PhD Research Fellow in Environmental Analytical Mass Spectrometry

About the position

We invite applications for a position as PhD Research Fellow in Environmental Analytical Mass Spectrometry available at the Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo.

The preferred starting date is as soon as possible, and no later than 1 August 2026.

The fellowship period is three years.

A fourth year may be considered and it will involve 25% of other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualifications of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

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

The place of work is the Department of Chemistry at Blindern, Oslo.

Job description

The position is part of the project “Innovative Technologies for Monitoring Levels of Nitrosamines and Nitramines in Air and Water Near Amine-Based CO₂ Capture Facilities (TechNAM)”, funded by the Research Council of Norway.

TechNAM is an ambitious project aimed at closing critical knowledge gaps related to the risks posed by emissions from amine-based CO₂ capture. The project will develop and apply ultra-sensitive methods for the determination of nitrosamines and nitramines in air and water at levels compliant with public health safety limits.

The PhD Research Fellow will work with highly advanced mass spectrometers, including PTR-TOF-MS and Orbitrap-MS. The work will involve improving sensitivity and limits of detection, exploring and minimizing measurement artifacts, preparing the technologies for field deployment, and carrying out field measurements.

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:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or a closely related field, with a strong focus on environmental chemical analysis.
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Experience in environmental analytical mass spectrometry. This experience should extend beyond the routine application of existing mass spectrometry methods and include method development, method modification, or in-depth method characterization. Relevant experience must be clearly described in the cover letter.
• Experience in the operation of Orbitrap mass spectrometers and in the processing, interpretation, and quality assessment of Orbitrap-MS data. Relevant experience must be clearly described in the cover letter.

Candidates without a master’s degree have until 30.06.2026 to complete the final exam.

Desired qualifications: 

• Experience in the trace level detection of nitrosamines and/or nitramines
• Experience with safe handling of hazardous compounds in the laboratory
• Experience with field measurements using mass spectrometry, including preparation, deployment, operation, and data collection under field conditions.
• Experience with PTR-TOF-MS operation and PTR-TOF-MS data handling

Language requirement:

• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:
  https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8

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

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see:
Supplementary Regulations at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences to the Regulations for the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo - The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

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.

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.

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.

We can offer you 

• A pleasant and stimulating work 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
• Career development programmes
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
• Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK 550 800 – 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2% is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund

How to apply:

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Transcripts of records, copies of the original Bachelor’s and Master’s degree diploma (see below)
• Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
• 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)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position". Foreign applicants should attach an official explanation of their University's grading system.

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

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.

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), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.  

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