Research Fellow at Section for Geography and Hydrology

About the position

A Researcher position is available at the Department of Geosciences at the University of Oslo. The position is a fulltime position for a period of one year with a possible extension of up to two months devoted to management support. 

Preferred starting date 1 September 2025.

Job description / Project description

How do groundwater extremes develop and recover as a result of complex and interacting physical and anthropogenic processes under ongoing and future global change, including climate and human influence? What are the key drivers of groundwater drought in different climate regions and hydrogeological settings? And how do cycles of wet and dry conditions of different durations impact drought development and recovery? At the department of Geosciences, University of Oslo (UiO), we aim to answer these questions as part of our role in the GroundedExtremes project.

The GroundedExtremes project is a European funded research project that aims to investigate key processes controlling the development of hydrological extremes and the potential for improved groundwater management as a powerful adaptation strategy to both droughts and floods. In GroundedExtremes six postdoctoral and young researchers study and compare groundwater dynamics, management and governance across four case studies: Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden.

At the University of Oslo, we are seeking a researcher with statistical/physically-based modelling background and experience from groundwater studies to join our team. The person will analyse groundwater level observations and related climate and site-specific data to assess the development, duration and recovery of groundwater droughts, their climate drivers, subsurface characteristics, vegetation and water use, as well as effects of ongoing and future global changes. Focus is on drought, but includes situations of high groundwater table as groundwater can act as a buffer to both flood and drought. We will analyse and compare groundwater dynamics in the four case studies, with a specific focus on Sweden. Emphasis will be on (compound) drivers of groundwater drought across the case studies, including large-scale climate drivers and local scale characteristics, taking into account the importance of wet extremes in the development and recovery of groundwater drought. Key focus is analysis of time series, including climate and groundwater level observations, whereas physically-based groundwater modelling is the task of other project partners. Our role is, among other, to provide modelers in the four case studies with consistent large-scale forcing data, e.g. E-OBS or ERA5.

We are looking for a person who is interested in interdisciplinary research and enjoys working collaborative within a diverse international group. Additionally, we are seeking a person who is positive to support the project administration and management and engage in joint project activities. The position will be based at the Section for Geography and Hydrology at the Department of Geosciences and will collaborate closely with the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Gothenburg on the Swedish case study.

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. Applications are encouraged from dedicated candidates with excellent writing skills and the ability to work in a highly team-orientated environment.

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in hydrology or hydrogeology, physical geography or related quantitative disciplines
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Strong analytical and computational skills
• Experience with statistical analysis of hydroclimatological time series and knowledge of physically-based hydrological modelling
• Experience in scientific publishing, exemplified by relevant and good quality peer-reviewed publications

Desired qualifications:

• Proficiency in groundwater hydrology
• Experience with handling and analysing large hydroclimatological datasets
• Experience in scientific/numerical programming
• Experience with working in interdisciplinary research projects

Personal skills

We are looking for someone who enjoys teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration, and at the same time are able to work independently. The candidate is expected to collaborate closely with our Swedish partner, including short term visits, as part of our research collaboration.

We offer 

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a good working environment.  Professionally stimulating work environment. Vibrant international academic environment. 
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities.
• 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 Researcher, position code 1109 in salary range NOK from 575 400  to 680 000, 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. 

Application

Your application should include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, and administrative work, and other qualifying activity) 
• Copies of educational certificates, academic transcript of records 
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic works 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.

General information

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented academic qualifications, as well as the candidate’s motivation and personal suitability. The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project, including commitments to project partners during the period of employment.

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) and Rules for the use of research posts SKO 1108, 1109, 1110 and 1183 at UiO.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.