The Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) and the University in Oslo Department of Geoscience are seeking a qualified PhD candidate to participate in climate modeling research.
Job description The PhD candidate will participate in a research project that aims to better understand the role of boreal forest management in the mitigation of/adaptation to climate change. He or she will work as part of a multidisciplinary team studying the links between boreal forest management and the climate system in order to improve its representation in land surface models employed in climate research. The candidate will be enrolled in the PhD program at the University in Oslo (UiO) Department of Geoscience (http://www.mn.uio.no/geo/english/) and will receive academic supervision from Professor Frode Stordal. The position will be mainly based at NIBIO in Ås, Norway, with part of the time spent at UiO in Oslo, Norway. Main duties and responsibilities The position-holder’s main responsibility will be to develop a routine for incorporating the effects of active forest management into a land surface model (Community Land Model; CLM) employed in climate research. Additional responsibilities will be to assist in ongoing work in UiO on coupling CLM with a numerical weather prediction model for use in regional climate research. He/she will participate in the design and implementation of regional climate modeling simulations, in the analyses of their outcomes, and in the evaluation of the forest management scheme developed in the project (as implemented in CLM). Mandatory qualifications and experience A master’s degree (MS/MSc) or equivalent in the geosciences and strong command of English is required. Knowledge of a Scandinavian language is positive but not a requirement. The ideal candidate will have strong quantitative skills and experience with models used for climate research. The candidate must possess the following: - Strong programming skills - Experience with numerical weather prediction and/or climate modeling - A basic understanding of land-atmosphere interactions Desired qualifications - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, preferably in an international environment - Proactive, with good analytical and problem-solving skills - Ability to work under pressure and interact with demanding users - Dedication and enthusiasm to work as part of an ambitious research team - Ability to collaborate with both internal and external experts with diverse academic backgrounds and skill sets About UiO and the PhD program A purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. This will be provided at the Department of Geosciences, Section for Meteorology and Ocenography (MetOs) at the UiO (http://www.mn.uio.no/geo/english/about/organisation/metos/). The Department of Geosciences comprises sections for Geology and Geophysics; Geography and Hydrology, Meteorology and Oceanography, the Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics (Centre of Excellence) and PGP (Center for Physics of Geological Processes). The academic staff consists of 40 professors and approximately 80 research fellows. The MetOs section has 6 full professors. Currently 8 PhD and 6 postdoctoral fellows are employed in the section. In addition, 5 PhD fellows employed at other research institutes (like NIBIO in this case) are enrolled in the PhD program in the MetOs section. The fellowship requires admission to the PhD program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at UiO. The application to the PhD program must be submitted to the Department of Geosciences no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information, please consult the faculty website. The PhD student will be given the opportunity to enroll in relevant courses offered by the Norwegian Research Schools in Climate Dynamics (ResClim; http://www.resclim.no/) and the Changing Climate in the coupled Earth System (CHESS; http://www.bjerknes.uib.no/en/article/news/chess-new-research-school). About the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) The PhD position has its home at the Department of Forest and Climate which is part of the Division of Forest and Forest Resources at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO). NIBIO was established in July 2015 and is one of Norway’s largest research institutes. NIBIO’s activities lie within agriculture, food, climate and the environment. The Institute conducts research and management support, and provides knowledge for use in national preparedness, governmental and district management, industry, and the society at large. NIBIO has approximately 700 employees present in all parts of the country. Its main office is located at Ås in Akershus. NIBIO is owned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Salary and benefits The position as PhD candidate is a 3 years contract with start as soon as possible. The position as PhD candidate code 1017 is remunerated according to salary framework 20 salary grade 50 - 60 (NOK 432.300 - 515.600 per year) on the Norwegian State Salary Scale, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which includes a good occupational pension scheme, occupational injury and group life insurance, and low-interest home loans. General information In accordance with the Norwegian Civil Service equal opportunities policy, qualified candidates are encouraged to apply - regardless of age, gender, functional disabilities or national or ethnic background. We would like to point out that information about applicants may be subject to public disclosure, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (Offentlighetsloven), Section 25. An applicant can request to be exempted from inclusion on a public list of applicants. If the request for confidentiality is denied, the applicant will be notified thereof. Contact persons Dr. Rasmus Astrup, Head of Research, Division of Forestry and Forest Resources, tel +47 941 51 660 Dr. Ryan Bright, Research Professor, Department of Forest and Climate, tel +47 974 77 997 Please send your application with CV electronically via Jobbnorge and the following url: https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige- stillinger/stilling/128625/phd-position-in-land-surface-modeling Take diplomas and letters of recommendation with you if invited to an interview, or submit them as an attachment along with the electronic application/CV.
