PhD Fellow in Geosciences

About the position

The University of Stavanger has a vacancy for a PhD Fellow in Geosciences - salt-sediment interactions in Trias and their impact on reservoir systems at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Energy and Petroleum Technology.

The PhD fellowship leads to a doctoral degree and provides the opportunity to develop research competence in an active and stimulating academic environment.

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 thesis based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, research dissemination, a trial lecture, and a public defense (disputation). Read more about researcher education at UiS on our websites.

The PhD Fellow is appointed for a period of three years for 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.

Research project

This research project investigates the regional reservoir development in Trias in the Norwegian part of the North Sea. Although the Trias reservoirs there have great potential for both hydrocarbons and CO2 storage, they have so far been little explored in the Norwegian sector. The geological processes governing the development of the Trias deposits are also generally less well understood than in the neighboring North Sea sectors. Salt mobilization has been important for the shaping of the Triassic depositional systems in many areas. The project will therefore study the interaction between tectonics and deposition during the Trias period, and look at how Paleozoic basin structures have influenced sedimentation. In addition, the project will evaluate the petroleum systems and their potential.

The project will integrate the following tasks:

• Regional geological mapping of the North Sea based on seismic data and well data, as well as integration of previously published information,
• geological restoration and basin modeling to better understand the interaction between tectonics and sedimentary processes, especially in areas with salt,
• petrological, total rock, and mineral geochemical analyses of cores and cuttings to determine the composition, origin, and diagenetic development of the sedimentary rocks, and
• preparation of detailed paleogeographic maps for relevant geographic areas.

The PhD project will be adapted to the candidate's background within the overall framework of the project.

Qualifications

You must have a strong academic background with a five-year master's degree in Geosciences or equivalent education that provides a basis for conducting researcher training, preferably of recent date.

You must have competence in the interpretation of seismic data and well data, sedimentology, and structural geology. Furthermore, it will be an advantage to have competence in:

• basin modeling
• salt tectonics
• petrology
• geochemistry
• use of software for subsurface interpretation (e.g. Petrel, Landmark DSD, etc.)

For admission to the PhD program, it is required that both the grade on the master's thesis and the weighted average grade for the master's studies 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.

Furthermore, emphasis is placed on that you:

• have high academic integrity and focus on quality in your work
• are curious and motivated to carry out the research project and contribute to academic communities 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, innovation, 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.

Requirements for English language proficiency

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

If you are an international applicant and are not covered by the exemption schemes below, you must document your English language 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 the HK-dir GSU list
• are applicants who are not included in the above exemption categories, but who have lived in Norway for the last five years

We offer

• researcher training in a large organization with an important societal mission
• an ambitious academic community and an inclusive working environment
• free Norwegian courses if you do not have skills in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 upon employment
• access to Lifekeys, a digital service for maintaining your own mental health and quality of life
• salary according to the State's salary regulations l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 580,000 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. Statutory contributions to the Norwegian State Pension Fund are deducted from the salary.
• membership in the Norwegian State Pension Fund ensures good pension and insurance schemes
• 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, gaps in their CV, or 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:

• 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 the 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 considered 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 expiration of 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 list of applicants has been requested, cf. the Freedom of Information Act § 25. If the request is not granted, you will be notified.

Terms and conditions of employment and process

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

Employment as a PhD Fellow is regulated in the University and College Regulations, Chapter IV. Admission to doctoral education is regulated in the regulations for the degree philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) at the University of Stavanger.

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

The doctoral work shall primarily be conducted at the University of Stavanger. It is a prerequisite that the person appointed resides such that they can be present and available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

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