PhD Research Fellow in informatics (optimization)

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PhD position in informatics (optimization)

There is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow in informatics (optimization) at the Department of Informatics. The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years with the possibility of a 4th year with compulsory other work (e.g. teaching duties at Department of Informatics). The position is associated with the project Ocean Charger financed by the Norwegian Research Council (NFR) and Norwegian industrial companies. This position is contingent upon funding for the Ocean Charger project being allocated according to plan.

About the Department

Digitization of businesses, industry, public administration, and education makes informatics play an increasingly important role in the development of society. Research and education in informatics are crucial for the digital transformation of the society to succeed. The Department of Informatics contributes to this through eight research groups that deliver research and education at a high international level in algorithms, bioinformatics, information security, machine learning, optimization, programming theory, visualization and didactics. The department offers education for the future at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels. The department is in rapid growth regarding its number of students, research directions, and employees. We have today about 1000 students, and 150 employees from over 30 countries, among which 37 are faculty and 50 PhD candidates. We have established the Center for Data Science (CEDAS) and Computational Biology Unit (CBU) as important extensions of our research and education activities.

About the project/work tasks

Major investments in offshore wind are expected in Norway in the near future, and large wind farms are to be built on the Norwegian continental shelf. Both the installation phase and the operational phase require a large fleet of specially adapted ships and maritime systems of various categories. During the coming years, such vessels must reduce emissions and eventually operate emission-free. The project Ocean Charger’s aim is to make a significant and concrete contribution to an optimal selection of maritime components in the system, and to the best possible implementation of installation and operation. The project will develop technical solutions for energy transfer to battery-powered vessels and enable the vessels to be recharged at charging units to be installed at the offshore wind farms.

The optimization group at the Department of Informatics at the University of Bergen (UiB) is an active partner in Ocean Charger and has the main responsibility for the work package Smart maritime operations for offshore wind. The purpose of this work package is to develop models and solution methods for cost-effective operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms. Decisions to be optimized include allocation of battery-powered vessels to planned maintenance operations and the vessels’ sailing routes. Methods will also be developed to optimize the infrastructure exploited by the vessels, such as capacity and location of battery charging points.

In collaboration with researchers at UiB, the PhD research fellow will develop models (based on, e.g., linear programming or integer programming) and solution methods (e.g. metaheuristics or matheuristics) for the problem area in question. The research work is to be published in international scientific journals and at international conferences. The methodology to be developed will be tested on realistic industrial data, and the results obtained are to be presented to industrial Ocean Charger partners.

Qualifications and personal qualities

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree or have equivalent education in optimization, operations research, industrial engineering, or an adjacent field. Master students can apply provided they complete their final master exam before August 1, 2023. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded.
• Experience, acquired during either studies or professional life, in modeling of practical optimization problems is a requirement.
• Experience, acquired during either studies or professional life, in developing solution methods for practical optimization problems is a requirement.
• Experience from relevant industrial collaboration is an advantage.
• Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and demonstrate good collaborative skills.
• Applicants must be proficient in both written and oral English.
• A good command of the Norwegian language is an advantage.

Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates.

Special requirements for the position:

The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.

About the PhD position

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, with the possibility for a 4th year, consisting of 25 % compulsory work (e.g. teaching responsibilities at Department of Informatics) distributed over the employment period. The 4th year is contingent on the qualifications of the candidate and the teaching needs of the department and will be decided by the head of department upon appointment.

The employment period may be reduced if the successful applicant previously has been employed in a qualifying post (e.g. research fellow, research assistant).

About the research training

The PhD research fellow must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is 2 months after startup or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree. It is a condition that the PhD research fellow satisfies the enrolment requirements for the PhD programme at the University of Bergen.

We can offer

• Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment
• Salary at pay grade 54 (Code 1017) in the state salary scale. This currently amounts to an annual salary of NOK 501 200 before taxes. Further promotions are made according to qualifications and length of service in the position. 
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include

• a brief account of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis
• CV
• transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not yet completed your master’s degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your master’s degree. Your master’s degree must be documented with transcripts and/or diploma, alternatively a confirmation from your institution on completed degree and your grade, by August 1, 2023.
• relevant certificates/references
• approved documentation of proficiency in English (if required, cf. English language requirements for PhD admission)
• a list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list)
• any publications in your name

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.

General information

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting:  Professor Dag Haugland, Department of Informatics, dag.haugland@uib.no, or Associate Professor Ahmad Hemmati, Department of Informatics, ahmad.hemmati@uib.no.

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

We encourage women/men to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.

About UiB

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad. 

There are seven departments and several centres at Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments. 

Deadline: 2023-04-21 at 23:59
Unit: Department of Informatics

Read the job description at the university homepage or apply.

Post expires on Friday April 21st, 2023