrastructure support critical societal functions in the future?
• RQ3: To what extent can the systematic use of the underground support sustainable urban development in the zero-emission society?
• RQ4: How can underground spatial planning be integrated into urban development and infrastructure strategies?

Project outline

As an applicant, you must prepare a project outline for a doctoral project within the described research theme.

The project outline, which should not exceed two pages, shall explain the project's problem statement, relevance, as well as theoretical and methodological approach. The outline will be part of the competence assessment.

Qualifications

You must have a strong academic background with a five-year master's degree in geographic information, engineering geology, technical safety, risk management, societal safety, urban planning, or other related fields, or equivalent education that provides a basis for conducting doctoral training. The education should preferably be recent. If you complete your master's degree in spring 2027, you are also welcome to apply.

The grade of the master's thesis and the weighted average grade for the master's studies must both correspond to a B or better. If you have education from an institution with a different grading scale than A-F, we ask you to attach documentation showing how the grades can be compared to the Norwegian grading scale. You can use these conversion scales to calculate your points for admission.

It is an advantage if you:

• have theoretical and applied knowledge of geographic information science and spatial analysis
• have experience or professional knowledge of Norwegian planning systems (municipalities)
• have experience with GIS tools and software, and with digital spatial technologies

We also emphasize that you:

• have high professional integrity and focus on quality in your work
• are curious and motivated to carry out the research project and contribute to professional communities and collaboration across disciplines
• have potential for research within the field, as well as personal prerequisites to complete the doctoral education within the employment period
• can work well both independently and in collaboration with other researchers
• have the ability for critical reflection, new thinking, and independent problem-solving, and work in a structured and purposeful manner
• have good collaboration and communication skills and contribute to a constructive working environment
• have good skills in English, both written and oral.

Work at SFI-CISU may involve handling protected information. Therefore, to be eligible for the position, you must be able to be authorized for RESTRICTED, cf. sikkerhetsloven § 8-9. Authorization requires that you meet the conditions for gaining access to protected information at this level. Further guidelines will be provided as the center is established and activities are specified.

Requirements for English proficiency

Good skills in English, both written and oral, are a prerequisite for admission to the doctoral program.

If you are an international applicant and are not covered by the exemption schemes below, you must document your English proficiency with a valid result from one of the following language tests:

• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum result: 90/4.5
• IELTS – International English Language Testing Service. Minimum result: 6.5
• Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge
• PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic. Minimum result: 62

You are exempt from the requirement if you:

• have completed at least one year of university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA
• have completed a master's degree with English as the language of instruction in an EU/EEA country or in India
• are exempt according to HK-dirs GSU list
• do not fall into the above exemption categories, but have lived in Norway for the last five years

As a PhD Fellow at UiS, you get:

• researcher education at a university with an important societal mission
• an ambitious and inclusive research environment
• supervision and support for professional and career development
• free Norwegian courses if you do not master Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at a minimum A2 level upon employment
• access to Lifekeys, a digital service for mental health and quality of life
• salary as a PhD Fellow according to the State's salary regulations in position code 1017, NOK 580,000 gross per year, with salary development according to seniority in the position
• membership in Statens pensjonskasse with good pension and insurance schemes

Read more about employee benefits and advantages at uis.no.

Diversity and inclusion

Diversity is a strength at the university. Different experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to better solutions and a good working and learning environment. We want applicants with different qualifications, life experiences, and perspectives, and encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of gender, age, disability, cultural background, or whether you have had gaps in your working life. UiS facilitates employees in different life stages and for employees with a need for individual accommodation.

In accordance with current regulations, at least one qualified applicant with a disability, a gap in their CV, or an immigrant background will be invited to an interview. If this applies to you, you can state it in the job application portal. Read more about the scheme here.

The university wishes for better gender balance in PhD positions within the field and therefore particularly encourages women to apply. In the case of approximately equal qualifications, women may be prioritized in accordance with current regulations.

How to apply

Apply for the position via "Søk stillingen" on this page.

In Jobbnorge, you register your application, relevant education and work experience, as well as language skills. In the application, we ask you to describe your research interests, your motivation for the position, and how your background is relevant to the research project.

The following documentation must be uploaded as attachments to the application:

• project outline
• CV with a complete overview of education, experience, and any scientific activity
• diploma with transcript of records documenting a completed master's degree. If you have not completed your master's degree, you must attach an updated transcript of records.
• Diploma Supplement or equivalent documentation, as well as a conversion scale if required
• documentation of English language proficiency if required
• publications or other relevant research work
• certificates and other documentation deemed relevant to the application

The documentation must be in a Scandinavian language or English.

Applications are assessed based on the information registered in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. Therefore, ensure that the application clearly shows how your competence and experience meet the qualification requirements described in the announcement, and that necessary documentation is uploaded. If the attachments exceed 100 MB in total, they must be compressed before uploading.

UiS only processes applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

Information about applicants may be made public even if an exemption from the public applicant list has been requested, cf. offentlighetsloven § 25. If the request is not granted, you will be notified.

Terms and process of employment

UiS is subject to the Security Act, and employees are expected to exhibit security-conscious behavior and follow current security and export control procedures. Upon employment, qualities such as reliability, judgment, and loyalty will be emphasized.

Employment as a PhD Fellow is regulated in universitets- og høgskoleforskriften kapittel IV. Admission to doctoral education is regulated in forskrift for graden philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) ved Universitetet i Stavanger.

Your qualifications for the position will be assessed by an internal committee based on the documentation registered in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. Based on the committee's assessment, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. Read more about the employment process on our websites.

The doctoral work shall primarily be carried out at the University of Stavanger. It is a prerequisite that the person appointed settles such that they can be present and available to the academic environment during regular working hours.

The position is announced in both Norwegian and English. In the event of conflicting information between the texts, the English text shall prevail.

About the employer:

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has approximately 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has great ambitions. We shall have an innovative and international profile and be a driving force in knowledge development and societal change processes. Our common direction shall be driven by concern for green and sustainable transition and fair societal development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, and lifelong learning are our priority areas.

In interaction and dialogue with our surroundings regionally, nationally, and internationally, we have an open and innovative climate for education, research, artistic development, innovation, dissemination, and museum activities. The academic activities at the university are organized into six faculties with 13 departments and two national research and competence centers in addition to the Archaeological Museum. We are a member of the European network for innovative universities - European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labor market and offers a range of exciting cultural and leisure activities.

Together with our employees and students, we will lift our gaze and dare to think big and new – we will challenge the familiar and explore the unknown.

The Faculty of Science and Technology offers education at bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. The faculty has strong ties to both research institutions and industry. Nearly 40% of the budget is externally funded. Our students have close contact with industry, and many master's and doctoral theses are written in collaboration with industry. The faculty has established research collaborations with universities worldwide and has several academic environments that are internationally leading. The faculty has approximately 3,000 students and around 500 employees distributed across the faculty administration and six departments: Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Department of Mechanical, Civil and Materials Engineering, Department of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Chemistry, Biosecience and Environmental Technology, Department of Energy and Petroleum Technology, and Department of Security, Economics and Planning.

Department of Security, Economics and Planning has one of Norway's most active research environments within risk management, societal safety, industrial economics, and urban planning. The environment is internationally recognized with many externally funded projects and large networks. Our employees have backgrounds from, among others, engineering, economics, natural sciences, sociology, and social sciences, and the department is characterized by extensive interdisciplinary collaboration. The department offers study programs at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels in the fields of societal safety, industrial economics, urban planning, risk analysis, as well as in customs, freight forwarding, and border control.