PhD Research Fellow in Glaciology and Computer Science

The PhD research fellow position is offered through collaboration of two departments at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL): the Department of Environmental Sciences, Campus Sogndal, and the Department of Computing, Mathematics and Physics, Campus Bergen.

The PhD research fellow will be part of the PhD programme in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks and Engineering Computing (http://ict.hvl.no). The research programme in Computer Science currently includes 20 professors and associate professors, 25 PhD students and post-doctoral fellows, and a number of master's students.

Glaciers are indicators of climate change and represent significant freshwater reservoirs. Their mass balance is sensitive to both changes in precipitation and air temperature. In Norway, assessment of meltwater runoff from snow and ice is crucial for hydropower applications, flood risk and impact assessments of downstream ecosystems. Over the past two decades, glaciers in Norway have generally been retreating and loosing mass. Many glaciers are expected to shrink considerably or disappear entirely until the end of the century. Climate projections for Norway indicate that mean annual temperatures may rise by 3.3 to 6.4 C and precipitation increase by 7-23% until 2100. Mass-balance modelling with temperature and precipitation input from climate reanalysis provides a mean to assess glacier mass-balance trends in both space and time. Mass balance projections on longer timescales (decades) need to address the change in glacier dynamics, ice thickness and areal extent.

This project aims at developing a streamlined multi-model processing flow that simulates glacier mass balance and runoff for glaciers in Norway from 1957 to 2100, with Jostedalsbreen as a case study. The objectives of the project are two-fold: (1) understand past and present glacier evolution given the climatic record, and (2) understand future glacier evolution given multi-model climate projections under distinct greenhouse-gas emission scenarios.

The candidate will develop and couple two glacier models: (1) a glacier mass balance and runoff model, and (2) a glacier-dynamic model, accounting for ice-thickness changes and glacier retreat. For the latter, approaches range from mass-conserving retreat parameterizations to 3D ice-dynamic simulations, e.g. using the open-source, multi-physics software ELMER/ICE. Observations of seasonal in-situ glacier mass balance and long-term variations of glacier outlines will be used to constrain model parameters and validate model results. The candidate will be involved in fieldwork to collect additional glacier-mass balance data. Statistical modelling approaches will be employed to optimize the model parameter space and sensitivity to climate projections to understand both model uncertainties and ultimately sensitivity of the response of glaciers in Western Norway to various climate scenarios.

The PhD research fellow position is offered through collaboration between the Department of Environmental Sciences, Campus Sogndal, and the Department of Computing, Mathematics and Physics, Campus Bergen. The research at the Department of Environmental include geology and geo-hazards, glaciology and hydrology, as well as landscape planning, renewable energy and climate-change management. The research environment at the Department of Computing, Mathematics, and Physics includes the research themes of software engineering, engineering computing, communication systems and sensor networks. The research environments in both Bergen and Sogndal have cooperation with many national and international research groups, and with national and regional industry partners.

The prospective PhD candidate will work in the intersection of the two departments and be supervised by research staff at HVL Campus Bergen and Sogndal. Main workplace of the candidate will be Sogndal, with periodical stays in Bergen for both research and mandatory course work. The PhD project will also involve cooperation with researchers from the glacier group at the Norwegian Water and Energy Directorate and the Department of Geosciences at the University of Oslo.

??????The PhD research fellow must hold a master's degree in geoscience, (geo)physics, meteorology or hydrology, with a strong emphasis on computing, or in applied mathematics, computer science or in a closely related field. Candidates who have submitted a master's thesis (but have not yet been awarded a master's degree) may also qualify for the position provided that the master`s degree is awarded within 4 weeks after the application deadline.

A solid background in programming is required (for example in Matlab, R, Python, C++ or Fortran). Previous knowledge of glaciology, hydrology, numerical modelling, statistics and stochastic simulations will be considered an advantage when applicants are ranked. Fieldwork experience and skills in safe glacier travel are a additional assets.

In addition to the required educational background, the following criteria will be evaluated: competence and grades on completed course work, quality of the master's thesis (excellent grade, equivalent of grade B or better on the ECTS grading system), publications (if any), research experience and ability/ willingness for teaching, practical software engineering skills and experience.

The candidate must be diligent and display the ability to work independently, supplemented with regular guidance, and is expected to carry out high-quality research and to present the results in international workshops and conferences, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals. Good command in spoken and written English is required, additional knowledge of Norwegian (or other Scandinavian language) is an advantage.

The PhD research fellow must enroll in the PhD programme in Computer Science: Software Engineering, Sensor Networks and Engineering Computing at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and must meet the formal admission requirements for the PhD programme. The 4-year period includes 25% of compulsory work such as teaching and administrative tasks.

The PhD candidate will be assigned two academic supervisor(s) at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. The candidate will work on an outline of his/her PhD project, which must be approved within 3 months from the start of the employment, in order to officially enroll in the PhD program. The supervisor(s) will help with this procedure.

Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel of three members. Applicants are asked to submit their application and CV online. Please use the link ?Apply for this job" (?Søk stillingen").

The following documentation should be uploaded as an attachment to the online application:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• Master's thesis
• Copies of academic publications (if any)
• A CV
• Diplomas and certificates
• Documentation of English proficiency
• Contact details of 2-3 references

If the documents submitted are not in a Scandinavian language or in English, the applicants must submit certified translations of these. The transcripts must specify the topics, the course works, and the grades at the bachelor`s and master`s degree levels.

Applicants should note that the evaluation will be based on the documentation submitted electronically via Jobbnorge within the submission deadline. The applicants are responsible for ensuring that all the documentation is submitted before the closing date. It is of utmost importance that all documents and publications to be considered in the evaluation are uploaded as an attachment with the application, since these are sent electronically to the expert panel. Applications cannot be sent by e-mail or to individuals at the college.

? Good occupational pension, insurance and loan schemes from The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
? Exciting academic environment with the possibility of competence enhancement and development
? Opportunities for training within the working hours 

Initial salaries will be offered at grade 51 (code 1017) in the Civil Service pay grade table scale. There is a compulsory 2 % deduction to the pension fund (see http://www.spk.no/en%20f for more information). The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.

The appointment will be made in accordance with the regulations for State employees Law in Norway ("Lov om statens ansatte)". Organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities associated with the position must be expected.

State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Bergen has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and gender composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds.

Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if his/her request is not respected. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

For further information about the project contact: 

1) Associate Professor Thorben Dunse,
    phone: +47 57 67 62 92,
    e-mail: Thorben.Dunse@hvl.no 

2) Associate Professor Antoine Tambue, 
    phone: +47 55 58 70 06,  
    e-mail: Antoine.Tambue@hvl.no

3) Professor Håvard Helstrup, Coordinator of PhD Program on 
    Computer Science,   
    phone: +47 55 58 75 61,
    e-mail: Havard.Helstrup@hvl.no

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences shall be a university with a clear professional and working life-oriented profile.

Through education, research and development we create new knowledge and expertise, anchored internationally and with solutions that work locally.

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