Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in remote sensing and modeling of the cryosphere

About the position

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in remote sensing and modeling of the cryosphere, available at the Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

Starting date as soon as possible.
The appointment is a full-time position and is for a period of three years (10% of which is devoted to other career-promoting work, usually in the form of teaching activities).

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.

Place of work is Department of Geosciences at Blindern, Oslo.

Project description

The position is affiliated with the Department’s Section for Physical Geography and Hydrology, which has long-term experience in investigating the terrestrial cryosphere and is involved in various high-level research projects and centers. ( See for instance http://www.mn.uio.no/geo/english/about/organisation/geohyd and https://www.mn.uio.no/geo/english/research/groups/remotesensing ). We are a growing, lively, friendly and collaborative research environment in cold regions sciences, in particular in glaciology, remote sensing, geohazards, hydrology and geomatics. We participate in a number of international projects such that the successful candidate will have excellent opportunities to participate in international research networks. We also run an advanced drone lab on behalf of the entire faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences ( https://www.mn.uio.no/geo/english/research/about/infrastructure/facilities/observations/geosciences/the-drone-infrastructure-laboratory/ ).

• The position is embedded in a network of projects that involve remote sensing of the cryosphere and related data science methods:
  the European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant SnowShifts with University of Oslo (Prof. A. Kääb), EPFL Sion and WSL/SLF (Prof. M. Lehning), and BOKU Vienna (Dr. F. Koch) as PI institutions, and GFZ Potsdam, CESBIO Toulouse and ANavS Munich as further key partners. ( https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101224858 )
• the SchmidtSciences project MountAInWater (lead: F. Pelliciotti, ISTA, and W. Immerzeel, Utrecht, and further PIs from Canada, Singapore, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway and Germany. ( https://www.schmidtsciences.org/view/#modal-mountainwater-water-from-the-mountains-global-reanalysis-and-future-tipping-points )
• various ESA projects including Glaciers_CCI, Permafrost_CCI, Karakoram Anomaly, and the forthcoming EarthExplorer 10 mission Harmony. ( https://climate.esa.int/en/projects/ , https://climate.esa.int/en/Cross_ECV_Projects/ , https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/ESA_selects_Harmony_as_tenth_Earth_Explorer_mission )

The candidate will develop and apply cutting-edge remote sensing or photogrammetry methods, in combination with data science approaches such as machine learning and data assimilation via cryospheric models. A main focus of this work is snow and glaciers in the mountains around the globe. Candidates with relevant prior research experience in these areas will therefore be given preference. The candidate will have ample opportunities to collaborate internationally with other world-leading research environments and space agencies, and for field work in mountain environments and the Arctic.

The exact focus of the position and its primary project affiliation will be developed together with the successful candidate.

The main purpose of a postdoctoral fellowship is to provide the candidates with enhanced skills to pursue a scientific top position within or beyond academia. To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are required to submit a professional development plan no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period.

What skills are important in this role?

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.

Required qualifications:

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in geomatics, geosciences, geophysics, environmental sciences, computer/data science or relevant topics in other fields. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and public defence are eligible for appointment
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Must document a strong quantitative background and interest in remote sensing or photogrammetry, and related data science approaches, and a strong interest in geosciences/climate sciences.
• Must document scientific programming experienc