PhD Fellow in Wind shielding & design for weather protection of outdoor working environment

20 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Department

Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology

Research Field

Technology » Industrial technology
Technology » Environmental technology
Environmental science » Water science

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Norway

Application Deadline

1 Apr 2024 – 23:59 (Europe/Oslo)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37,5

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description
Changing Arctic Research School

UiT the Arctic University of Norway started a transdisciplinary research school “Changing Arctic” in August 2022, with PhD candidates and supervisors from all seven university faculties. The research school has a focus on renewable energy, food security, health and welfare. “Changing Arctic” will collaborate with actors in private and public sector. The research outcomes will contribute to resilience and transformation in the Arctic and will thus operationalize Sustainable Development Goals.

The training will provide PhD candidates with knowledge, professional and transferable skills, and general competences that enables them to contribute to innovative and sustainable solutions for the Arctic. The research school will arrange courses, seminars, workshops, and excursions, and will organise secondments in private enterprises, NGOs, and public institutions. This is to ensure the relevance of project outcomes and enhance the employability of the PhD graduates. Read more about the research school Changing Arctic tendersglobal.net UiT.

The position

The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching (10%) and other duties such as secondments and interactions with the industry or the public sector (15%). The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree.Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

The workplace is at UiT in Narvik. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer. The Research School starts on the 1st of September 2024.

The position’s field of research

While being a member of the research school, you will be employed at the Department of Building, Energy and Material Technology , at the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology .

Most critical for the operability and maintainability of infrastructure, onshore/offshore facilities, ships and offshore fish farms in the changing arctic climate is the wind and cold environment’s impact on outdoor activity, i.e., health and well-being, outdoor operations, emergency response and evacuation, transportation, etc. Special considerations are often necessary during the design and fabrication of onshore facilities,ships and floating structures in cold waters. Wind is often the critical factor that increases effect of cold, rain and snow, and porous weather panels are being used for wind & weather protection of exposed work areas & outdoor operations.

Wind shielding & design for weather protection of outdoor working environment involve:

• Impact from a changing climate on metocean conditions (wind, cold, precipitation, icing, snow etc.)
• Wind & weather protection designs (semi-open protections, louvers for enclosure)
• Wind shielding performance of porous panels and customized weather panel design
• Favourable winterized design (icing, snow clogging etc.)

It is expected that the PhD-candidate participates in field experiments or/and collection of necessary field data. Including engineering the PhD-candidate is encouraged to work transdisciplinary and collaborate with PhD-candidates/projects within disciplines as meteorology, safety, health & human factors etc. This project is aimed for working in close collaboration with relevant industry.

Infrastructure, onshore and offshore facilities in a changing arctic is challenged by increasingly severe climatic conditions characterized by strong winds, low temperature, icing, snow precipitation, etc. Up to now there are few established or prequalified design solutions for wind and weather protection in arctic environment.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact: 

Professor Per-Arne Sundsbø

• email: [email protected]

or for further information about the Changing Arctic Research School:

Professor Michaela Aschan and senior adviser Hanne Risan Johnsen

• email: [email protected]

Qualifications

This position requires:

• A master’s degree in (see specifications below in “Admission to PhD programme”)
• A master’s thesis with a relevant subject to the research description
• Documented fluency in English. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.

It is considered an advantage if you have:

• Working experience in the field in question
• Experience with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) & wind analysis
• Experience with cold climate technology
• Experience from working in a team
• Experience with research administration / project management
• A national and/or international research network that you can refer to
• Publications and/or reports
• Working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language

Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must still submit your transcripts for the master’s degree with your application.

In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant’s potential to complete a research education based on the master’s thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. The project description will also be considered. In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.

We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. We are looking for candidates who:

• Have good collaboration skills
• Have good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
• Wants to contribute to a good working environment

As many people as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

Admission to the PhD programme 

For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology  and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Admission normally requires:  

• A bachelor’s degree of 180 ECTS and a master’s degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master’s degree of 300 ECTS. 
• A master’s thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master’s degree of 120 ECTS. 
• A master’s thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master’s degree of 300 ECTS. 

UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

In order to gain admission to the programme, applicants with a background from a Norwegian institution should have a minimum grade of C on their master thesis and a weighted grade average of 3.0 for the last two years of their master programme. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here . 

Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from NOKUT . Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor’s degree and a 2-year master’s degree. 

If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position.

Find more information about taking a PhD at the Arctic University of Norway in the PhD-guide from Tromsø Doctoral Students (TODOS) .

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project 
• Good career opportunities 
• A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues  
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement  
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund 
• PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 532 200 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme  which also include health care services.

More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility

Application 

Your application must include: 

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV
• Diploma for bachelor’s and master’s degree
• Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor’s and master’s degree
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• Documentation of proficiency in Norwegian  (or a Scandinavian language) if applicable
• 2-3 references with contact information
• Master’s thesis, and any other academic works
• Project description (4 pages)

The applicants must present a description outlining the academic basis of the PhD project. The project description shall not exceed 4 pages, literature references included. It must include a description of the theme, research question(s), and a reasoning of the choices. It should also indicate the methodologies to be used, and what actors outside the academia to involve. The final project description will be developed in cooperation with the supervision team after employment.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline. 

General information 

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants . 

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no .

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years. 

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure. 

Eallju – Developing the High North

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus comprehensive university at the international forefront. Our vision is to be a driving force for developing the High North. The Northern Sami notion eallju, which means eagerness to work, sets the tone for this motive power at UiT. Along with students, staff and the wider community, we aim to utilise our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio and interdisciplinary advantage to shape the future.

Our social mission is to provide research-based education of high quality, perform artistic development and carry out research of the highest international quality standards in the entire range from basic to applied. We will convey knowledge about disciplines and contribute to innovation. Our social mission unites UiT across various studies, research fields and large geographical distances. This demands good cooperation with trade and industry and civil society as well as with international partners. We will strengthen knowledge-based and sustainable development at a regional, national and international level.

Academic freedom and scientific and ethical principles form the basis for all UiT’s activities. Participation, co-determination, transparency and good processes will provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and far-sighted priorities. Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Founded on academic integrity, we will be courageous, committed and generous in close contact with disciplines, people and contemporary developments.

We will demonstrate adaptability and seek good and purposeful utilisation of resources, so we are ready to meet the expectations and opportunities of the future. We will strengthen the quality and impact of our disciplines and core tasks through the following three strategic priority areas.

Requirements

Research Field

Technology » Industrial technology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Technology » Environmental technology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Environmental science » Water science

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Country

Norway

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/256422/phd-fellow-in-wind-shield…

Contact

City

Narvik

Website

http://en.uit.no/om/art?p_document_id=343547&dim=179040

Street

Lodve Langes gate 2

Postal Code

N-8514

STATUS: EXPIRED