PhD position

The Department of Earth Science has a vacancy for a PhD position within rift tectonics and sedimentation. The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years with the possibility of a 4th year with compulsory other work (e.g. teaching duties at the Department) and is affiliated to the PETROMAKS 2 project DeepRIft.

About the project/work tasks:

The DeepRIft project is a multidisciplinary project integrating outcrop and marine geophysical data from the Corinth rift, numerical modelling of tectonics and surface processes, and 3D seismic and well data from the Norwegian continental shelf, to understand the controls on erosion, sediment transport and depositional processes within rift basins. The project is led by Professor Rob Gawthorpe at the University of Bergen with academic partners at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, the universities of Athens, Leeds, Lorraine (CRPG-CRNS), Northern Arizona, and Imperial College. It is financed by the Research Council of Norway and 4 industry partners.
The aim of this PhD project is to understand how the basin infill of the Corinth Rift responds to different forcing factors in the hinterland of the rift, to those in the basin sink, and to factors inherent to the depositional system. This will be achieved through careful field work on basin margin depositional systems and associated structures, and through sedimentologial and palaeoenvironmental analysis core collected as part of the IODP Expedition 381. Specific tasks for the study include:

• Mapping of basin margin successions and associated structures along the southern shores of the Gulf of Corinth.
• Sedimentological and stratigraphic analysis of core and outcrop.
• Palaeoenvironmental analysis of core and outcrop.
• Integration of structural, sedimentological and palaeoenvironmental data to reconstruct the main controls on rift margin and rift axis sedimentation.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a master’s degree or the equivalent in earth science that is relevant to the project, or must have submitted his/her master’s thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
• Experience of process sedimentology is a requirement, preferably shoreline and turbidite depositional systems.
• High level of fieldwork experience is a requirement, preferably involving syn-tectonic sedimentary studies linked to structural mapping.
• Experience of basin analysis and integrating sedimentary and structural data is a requirement, preferably in rift basins.
• Experience of working on core material would be an advantage.
• Applicants must be proficient in both written and oral English and personal
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner, and have the ability to cooperate with others.
• Experience of assisting in laboratory classes at undergraduate level would be an advantage.

Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates.

About the PhD position:

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year, consisting of 25 % compulsory work (e.g. teaching responsibilities at the department) distributed over the employment period. The 4th year is contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the head of department upon appointment.
The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a qualifying post (e.g. research fellow, research assistant).

About the research training:
As a PhD Candidate, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is 2 months after you start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that you satisfy the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen.

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment
• Salary at pay grade 54 (code 1017/Pay range 20, alternative 10) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 479 600,-. Further promotions are made according to qualifications and length of service in the position.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• A brief account of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• The names and contact information for two references. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis.
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not yet completed your master’s degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming that the master’s thesis has been submitted Approved documentation of proficiency in English (if required, cf. English language requirements for PhD admission)
• Relevant certificates/references
• A list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list)
• Any publications in your name

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting:

Professor Rob Gawthorpe, Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, e-mail: rob.gawthorpe@uib.no
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.