Job description

Position as PhD Research Fellowship in semiconductor physics available at Department of Physics/Centre for materials science and nanotechnology, as part of the project ‘Functionalization of conducting oxides by ion beam and defect engineering’ (FUNCTION).

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than 01.09.2019. The fellowship period is 3 years.

More about the position

One of the most central challenges facing our common global future is access to sufficient supply of clean energy. Global energy demand is expected to double by year 2050 and the electricity demands will even triple. In this respect, solar energy conversion using photo-voltaic and photoelectrochemical devices is an outstanding alternative to fossil fuels. The goal of the FUNCTION project is to explore embedded nanostructures for energy harvesting applications, and is an application motivated basic research project. In particular, the project aims at tailoring the properties of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), for example zinc-oxide (ZnO), by introducing semiconducting nanoparticles, and by that functionalizing the TCO

The PhD position will be part of a larger team consisting of researchers at UiO and SINTEF, including one post-doc focusing on structural and spectroscopic characterization using transmission electron microscopy, STEM-EELS, and related techniques. The PhD position is related to synthesis and functional properties of the structures and devices, including ion beam modification and electrical and optical characterization.

FUNCTION is conducted in collaboration with a wide network of international partners in USA, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Switzerland. Visits to and from these partners are an integral part of FUNCTION.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MN) has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. 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.

• Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in semiconductor physics, with a solid background in semiconductor materials, processing and characterization, and materials physics in general. Experience with materials processing in cleanroom, electrical and optical spectroscopy techniques will be positively evaluated.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English are a prerequisite

Candidates without a Master’s degree have until 30 June, 2019 to complete the final exam.

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 http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/application/application.html

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree

We offer

• salary NOK 449 400 – 505 800 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow, (position code 1017)
• attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter. Statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• 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)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

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

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

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.

The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

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

Contact information

For further information please contact: Lasse Vines, phone: +47 22840940, e-mail: lasse.vines@fys.uio.no

For question regarding our application system, please contact HR Officer, Ørjan Pretorius, orjan.pretorius@mn.uio.no

About the University of Oslo 

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society. 

Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) is an interdisciplinary focus field for material and energy research at the University of Oslo. SMN has focused on basic research in renewable energy and environmentally friendly use of fossil energy sources. The center consists of research groups from the Department of Physics (Fi) and Chemistry (Ki), has about 100 employees from around the world and manages more than 80 projects funded by the EU, the RCN and others.