Postdoctoral Fellow in Hydrology and Catchment Biogeochemistry

This is NTNU

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

About the position

The Department of Geography and Social Anthropology at NTNU has a vacancy for a 3 years Postdoctoral Fellow position in Hydrology and Catchment Biogeochemistry.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work on the project Adapting to climate risks via landscape-scale solutions: effects of peatland restoration on floods and water browning (ANTIPASTI). 
The project clarifies how peatland restoration modifies the way landscapes retain, transform and release water and biogeochemical elements, eventually affecting their capability of modulating floods and aquatic carbon fluxes.

The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and realized in partnership with the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy), the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland), and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA, Norway). 

As a Postdoctoral Fellow you will join an interdisciplinary, international and stimulating academic environment, with supporting colleagues for you to excel in your academic career. The Postdoctoral Fellow position may entail a secondary affiliation and recurrent research visits at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering of the University of Trento (Italy).

We are looking for a capable and motivated candidate with an interest in investigating the effects of peatland restoration on hydrology and catchment biogeochemistry by means of a diverse set of methods, including field investigations, modelling and data-driven analyses. 

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

Duties of the position

• Carry out high-quality scientific research
• Publish research results in high-impact, peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Take responsibility for the field research activities of the project in collaboration with the PI
• Curate the resulting datasets and use them for own research and scientific publications
• Work on data-driven and modeling analyses related to soil saturation, hydrologic response and hydrologic functioning of peatland headwaters and river catchments
• Engage in scientific discussions and actively participate in the research group 
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and research stays
• Career promoting work such as co-supervision of master and PhD students from the project partner institutions, research funding management or other academic development work 
   

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a doctoral degree in Hydrology, Geoscience, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Geography or similar fields of study. 
• If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position
• Previous research experience in the field of hydrology, catchment biogeochemistry, peatland restoration or other fields of study relevant to the project
• Authored publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals (also under review or submitted)
• Interest in field-based research and affinity for the outdoors
• Curiosity and an entrepreneurial attitude
• Fluency in English and good writing skills

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience in at least one of the following (listed in priority order): i) field-based scientific research in hydrology or catchment biogeochemistry; ii) environmental surveying by means of unmanned aerial vehicles and use of the gathered data for scientific research; iii) development and application of analytical and numerical models and excellent programming skills
• Interest in co-supervising master and PhD students from the partner institutions of the project
• Willingness to discuss and contribute ideas towards the development of research projects

Personal characteristics

Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you

• Work independently and in a structured manner
• Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Are flexible and open to adapting research plans as the project develops
• Positively engage with feedback
• Communicate and collaborate well in an interdisciplinary research environment
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject 
• Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

If you do not already have educational competence that meets the requirements for a position as associate professor in Norway, NTNU will arrange the possibility for you to acquire such competence during the employment period. In such cases, you will also be assigned relevant teaching as part of the career-promoting work.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions. 

We offer 

• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment 
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which containsthe skills and knowledge you will acquire
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. 

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633 400,- per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years. The candidate must start latest March 1st, 2027.

The position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them. 

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed

About the application 

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. All the documents must be in English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above.

The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. 

The application must include:

• Your CV
• A Research Statement that summarizes your expertise and how it may be an asset for the project ANTIPASTI (up to 2 pages)
• Academic works - published, under review, submitted or in preparation (up to 5)
• Transcripts for Master and PhD degrees.
  • If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Name and contact information of three referees

If all or parts of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public list of applicants, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Stefano Basso ([email protected]).

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Advisor Renate Lillian Johansen ([email protected]).

Application deadline :01.09.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000.The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.