Martino Marisaldi

The University of Bergen invites applications for a PhD Research Fellow in Space Physics, based at the Department of Physics and Technology. This position is part of the GRAIL (“Gamma Radiation from the Atmosphere for Investigation and Learning”) project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme under the Maria Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network. The fellowship is for a fixed-term period of 3 years, with the possibility of a 4th year involving career-promoting work such as teaching. The research focuses on thunderclouds as natural particle accelerators, specifically investigating Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGF) and their observation from space. The successful candidate will develop innovative mission concepts for TGF observation, building on the scientific exploitation of the ASIM mission onboard the International Space Station and the ALOFT flight campaign. The project includes the study and development of detectors and mission profiles for atmospheric electricity experiments, aiming to advance beyond the current state-of-the-art. Results are expected to be published in top-tier journals and presented at international conferences. The PhD project is one of 15 GRAIL PhD projects across Europe, with two hosted at the University of Bergen. The candidate will benefit from extensive collaboration within the Horizon Europe GRAIL network, including funding for international conferences, transferable-skills training, and academic courses such as summer and winter schools. Planned secondments include Duke University (USA) and IDEAS (Norway). The Space Physics group at the Department of Physics and Technology, led by Professor Martino Marisaldi, offers a stimulating environment with ongoing funded projects and a strong international reputation. The team collaborates widely across Europe and the USA, including the ERC Advanced Grant project ENLIGHTEN. Applicants must hold a master's degree or equivalent in physics, or be in the final stages of their master's programme (completion required by 01.08.2026). Required qualifications include documented experience with radiation detectors, proficiency in programming languages for scientific data analysis and visualization, and general knowledge of the near-earth space environment. Additional advantages include knowledge of atmospheric or lightning physics and space systems engineering. Candidates must demonstrate independence, structured work habits, collaborative skills, and proficiency in English. The Horizon Europe mobility rule applies: candidates must not have resided in Norway for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to recruitment. The position offers a gross annual salary of NOK 568,700, with increases based on length of service, enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, and welfare benefits. Funding is available for conference attendance and personal development through the GRAIL network. Applications must be submitted via Jobbnorge and include a research interests statement, detailed qualifications justification, contact information for two referees, CV, transcripts, diplomas, certificates, and documentation of English proficiency. Certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language are required if applicable. The application deadline is 24 May 2026. For further information, contact Professor Martino Marisaldi ([email protected]) or Head of Department Kjetil Ullaland ([email protected]). The University of Bergen is committed to diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.

The University of Bergen invites applications for a PhD Research Fellow in Space Physics at the Department of Physics and Technology. This position is funded by the Research Council of Norway through the project “What makes 'Flickering Gamma-ray Flashes' Flicker?” and offers a fixed-term contract of 3 years, with the possibility of a 4th year dedicated to career-promoting activities such as teaching. The research focuses on Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs), Flickering Gamma-ray Flashes (FGFs), and gamma-ray glows—some of the most energetic phenomena in Earth's atmosphere, generated by lightning and thunderstorm activity. The project aims to unravel the connections between TGFs, FGFs, glows, and lightning discharges using modeling and analysis of data from the innovative ALOFT flight campaign. The ALOFT campaign deployed advanced detectors aboard a NASA high-altitude aircraft, collecting data over thunderstorms in Florida, Central America, and the Caribbean. These airborne measurements were synchronized with ground-based radio stations, creating a unique multi-platform observation system. A second major aircraft campaign is planned for summer 2028. As a PhD fellow, you will join the Space Physics group, working with both observational and simulated data. The balance between these will be tailored to your skills and interests. You will contribute to the dissemination of research results, enjoy a high degree of autonomy, and have flexibility in publication focus. The expectation is to publish in top-tier journals and present at national and international conferences at least twice a year. The team, led by Researcher David Sarria and Professor Martino Marisaldi, has a strong international reputation and collaborates widely across Europe and the USA. Applicants must hold a master's degree or equivalent in Physics. Master students may apply if they complete their final exam before 31 July 2026. Required qualifications include documented knowledge of the near-earth space environment or atmospheric/lightning physics, proficiency in programming languages for scientific data analysis and visualization, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Experience with radio, optical, or hard-radiation detectors, and familiarity with ALOFT data, are advantageous. Proficiency in written and oral English is essential. Personal qualities, ambitions, and potential will be considered in the evaluation process. The University of Bergen is subject to export control regulations, which will be applied during application processing. The position offers a gross annual salary of NOK 568,700, enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, and good welfare benefits. The employment period may be reduced if you have previously held a qualifying post. As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within 3 years, with the deadline for applying to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences being 2 months after starting the position. To apply, submit your application online via Jobbnorge, including a brief account of your research interests and motivation, a detailed justification of your qualifications, names and contact information for two referees (one should be your master's thesis advisor), CV, transcripts, diplomas, relevant certificates, approved documentation of English proficiency, and a publication list. All documents must be uploaded with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language. The University of Bergen values diversity and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age. Women and underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. The university applies the principle of public access to information in recruitment, and information about applicants may be made public. For further details, contact Researcher David Sarria ([email protected]) or Head of Department Kjetil Ullaland ([email protected]). For HR questions, contact Vivian Stegen Jacobsen ([email protected]).

The University of Bergen, a leading European institution renowned for high-quality research and education, invites applications for a PhD Research Fellow in Space Physics within the Department of Physics and Technology. This position is funded by the ENLIGHTEN project, an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) under the Horizon Europe programme, and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on thunderclouds, particle acceleration, and gamma-ray emission. The ENLIGHTEN project builds on the group’s pioneering work, including the ALOFT aircraft campaign, which revealed new insights into tropical thunderclouds and their gamma-ray emissions. The project aims to explore the connection between energetic radiation and lightning initiation, a major unsolved problem in atmospheric electricity. The research will involve a new aircraft campaign using NASA’s high-altitude research aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico, scheduled for summer 2028. The team is developing an innovative airborne gamma-ray imager to localize and image gamma-ray sources from thunderclouds, with the potential for significant scientific discoveries. The successful candidate will join the Space Physics group, working under the supervision of Professor Martino Marisaldi and Head of Department Kjetil Ullaland. The group has a strong international reputation and collaborates widely across Europe and the USA. The candidate will contribute to the realization, calibration, and testing of the gamma-ray imager, development of imaging software, and participate in detector operations during the aircraft campaign. Subsequent data exploitation and publication in top-tier journals and presentations at international conferences are expected. Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in physics. Master students may apply if they complete their final exam before 01.08.2026. Required qualifications include documented experience or competence in radiation detectors, general knowledge of the near-earth space environment or atmospheric/lightning physics, and proficiency in programming languages for scientific data analysis and visualization. Experience with calibration of gamma-ray detectors is advantageous. Candidates should demonstrate independence, structured work habits, collaborative skills, and strong English communication abilities. Personal qualities, research experience, ambitions, and potential will be considered. The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years, with the possibility of a 4th year involving career-promoting work such as teaching. The gross annual salary is NOK 568,700, with increases based on length of service. Additional benefits include enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund and welfare benefits. The University of Bergen is committed to diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds. To apply, submit your application online via Jobbnorge, including a brief account of research interests, motivation, detailed justification of qualifications, names and contact information for two referees, CV, transcripts, diplomas, relevant certificates, approved documentation of English proficiency, and a publication list. Certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded. The application deadline is 24 May 2026. For further information, contact Professor Martino Marisaldi ([email protected]) or Head of Department Kjetil Ullaland ([email protected]). For HR questions, contact Vivian Stegen Jacobsen ([email protected]). This is an exceptional opportunity to join a dynamic research group and contribute to advancing our understanding of atmospheric electricity and space physics.

The University of Bergen invites applications for a PhD Research Fellow in Space Physics, focusing on the experimental investigation of gamma-ray glows and Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements. This position is based in the Department of Physics and Technology and is funded by the GRAIL project (“Gamma Radiation from the Atmosphere for Investigation and Learning”), part of the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network. The appointment is for three years, with the possibility of a fourth year dedicated to career-promoting activities such as teaching. The research project explores thunderclouds as natural particle accelerators, capable of producing gamma-rays and long-duration emissions associated with intense electric fields. The successful candidate will conduct ground-based observations at international facilities, analyze data from aircraft and ground-based sources, and assess the feasibility of deploying gamma-ray instrumentation at additional sites. The findings are expected to contribute to top-tier peer-reviewed journals and be presented at international conferences. As part of the GRAIL network, the candidate will benefit from extensive collaboration opportunities, including funded attendance at conferences, summer and winter schools, online seminars, and PhD-level courses. Planned secondments include the ASEC laboratory in Armenia and ASTRON in the Netherlands, providing hands-on experience with radiation instrumentation. The Space Physics group at the University of Bergen, led by Professor Martino Marisaldi, is internationally recognized and manages several funded projects, including the ERC Advanced Grant ENLIGHTEN. The group offers a stimulating environment with a wide network of collaborators across Europe and the USA. Applicants must hold a master's degree or equivalent in Physics, or be in the final stages of their master's studies (completion required by 01.08.2026). Essential qualifications include documented experience with radiation detectors, proficiency in programming languages for scientific data analysis and visualization, and general knowledge of the near-earth space environment, atmospheric or lightning physics. Strong written and oral English skills, independence, and collaborative abilities are required. The Horizon Europe mobility rule applies: candidates must not have resided in Norway for more than 12 months in the three years prior to recruitment. The position offers a gross annual salary of NOK 568,700, with increases based on length of service, enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, and comprehensive welfare benefits. Additional funding supports international travel, training, and secondments. The PhD fellowship requires participation in an approved educational programme, with admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Science and Technology within two months of starting. To apply, submit your application via Jobbnorge, including a motivation letter, detailed qualifications, contact information for two referees, CV, transcripts, diplomas, certificates, documentation of English proficiency, and a publication list. Certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language are required. The University of Bergen is committed to diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds. For further information, contact Professor Martino Marisaldi ([email protected]) or Head of Department Kjetil Ullaland ([email protected]). HR-related questions can be directed to Vivian Stegen Jacobsen ([email protected]).