The University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway. The University’s location makes it a natural venue for the development of studies of the region’s natural environment, culture, and society.

University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, Faculty of Science and Technology, has a PhD position vacant for applicants who wish to obtain the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD).

The position – PhD in Earth Observation and Remote Sensing is attached to the Department of Physics and Technology and the Earth Observation research group. More information about the research group can be found at: http://eo.uit.no. The candidate will be enrolled in the Barents Remote Sensing School (BARESS), which is a research school for PhD students.

The appointment is for a period of four years.

The PhD position is for a fixed term, with the objective of completion of research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD Candidate shall participate in the faculty’s organized research training, and the PhD project shall be completed during the period of employment. Information about the application process for admission to the PhD programme, application form and regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) are available at the following address: http://uit.no/researchers/phd/article?p_document_id=199724.

Application deadline: 4.12.2014

Ref.: 2013/3559

The position’s affiliation:

The Faculty of Science and Technology consists of: Department of Engineering and Safety, Department of Physics and Technology, Department of Geology, Department of Computer Science, Department of Chemistry, Department of Mathematics and Statistics and Tromsø Geophysical Observatory.

The position’s field of research/research project:

The desired research field is Earth observation and environmental monitoring. The emphasis is on radar polarimetry, with potential application to detection and characterization of sea ice and/or marine oil pollution in SAR data. The study may involve elements of physical and numerical modelling, statistical modelling and possibly include some fieldwork.

Qualification requirements:

We are looking for candidates with a documented and solid knowledge in physics, mathematics, statistics, signal and image processing subjects. Knowledge and experience in analysis and interpretation of SAR data, polarimetric SAR theory, and EM scattering models are desired, but not a requirement.

The successful applicant must fulfil the requirements for admission to the faculty’s PhD programme, cf. Regulation for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Tromsø. In addition, he/she shall be able to document proficiency in English equivalent to Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification, refer to the website about PhD regulations at UiT.

The applicant may present a description outlining the academic basis of the PhD project.

Emphasis shall also be attached to personal suitability.

Working conditions:

The normal period of employment is four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year, distributed as 25 % of each year, shall be used for teaching or other duties for the university, cf. Guidelines for the research fellow’s duties.

The position will especially be assigned teaching duties at Department of Physics and Technology.

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the research fellow has already completed parts of his/her research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position (PhD Candidate, research assistant, or the like) in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.

Remuneration for the position of PhD Candidate is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

Assessment:

An expert committee will assess the applicants. During this assessment process, emphasis will be attached to the applicant’s potential for research as shown by:

     • Master’s thesis or equivalent
• any other academic works, and
• project description (if attached)

In addition, consideration may be given to work experience or other activities of significance for the implementation of the PhD studies, and to any teaching qualifications. This includes teaching education, teaching experience, experience from popularization and experience/education from other types of dissemination. Information and material to be considered during the assessment must be submitted by the stipulated deadline.

The applicants who are assessed as the best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability for the position.

Application:

The application must be submitted electronically via the application form available on www.jobbnorge.no.

• In addition, by the application deadline, the application shall contain:
  Letter of application
• CV (containing a complete overview of education, supervised professional training and professional work)
• Certified* copies of:
  – diploma and transcript from your Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
  – diploma and transcript from your Master’s degree or equivalent
  – diploma supplement for completed degrees
  – documentation of English language proficiency
  – references
  – project description (optional)
• list of works and description of these (see below)

The list of works shall contain the following information:
• author(s), the work’s title
• for articles: the journal’s name and volume, the first and last page of the article, year of publication
• for publications: publisher, printer, year of publication, number of pages

All photocopies of certificates, diplomas, transcript and reference letter must be stamped and certified by the photocopying or a public office.

All documentation that is to be evaluated must be certified and translated into English or a Scandinavian language.

Information and material to be considered during the assessment must be submitted by the stipulated deadline.

The works (published or unpublished) which the applicant wishes to be taken into consideration during the assessment process must be submitted.

Applicants shall also refer to the Utfyllende bestemmelser for tilsetting i stillinger som postdoktor, stipendiat (PhD) og vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant) positions at the UiT and to the Forskrift om ansettelsesvilkår for stillinger som postdoktor (Postdoctor), stipendiat (PhD), vitenskapelig assistent (Research Assistant) og spesialistkandidat (Resident).

Personal data given in an application or CV will be processed in accordance with the Act relating to the processing of personal data (the Personal Data Act). In accordance with Section 25 subsection 2 of the Freedom of Information Act, the applicant may request not to be registered on the public list of applicants. However, the University may nevertheless decide that the name of the applicant will be made public. The applicant will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.

Further information about the position is available by contacting:
• Associate Professor Camilla Brekke, E-mail: camilla.brekke@uit.no
• Professor and Head of department Torbjørn Eltoft, E-mail: torbjorn.eltoft@uit.no .

For more detail visit: PhD in Earth Observation and Remote Sensing at The University of Tromsø