About the position
Position as PhD Research Fellow in Nano- to Core-Scale Characterization of Carbon Mineralization in Volcanic-Sedimentary Systems available at the Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo.
The fellowship period is 3 years.
Starting date no later than October 1st 2025.
A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
Job description
The VISTA Centre for CO2 Storage in Volcanic-Sedimentary Systems (VICCO) is funded by VISTA and the MN Faculty at the University of Oslo, from 2025 to 2030. The Centre will target research that will further understand carbon capture and storage in a context of climate change, and the overarching goal of VICCO is to explore the potential for large-scale permanent CO2 storage in volcanic-sedimentary systems on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The Centre will specifically investigate carbonate-forming reactions – the process by which CO2 is trapped in solid minerals – in igneous rocks. Such carbonation may enhance seal integrity in the storage medium and reduce reservoir leakage risks in mixed volcanic-sedimentary systems. Carbonation processes can ensure permanent storage of CO2 by reducing the risk of reservoir leakage in the volcanic-sedimentary systems beneath the seabed.
The VICCO Centre is cross-disciplinary between geosciences and physics, and is hosted by the Department for Geosciences. The PhD will be part of a dynamic and inspiring team of students and researchers, where CCS is one of several core research activities.
The available PhD position will aim to 1) characterize the porosity and permeability of the reservoir rocks at nm to core scales and identify natural carbonation textures, and 2) model fluid flow through nm to core scale permeability networks. Detailed analytical investigation will be based on image analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution microcomputed tomography (μCT), Hg-porosimetry, He-pycnometry, and gas adsorption of different lithologies with a focus on the presence of carbonation and its preferential sites, porosity, permeability, and reactive surface area in the chosen reservoirs. The material characterization will inform numerical fluid flow models at the core scale and prediction of upscaled flow at the reservoir scale including reactive transport modeling. The analytical and modeling work will quantify the role of flow and reactions in heterogeneous reservoirs and predict upscaled carbonation rates and permeability evolution. The PhD fellow will work in close collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher who will investigate carbon mineralization processes in-situ using atomic force microscopy and surface forces apparatus, as well as with other members of VICCO working on geological and geochemical characterization of the reservoirs.
VICCO has a range of international collaborators from the academia and the industry who will be part of the supervision for the PhD candidate, with possibilities for travels and analyses at laboratories in the UK. The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to learn scientific methods in the fields of mineralogy, petrology, microanalytical techniques, and experimental characterization and modeling of fluid flow in porous materials, with the ambition to become a multi-skilled modern geoscientist.
Qualifications requirements
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.
We seek a highly motivated candidate for a PhD-project in all relevant fields of Geosciences, which include geology/geophysics, geomorphology/geomatics and meteorology/oceanography/glaciology/hydrology.
Required qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Earth Sciences
- Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
- Experience with polarized light- and with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of geological materials at the Master level
- A proven background in mineralogy and petrography at the Master level
- Experience with programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python)
Desired qualifications
- Experience with the acquisition and interpretation of micro-CT data
- Familiarity and previous experience with CO2 storage projects
- Familiarity with the stratigraphic analysis of volcanic-sedimentary systems
Language requirement
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
- English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:
https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8
Grade requirements
The norm is as follows:
- the average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
- the average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
- the Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see: http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/
Personal skills
- Teamwork skills, as well as the ability to work independently
- Enthusiasm, personal drive, and ability to take initiative
- Attention to detail
- Flexibility, ability to handle pressure and meet deadlines
We offer
- Vibrant international academic environment
- Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
- Good welfare schemes.
- Career development programmes
- Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway’s best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
- Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017, in salary range NOK from 536 200 – 575 400, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.
Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO
Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.
If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.
We hope that you will apply for the position.
More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.
Application
The application must be submitted as a single PDF and include:
- Cover letter – statement of motivation and research interests
- CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work – scientific publications)
- Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, transcripts of records and
- Documentation of English proficiency
- List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
- Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click “Apply for the position”.
When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Foreign applicants should attach an official explanation of their University’s grading system.
General information
The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews.
Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can’t, you will hear from us.
Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.
The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.
