The Norwegian Polar Institute carries out scientific research, mapping and environmental monitoring in the Arctic and the Antarctic. The Institute advises Norwegian authorities in strategic and thematic matters relating to the Polar Regions, represents Norway internationally on various occasions and is Norway's competent environmental authority in Antarctica. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Institute has a staff of approximately 160 located in Tromsø, Svalbard (Spitsbergen) and Antarctica. For further information on the Norwegian Polar Institute, please visit www.npolar.no.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Snow Physics (2 years)
The Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromsø, Norway invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellow position in Snow Physics, in the Norwegian Young Ice project (N-ICE2015). The work will be conducted in the Section of Geology and Geophysics in our Research Department. The position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow is a fixed-term position for a period of 2 years with a possible extension of maximum 2 years, depending on funding. For further information on the N-ICE2015 project, please visit http://www.npolar.no/en/projects/details?pid=b98886ce-590a-48a8-b113-4b96e98c65c8
Work Content
The aim of the project is to increase our understanding of the contemporary sea ice regime in the Arctic Ocean. The sea ice physics mass balance part of the project will aim to quantify the changing mass balance of Arctic sea ice, its snow cover and its role for energy exchanges (albedo, light budget in the ice and beneath) and for the formation of melt ponds.
This position will specifically aim at modelling the distribution, redistribution, properties and evolution of the snow cover on Arctic sea ice. Along with extensive modelling activity (applying and improving existing models), field measurements will be conducted for validating and calibrating the performance and results of the snow models. The results are to be published in a timely fashion in international research journals.
N-ICE 2015 consists of a six-month ship-based expedition in the area North of Svalbard in the first half of 2015, followed by a period of data processing, analysis, and publication in peer-reviewed journals, at conferences and in open access databases.
We are looking for candidates who are able to be based on RV Lance in the Arctic Ocean for one period lasting up to three weeks. Necessary field safety courses and instrument training will be given before departure.
Qualifications
Candidates must hold a completed PhD in geophysics or a closely related field. The PhD must be completed and approved by the application deadline of the position, in order for the application to be considered.
Experience in snow and/or ice modelling is required, ideally with forcing from meteorological data. Field experience, especially at high latitudes, or work in ice-covered areas is desirable. An interest in snow/sea ice energy balance and ocean-ice-atmosphere interaction is an asset and candidates with experience from these fields will be preferred. Publication of results is of great importance and recent articles in high-rated peer-reviewed scientific journals must demonstrate such ability.
Programming skills are required, preferably with some experience with Fortran. The candidate must also be prepared to devote time to process data for publication via open access databases.
We are looking for a positive, motivated, adaptable candidate with good collaborations skills. Good written and spoken communication skills in English are required.
General
The work place is the Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromsø, Norway. The salary will be commensurate with the qualifications of the successful candidate, under the Norwegian state salary code 1352, scale 57–64 (currently 482,800–549,400 NOK per year). The position is available from 1st May 2015.
Tromsø is a city of 70,000 residents situated in northern Norway at nearly 70°N. Tromsø is known as a good place to experience the midnight sun, polar night, varied outdoor activities and a lively cultural and entertainment environment. It is also a major, and expanding, center for research, with numerous governmental and private research institutions and a major university.
The Research Department at the Norwegian Polar Institute is very diverse, both in scientific interests and in nationalities. The Norwegian Polar Institute leads the sea ice mass balance work package in the N-ICE2015 project. For this particular position, the institute collaborates with scientists at Colorado State University and the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in the USA. An important part of the project work involves collaboration with national and international project partners, and visits to our partners in the USA should be expected.
Glen Liston (Colorado State University) will primarily supervise the postdoc, with additional supervision by scientists at the Norwegian Polar Institute, and at Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), Hanover, USA.
The main objective of the appointment as a post-doctoral research fellow is to qualify for work in senior academic positions. No one may be appointed to more than one fixed-term period as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the same institution.
The Norwegian State Administration strives to mirror the diversity of its population and thereby achieve a balanced mix of age, gender and ethnic backgrounds among its employees. All qualified candidates with different backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Norwegian Polar Institute is an IW-enterprise and adjustments will be made to the workplace regarding health issues, if necessary.
Further inquiries about the position may be directed to section leader of Geology and Geophysics Elisabeth Isaksson, tel. +47 77 75 05 15, e-mail: isaksson@npolar.no, section leader of Oceans and Sea Ice Sebastian Gerland, tel. +47 77 75 05 54, e-mail: gerland@npolar.no, or research scientist Jean-Charles Gallet, tel. +47 77 75 05 61, e-mail: gallet@npolar.no.
The application deadline is 1st Mars 2015. The application should include details of your relevant qualifications and experience, CV, list of publications, copies of your transcripts and names of at least three references. The application must be submitted electronically via www.jobbnorge.no.
All applications are handled in confidentially until the application deadline. Thereafter, a public list of applicants will be prepared. Applicants who wish to reserve their applications from the public list must give reasons for this in their applications. Information about an applicant can be made public even if the applicant has requested not be included from the public list of applicants, cf. Freedom of Information Act, Section 25, 2nd paragraph.
