Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third largest university with 23,000 students and over 2,600 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and at Romerike. OsloMet educates students and conducts research that contributes to the sustainability of the Norwegian welfare state and the metropolitan region.
About the position
Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third largest university with 23,000 students and over 2,600 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and at Romerike. OsloMet educates students and conducts research that contributes to the sustainability of the Norwegian welfare state and the metropolitan region. The Faculty of Technology, Art and Design (TKD) offers higher education and research and development (R&D) activities within technical subjects, arts and design. The Faculty has approximately 4.000 students and 400 staff members and is situated at Pilestredet Campus in downtown Oslo and at Kjeller Campus in Akershus. The Department of Computer Science offers four bachelor’s degree programmes, a master’s degree programme, and is part of a cross-departmental PhD program. Academic staff at the department are pursuing research in a wide range of areas including computer science, the natural sciences, and innovation and management. Both students and researchers are also involved in an increasing number of interdisciplinary initiatives across the university.
At the Department of Computer Science, we are offering a PhD fellowship position. This position is a part of the recently established Norwegian Quantum Software Centre (NorQSoft) and the OsloMet Quantum Hub.
The scope of the NorQSoft Centre, which is hosted by Simula Research Laboratory and has OsloMet as one of its core partners, spans foundational research on quantum application software, the full quantum software stack, and quantum artificial intelligence. The aim is to pioneer quantum software technologies with real-world relevance by developing the necessary foundations, implementing them in prototype tools, and validating their feasibility and cost-effectiveness through academic and industrial case studies. The centre will also establish a world-class QC education program to lower entry barriers and train the next generation of professionals.
Main duties and areas of responsibility
The successful applicants’ primary duty is to carry out and publish research within their research project. This research will be performed in close collaboration with the main supervisors – in addition to other staff members at the department, Simula Research Laboratory and other NorQSoft members.
It is also expected that the candidates contribute actively to the QC-related activity at SoloMet and NorQSoft centre. This could, e.g., involve giving seminars at summer/winter schools and public dissemination work. The candidates are also expected to present research findings at international conferences and workshops.
Project description
Many proposed quantum algorithms for optimization, including the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) and variational quantum-circuit approaches are formulated and analysed in the ideal unitary setting. On present-day noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) hardware, these methods can fail already for small problem instances because the implemented circuit is a noisy quantum channel rather than the intended unitary transformation. Increasing the number of physical qubits does not by itself solve this problem.
This project will investigate how optimization and data-analysis tasks can be formulated and run on existing gate-based NISQ platforms under such constraints. The central aim is to identify approaches that remain useful when the hardware dynamics include decoherence, gate imperfections and measurement noise. One direction to be studied is quantum reservoir computing and related schemes, where the noisy many-qubit dynamics can be treated as part of the computational resource rather than as an error that must be fully removed.
The project will combine cloud-based quantum computation and cluster-based classical simulations. Candidate approaches will be compared using practical criteria such as circuit depth, number of entangling gates, sensitivity to gate errors, sampling cost and performance on small optimization and data-analysis benchmarks. The expected outcome is a set of methods and design principles for using current NISQ devices for optimization and data analysis, with emphasis on regimes where conventional variational circuits are not robust.
The position is advertised as a 3-year position with 100% research, or a 4-year position with 75% research and 25% other career-advancing work. The goal must be to complete the PhD program/degree within the decided time frame. The decision on a 3- or 4-year position will be discussed as part of the interviews in the hiring process.
Qualification requirements
- A relevant master’s degree with an average grade B or better, a minimum grade of B must be awarded to the master's thesis and a bachelor’s degree with an average grade C or better. The degree should be in theoretical physics, computer science or mathematics. The degree must normally include 120 credits (ECTS). If the master’s degree includes fewer than 120 ECTS credits, the applicant must, by the application deadline, submit documentation confirming that the master’s degree qualifies for admission to doctoral studies in the country where it was awarded. Exceptions to the grade requirements are provided on the doctoral programme’s website (PhD programme website).
- An academic profile aligned with the needs of the research group and the department.
- Written and oral proficiency in English (Language requirements for employees at OsloMet)
- Familiarity with scientific computing and programming in Python, C++, Julia, MATLAB or similar.
Admission to a relevant doctoral programme is a prerequisite
General criteria for appointment to teaching and research positions are set out in the Regulations relating to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges.
It will be an advantage if you have:
- familiarity with quantum physics and quantum computing.
- familiarity with adiabatic quantum computing and quantum annealing in particular.
- experience in implementing and running quantum software using Qiskit or similar.
- experience in simulating dynamical quantum systems.
- experience with cluster-based simulation or high-performance computing.
Personal qualities
We are looking for applicants who:
- are able to work autonomously while still being receptive to guidance and supervision.
- are motivated to complete a doctoral degree and have the ability to follow through on tasks.
- are eager to adopt new ideas and able to see them implemented and published.
- shows analytical capacity and ability to quickly understand new problems, concepts, and theories.
- are able to communicate and disseminate their research field.
Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.
It is important to OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavours to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. You are also welcome to apply for a position with us if you have experienced periods where you have not been in work, education or training.
We offer
- An exciting job opportunity at Norway’s third largest and most urban university
- Opportunities for professional development
- Beneficial pension arrangements with the Norwegian State Pension Fund
- Good welfare schemes and a wide range of sports and cultural offers
Working location in downtown Oslo with multiple cultural offers
Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway
The salary for the position is in accordance with the Basic Collective Agreement for state employees and OsloMets pay policy for PhD Candidate in code 1017, corresponding to 550 800 NOK per year. From the salary, 2% will be deducted in pension contributions for the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK). The current workplace for the position is at the Pilestredet campus in Oslo. In connection with the establishment of the new campus in Lillestrøm, a change of workplace may become relevant at a later stage.
Application process
If you wish to apply for the position, you must do so through our recruitment system.
As an applicant, you will be assessed by an expert committee. Before the application documents are sent to the expert committee, all applications will be reviewed by the faculty. Applications from unqualified candidates will not be forwarded to the expert committee for assessment. If the number of applications requires it, an internal screening committee at OsloMet will carry out an initial selection of candidates. The selected applicants will then be assessed by the expert committee.
Please upload the following documents together by the application deadline:
- Application letter describing your motivation for the position
- CV, reference letters, and all pages of certificates/diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Non-Norwegian education should be pre-approved, and a letter of approval must be attached. Information is available via the following link: Recognition of foreign education - to work in Norway | HK-dir
- Master’s thesis
- Scientific works or a link to the full articles, if relevant
- A list of publications and presentations at international seminars/conferences, if relevant
- Preferably two references with contact information
We only consider applications submitted through our electronic recruitment system, and all required documents must be uploaded for your application to be considered. The documents must be written in a Scandinavian language or English. Translations must be authorized, and you will be asked to present originals if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet verifies documents to give candidates a proper evaluation and to ensure fair competition. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
For relevant positions, OsloMet conducts background checks of applicants in cooperation with an external provider, in order to verify information contained in available documents. Background checks are always carried out with the candidate’s consent, and employment in these positions is conditional upon an approved background check. Relevant applicants will receive further information about this.
Other information
OsloMet holds the EU certification HR Center of Excellence for Charter & Code supporting researchers in career development, mobility and employee rights.
OsloMet has signed The Declaration on Research Assessment. DORA recognizes the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scholarly research are evaluated.
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. Candidates who are seen to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter law will not be considered for the position.
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About us
Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third largest university with 23,000 students and over 2,600 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and at Romerike. OsloMet educates students and conducts research that contributes to the sustainability of the Norwegian welfare state and the metropolitan region.
For over 200 years, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University has contributed to building knowledge and competence for the Norwegian welfare society. Today, OsloMet is a modern and urban university known for its large and robust academic environments in teacher education, health and social sciences, social research, design, and technology.
