OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet er Norges tredje største universitet med 23 000 studenter og over 2600 ansatte. Vi har campus i Oslo Sentrum og på Romerike. OsloMet leverer forskning og utdanning med høy relevans for arbeidslivet, velferdsstaten og storbyregionen.
About the position
The Department of Built Environment https://www.oslomet.no/en/about/tkd/be at Oslo Metropolitan University has a vacancy for a PhD candidate available in the area of railway systems/railway sleepers in UHPC. The position will be a four‑year position with 25% career development duties in the field of railway systems/ railway sleepers made with ultra high performance concrete (UHPC).
The position is affiliated with the project “design, fabrication, and full-scale testing of railway sleepers made with ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). The project aims to develop and validate durable UHPC sleeper solutions that can improve structural performance, reduce maintenance needs, and extend the service life of railway infrastructure under demanding loading and climate conditions.
The desired start date is 1st January 2027.
Your main duties and areas of responsibility will be to
Railway systems face persistent challenges related to the deterioration of conventional timber and concrete sleepers, including fatigue cracking, rail-seat abrasion, freeze-thaw damage, and reduced service life. These challenges are particularly critical in cold-climate railway infrastructure, where repeated temperature fluctuations, moisture ingress, snow and ice, and high traffic demands accelerate degradation and increase maintenance needs.
This PhD project will develop and validate railway sleepers made with UHPC. The work may include, but is not limited to, UHPC material design and optimization, durability testing under harsh environmental conditions, fabrication and full-scale structural testing of sleepers under static and cyclic loading, numerical modelling, lifecycle and sustainability assessment, and pilot testing and monitoring in Norway. The specific activities may be adjusted or further developed based on project needs and research progress. The project will be carried out in collaboration between OsloMet, Iowa State University, and the Norwegian Railway Directorate, and will include a pilot study under real railway operating conditions to support practical recommendations for more durable and sustainable railway infrastructure. The candidate will also be expected to undertake a research stay at Iowa State University for a defined period as part of the project.
In addition to the project, the position is advertised with 25% career development work such as teaching and supervision on the department study programs.
As a PhD Fellow at OsloMet, you have the opportunity to apply for funding for extended research stays abroad.
The final plan for the fellowship period must be approved and formalized no later than three months after commencement.
Qualification requirements
- Master's degree in civil engineering, with specialization in structural engineering, materials engineering, construction engineering, or equivalent relevant disciplines. The degree must normally contain 120 credits (ECTS). Applicants whose master’s degree contain less than 120 ECTS credits must, by the application deadline, provide documentation that the degree qualifies for admission to doctoral studies in the country where the master’s degree was obtained.
- An academic profile aligned with the needs of the research group and the department.
- For appointment to the position, the following grade requirements normally apply:
- Minimum average grade B on subjects included in the master's degree.
- Minimum grade B on the master's thesis.
- Minimum average grade C on the subjects included in the bachelor's degree. If you have an integrated master's degree, the grades from the first three standard years of the degree will be assessed.
- Exceptions to the grade requirements are provided on the doctoral programme’s website (Engineering Science - OsloMet).
- Written and oral proficiency in English (Language requirements for employees at OsloMet)
Admission to the PhD programme PENG at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design is a prerequisite for employment in the position. An application for admission to the PhD programme must be submitted within three months of the start date.
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
- background in concrete technology, construction materials, or structural engineering
- interest in experimental work, full-scale testing, numerical modelling, and field investigations
- familiarity with strength, durability, and structural testing of cement-based materials is an advantage
- experience with data processing and analysis of material or structural response is desirable
Personal qualities
- strong ability to follow through on tasks and projects
- motivation for the academic and research field
- good communication and collaboration skills
- strong analytical skills
- ability to think innovatively and contribute to development
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 endeavors to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to make adaptations to the workplace where required. You are also welcome to apply for a position with us if you have had periods where you have not been in employment, education or training.
We offer
- exciting job tasks at Norway’s third largest university
- participation in research groups and a creative and inspiring academic community
- opportunities for academic development
- good welfare schemes and a wide range of sports and cultural offers
- loan and pension arrangements with the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- a workplace in the center of Oslo
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).
Application process
If you wish to apply for the position, you must do so through our recruitment system.
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. Foreign education should be pre-approved, and if so a letter of approval should 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 article, 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 documents must be uploaded for your application to be considered. The documents must be 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 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.
Information for you as an applicant
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). 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
OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet er Norges tredje største universitet med 23 000 studenter og over 2600 ansatte. Vi har campus i Oslo Sentrum og på Romerike. OsloMet leverer forskning og utdanning med høy relevans for arbeidslivet, velferdsstaten og storbyregionen.
I over 200 år har OsloMet – storbyuniversitetet bidratt til å bygge kunnskap og kompetanse for det norske velferdssamfunnet. I dag er OsloMet et moderne og urbant universitet som er kjent for sine store og solide fagmiljøer innenfor lærerutdanning, helse- og sosialfag, samfunnsforskning, design og teknologifag.
