Researcher in Solar Physics

About the position

We invite applications for a Researcher position at the Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics (RoCS) at the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics (ITA).

The position is for a period of 2 years.

Starting date is flexible between 1st of January 2027 and 1st of October 2027.

Place of work is Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics at Blindern, Oslo.

Project description

The position is funded by the Research Council of Norway through the Researcher Project for Early Career Scientists (FRIPRO) “MultiSCORE: Multi-scale structure of the coronal environment” and led by Petra Kohutova. The MultiSCORE project focuses on the formation of large- and small-scale structure in the solar corona and combines high-resolution solar observations with numerical modelling. The successful candidate will contribute to the observational aspect of the project using multi-vantage-point observations of the solar corona from Solar Orbiter and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The candidate will work on the analysis of fine-scale structure in the corona using Solar Orbiter/EUI imaging and SPICE spectroscopic data, and on reconstruction of three-dimensional structure of active regions by combining multi-vantage-point Solar Orbiter and SDO/AIA observations with constraints from magnetic field extrapolations. Observational results will be compared with synthetic observables from numerical models. The candidate will be expected to participate in the dissemination of the research results through journal publications and conference presentations in Solar Physics and Astrophysics as well as through outreach activities.

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 Solar Physics, Astrophysics, or a closely related field. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Only applicants with an approved doctoral thesis and completed defence are eligible for appointment.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English 
• Experience with Solar Orbiter data analysis
• Programming skills in Python/IDL/Julia

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with scaling and intermittency analysis techniques applied to solar or space plasma observations and/or simulations is an advantage
• Experience with coronal magnetic field extrapolation methods is an advantage

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work precise in a structured manner and swiftly adapts to new tasks
• Good communication and collaboration skills
• Positive attitude and the ability to handle hectic periods

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal skills.

We can offer you

• 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. 
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.  A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
• 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 595 000 - 690 000 depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund. 

We need different perspectives in our work

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues, could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

We especially encourage women to apply.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. 

We hope you will apply for the position with us.

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• A short (1-2 page) research statement describing how the applicant’s expertise fits the project objectives and what additional ideas or research directions they could bring to the project
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates and 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 this job".

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.

Formal regulations

The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

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

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.