PhD Position in Continental Slope Dynamics – Arctic Ocean (UNIS)

Job title

PhD Position in Continental Slope Dynamics.

Company

The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Arctic Geophysics Department.

Description of the job

The Arctic Geophysics department at UNIS offers a PhD position affiliated with the national research program Arctic Ocean 2050. The project will investigate the dynamical processes governing shelf–slope–basin coupling in the Arctic Ocean, focusing on eddies and their role in cross-slope transport to better characterize lateral fluxes of physical and biological properties.

In the Arctic Ocean, exchanges of heat, salt, nutrients and organisms across ridges and between shelves and deep basins are driven by mesoscale eddies that link the warm Atlantic layer with colder shelf waters and shape the deep basins and Arctic halocline. However, mechanisms governing the eddy-driven cross-slope exchange remain poorly quantified. Mechanisms controlling water mass transformation and dense-water formation on the Arctic shelves will also be addressed since the renewal of the halocline water or deep water depends on water mass transformation on the shelves.

The continental slope areas north of Svalbard will be used as a laboratory through both fieldwork campaigns and numerical model development. The candidate will compile and analyse eddy-resolving model data, repeated Arctic Ocean CTD/LADCP sections together with observations from A-TWAIN, Yermak Plateau, Nansen Legacy, and Fram Strait moorings to examine short-time variability and eddy vertical structure in hydrography and currents. Activities will include international cooperation and cruises with the ice-going research vessel Kronprins Haakon or other vessels.

The four-year contract includes a year of required duties (teaching and fieldwork instructor in bachelor courses, maintaining the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) around Svalbard at 500-metre resolution, FAIR publication of datasets). Alternatively, a three-year position without duties is available. Admission to a doctoral program at one of the Norwegian mainland universities is a condition for employment.

What We Offer:

• A challenging and varied job in an exciting and international environment in the High Arctic.
• Membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK).
• Excellent insurance schemes.
• Coverage of travel and relocation expenses (max NOK 10,000) upon starting the position.
• Staff housing in accordance with current regulations.
• Svalbard allowance of NOK 44,640 per annum.
• Favourable tax conditions: income tax rate in Svalbard is currently 8%.
• Opportunity to participate in digital Norwegian language courses.

Requirements

Required:

• Master's degree in a field relevant for the position, completed by July 1, 2026.
• Numerical modeling skills, preferably ROMS.
• Knowledge of physical processes in the ocean and good skills in mathematics and programming.
• Experience in analysing large environmental datasets using programming tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Ability to work independently and in a structured manner, with good collaborative skills.
• Proficient in both written and oral English.

Advantageous:

• Experience from oceanographic field work, particularly from instrumentation used on moorings, underwater gliders and AUVs.
• Authorship or co-authorship in scientific publications.
• Prior work experience in an interdisciplinary research team setting and teaching experience.
• Driver's license class B (valid for Svalbard).

Location

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.

Salary

Not specified.

How to apply

All applications must be sent through the JobbNorge system.

Submit: motivational letter (max. 1 page), full academic CV, transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and contact information for two references (one must be master's supervisor). Applications lacking required documents will not be considered.

For inquiries, contact Prof. Frank Nilsen at frankn@unis.no or Assoc. Prof. Ragnheid Skogseth at ragnheids@unis.no.

Deadline

07/04/2026.

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