Senior Scientist/ Scientist

Environmental Industrial Processes - Sustainable Minerals and Metals

Do you want to make a difference for the mineral industry and the environment? IFE has an open position within mineral processing and extractive metallurgy in the Environmental Industrial Processes Department. The position is part of the Sustainable Minerals and Metals group (SUMM), which works within IFE’s strategic area of critical raw materials. The group works with both primary and secondary processing of critical minerals and has a strong international position in this field.

We are looking for a strong candidate who can help increase the group’s capacity and expertise. The ideal candidate has education and work experience in mineral processing or extractive metallurgy, based on either primary or secondary raw materials. A relevant PhD is an advantage, as is relevant industrial experience. We are seeking someone who can work independently, contribute actively to the research group, communicate well in English, and bring a positive and collaborative attitude. Since much of the work is carried out in collaboration with industry and other research groups, good communication skills are important, and some travel should be expected.

The main tasks will include scientific work, planning and following up laboratory activities, developing new research projects, building customer relations, project management, and scientific publishing. We offer a scientist position with access to excellent infrastructure, competitive salary and working conditions, flexible tasks and working hours, and opportunities to contribute to the development of a sustainable mineral industry in Norway and Europe. The work will be carried out in an active and growing research team at IFE, together with inspiring, social, and ambitious colleagues. The group has a strong international position within hydrometallurgy, processing of radioactive materials, and upscaling. The work is performed in collaboration with leading Norwegian and European companies and research institutions.

Job description

In this position, you will work on various projects and your tasks will include:

• Iniate and write research project proposals ranging from direct funded projexcts to large EU-projects
• Project management with close industry collaboration
• Close cooperation with other department at IFE, research partners and industry
• Safety work/HSE related to infrastructure, instruments and daily work
• Communication and dissemination activities: Customer meetings, Consortia generation with industry and funding bodies, presentation of results in relevant arenas (e.g. conferences, seminars), publication of scientific papers, etc.
• Identification of intellectual property assets (patenting, etc.) when relevant
• Install and build experimental set-ups
• Design, conduct and manage experimental work related to extractive metallurgy
• Thermodynamic modelling
• Process simulation

Qualification requirements

• Engineering degree or MSc in process engineering, metallurgy, chemistry or similar. A PhD degree in relevant area is preferable
• Experience in the minerals and metals area from R&D and/or industry. Of special interest are knowledge and experience within hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy and/or mineral processing
• Experience in planning and managing experimental facilities (reactors, mixer-settler units, autoclaves and other equipment, test rigs and instrumentation), from laboratory to prototype scale
• Hands‑on experience with chemical and materials characterization using ICP, XRF, XRD, and SEM‑EDS, including method development, data interpretation, and quality assessment
• Experience with processing of both secondary raw materials (e.g. industrial residues, recycled materials) and primary mineral resources
• Competence in industrial process design, simulation and thermodynamic modeling tools is an advantage (e.g. ASPEN, HYSYS, OLI, HSC)
• Good written and oral communication skills in English is requiered. Good Norwegian knowledge is an advantage
• Good overview and knowledge of Norwegian mineral and process metallurgy, with particular insight into hydrometallurgy‑related industry is an advantage
• Ability to link fundamental chemistry with industrial process development

Personal qualities

• Ability to take initiatives and highly result and solution-oriented
• Ability to work independently as well as within the research team
• Quality-oriented, responsible, dedicated and structured
• Motivated to learn new industrial processes and the scientific and technical challenges around them
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Flexible, versatile and open to work on a varied range of experimental facilities

We offer

• Exciting and challenging work in an interdisciplinary, international and growing environment within an broad network of academic and industrial partners.
• Participation in scientific projects of high international level in the field of environmental process technology and material science.
• Stimulating and positive work environment.
• Good pension benefits.
• Competitive salary terms and working conditions.
• A workplace that will promote the employees’ health, environment and safety.

IFE is subject to the Security Act, which includes requirements for theorganisation’s management of critical national information, as well as otherrelevant legislation concerning the management of sensitive information. Onthis basis, it is a prerequisite for employment that the applicant is suitablefrom a security perspective. Note that relevant applicants will be askedquestions that are necessary to ascertain this. This includes questions aboutany ties to countries that the PST hasclassified as a ‘high-risk country’ in its open threat assessment. Backgroundchecks are performed as part of our recruitment process.

We view diversity as a strength in our work. We therefore encourage allqualified candidates to apply regardless of age, gender, disability, sexualorientation, religion and ethnic background. We place great emphasis on yourpersonal suitability for the position.

Research for a better future

IFE conducts research for a better future. Since 1948, we have been a frontrunner in international energy research. We contribute to new solutions in renewable energy, petroleum and industry. We develop zero-emission transport solutions, digital systems and ground-breaking cancer medicine. IFE develops new solutions for the industry and public sector in over 30 countries. IFE is host to the international OECD NEA Halden Projects. We are about 550 employees and the annual turnover is about NOK 1,2 billion. Read more about IFE at www.ife.no/en