Josh's Water Jobs – PhD Fellowship in environmental technology – development of advanced materials for water treatment

Job description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in Environmental Technology – development of advanced materials for water treatment, at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Technology. The position is vacant from April 2026.

This is a trainee position that will give promising researchers an opportunity for academic development through a PhD education leading to a doctoral degree.

The hired candidate will be admitted to the PhD program in Science and Technology. The education includes relevant courses amounting to about six months of study, a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic communication, a trial lecture and public defence. Read more about the PhD education at UiS on our website.

The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively.

A career plan will be prepared that specifies the competencies that the Research Fellow will acquire. Access to career guidance will be provided throughout the doctoral education.

Research topic

The successful candidate will be associated with the research project on the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and composites for water purification and removal of micropollutants such as PFAS, amines and other organic substances. The project is part of the institute’s focus on sustainable solutions for water treatment and resource management.

The work includes synthesis and characterization of materials, testing of purification effect in water samples and analysis using advanced instrumental methods. The project will also include collaboration with researchers who model adsorption processes at the molecular level.

The position is part of the research group for Functional materials and Process chemistry at UiS, with partners such as SINTEF and USN.

Qualification requirements

The applicant must have a master’s degree in environmental technology, chemical engineering, water or process purification, or equivalent education that provides a basis for conducting a research education, preferably of recent date.

Experience with material synthesis and/or characterization, chemical water analysis or modeling is an advantage.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Stavanger both the grade for your master’s thesis and the weighted average grade of your master’s degree must individually be equivalent to or better than a B grade.

Applicants with an education from an institution with a different grade scale than A-F, and/or with other types of credits than sp/ECTS, must attach a confirmed conversion scale that shows how the grades can be compared with the Norwegian A-F scale and a Diploma Supplement or similar that explains the scope of the subjects that are included in the education. You can use these conversion scales to calculate your points for admission.

You must have good command of both oral and written English.

Emphasis is also placed on your:

practical skills in the laboratory (organic synthesis, hydrothermal/solvothermal synthesis)
user knowledge with instruments such as XRD, NMR, IR, BET, GC, HPLC, MS
strong interest in porous adsorbent and separation process
experience with porous material characterizations
experience with metal-organic frameworks / ZIFs/ porous coordination networks
experience with testing adsorbents for separation from liquid media.
motivation and potential for research within the field
professional and personal skills for completing the doctoral degree within the timeframe
ability to work independently and in a team, be innovative and creative
ability to work structured and handle a heavy workload

Requirements for competence in English

A good proficiency in English is required for anyone attending the PhD program. International applicants must document this with a valid test certificate from one of the following tests:

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum result: 90
IELTS – International English Language Testing Service. Minimum result: 6.5
Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge
PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic. Minimum result: 62

The following applicants are exempt from the above requirements:

Applicants with one year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA
Applicants with a completed master’s degrees taught in English in a EU/EEA country
Applicants who are exempt based on HK-dir’s GSU list

We offer

a PhD education in a large, exciting and societally important organisation
an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
free Norwegian language courses if you do not have proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 at the time of employment.
access to Lifekeys, a digital service for the preservation of personal mental health and well-being
salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 550 800 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which provides favourable insurance- and retirement benefits
favourable membership terms at a gym and at the SIS sports club at campus
employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
“Hjem-jobb-hjem” discounted public transport to and from work
as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced
relocation programme

Diversity

Diversity is a resource in the working and learning environment at UiS. When we have different backgrounds and experiences, we can approach challenges from multiple perspectives and find better solutions. At UiS, we are committed to showing respect for each other’s differences and accommodating employees with disabilities. We take into consideration your needs and your situation in various life phases.

If you find this position interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, disability, cultural background, or whether you have been out of the workforce for a period.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview. If you fall into any of these categories, feel free to indicate it when applying for the position. Learn more about the criteria for being considered an applicant in these specific groups here.

The university aims to recruit more women within the subject area. If several applicants are considered to have equal qualifications, female applicants will be given priority.

Application

To apply for this position please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In your application letter, you must state your research interests and motivation for the position.

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

CV with a full summary of your education and experience
references, certificates/diplomas and other documentation that you consider relevant
Diploma Supplement or similar and a confirmed conversion scale if this is required
documentation on competence in English if this is required
publications or other relevant research work

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above and that you have attached the necessary documentation.

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 100 MB, they must be compressed before upload.

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants – see Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act. If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

General information

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further assessment.

Employment as PhD Fellow is regulated in Regulations to the Universities and Colleges Act, chapter IV. Admission to the doctoral program is regulated in Regulations for the PhD degree at UiS.

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. Based on the committee’s statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

The appointee will be based at the University of Stavanger. It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at, and available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the case of differences of meaning between the texts, the English text takes precedence.

UiS – challenge the well-known and explore the unknown

The University of Stavanger will be a driving force in innovation and green transition, with sustainability making its way into all our study programmes. Our areas of priority are energy, health and welfare, and learning for life.

Our workplace is characterized by outstanding researchers, bustling student life and high levels of well-being among our 2,000 employees. We are an open university, generous and inclusive, with vibrant meeting places for critical reflection, knowledge sharing and constructive debate. One of our main characteristics is extensive collaboration with working life, in research and education alike. UiS focuses on innovative and flexible learning methods for our 12,000 students. This provides unique opportunities for learning, exchange and development for our students and staff.

The university is located in an international region with 300,000 inhabitants, offering diverse job opportunities, an exciting cultural scene and stunning nature experiences. As an employee, you get access to reduced rates on public transport, training during working hours, the possibility of flexible working hours and a mortgage from the State Pension Fund.

The Faculty of Science and Technology offers study programs at bachelor, master and doctoral level. The faculty has established close cooperation on research with NORCE (Norwegian Research Centre AS) and the regional industry. A number of master’s and doctoral theses are made in collaboration with the industry. The faculty has established research collaborations with universities in the US and Europe, and has developed several academic environments that are at the forefront internationally.The faculty has about 2,800 students and approximately 500 employees at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Structural Engineering and Materials Science, Department of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, and the Department of Safety, Economics and Planning.

The Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Technology offers study programs at all levels within the areas Biological Chemistry, Chemistry and Environment. The department is responsible for basic tuition in chemistry at the faculty. There are currently about 60 employees including doctoral and postdoctoral fellows, and 230 students at the department.