Vacancies

Field of work

The Ph.D. student will contribute to developing an Operational Earthquake Forecasting System for the short-term forecasting of volcanic and tectonic seismicity in Southwest Iceland. This project addresses the region's increasing seismic and volcanic activity, particularly in the Reykjanes Peninsula, where tens of thousands of microearthquakes and multiple significant seismic events have occurred since 2019. The area has also experienced several magma intrusions and eruptions.

The doctoral candidate will focus on:

• Developing a Bayesian spatiotemporal epidemic-type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model using advanced statistical and physical models to incorporate volcanic seismicity and magma dynamics, analysing earthquake-triggering mechanisms and crustal stress changes.
• Quantifying short-term probabilistic seismic hazard, calibrating Icelandic ground motion models to include smaller magnitudes, improving hazard forecasting, and updating hazard assessments based on ongoing seismic activity.
• Creating a harmonized instrumental seismic catalogue for Southwest Iceland 
• Conducting statistical analyses following the CSEP (Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability) guidelines to ensure transparency and unbiased evaluation of seismic forecasting models.

The doctoral student's work on the project will form the basis of the doctoral thesis. The results will be incorporated into an operational earthquake forecasting system for Iceland. The PhD candidate will collaborate closely with an international, multidisciplinary research team of experts from the University of Iceland, the Icelandic Meteorological Office, University College London, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, University of Naples Federico II, and the Swiss Seismological Service of ETH Zurich. 

Qualification requirements

• Master's degree in geophysics, physics, statistics, seismology, engineering seismology or engineering.
• Experience in earthquake clustering modeling (e.g., ETAS model), seismic hazard assessment, statistical modeling, and machine learning, is desirable. 
• Proficiency in computer programming (e.g., Python) for statistical modeling and data analysis.
• Good written and spoken English skills.
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team

Application process

Application Process:

Applicants are required to submit the following documents with their application:

• Cover letter (max 2 pages), stating the applicant's interest in the project and relevant qualifications.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Certified copies of academic degrees (B.S. and M.S. diplomas, or an official letter from a supervisor confirming the planned M.S. defense date) and official transcripts with grades from B.S. and M.S. studies.
• Copies of master's thesis and/or other relevant publications (if applicable).
• Names and contact information for two referees and how they can be reached.
• TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent test results

The appointment is conditional on the applicant submitting a formal application for PhD studentship at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iceland and that the application is approved by the faculty.

The principal investigator primary academic advisor of this project is Dr. Atefe Darzi, Research Specialist at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Benedikt Halldórsson, Research Professor at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Coordinator of Seismic Hazard at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, will act as the administrative advisor.

The applicant is expected to start on  September 1st. 2025, or according to further agreement. 

All applications will be answered, and applicants will be informed about the appointment when a decision has been made. Applications are valid in the system for 6 months after the application deadline. 

Appointments to positions at the University of Iceland are made in consideration of the Equal Action Policy of the University of Iceland.

The University of Iceland has a special Language Policy.

The University of Iceland is a thriving knowledge society and a diverse and vibrant workplace. Academic freedom, professionalism and equality are the values of the university, and great emphasis is placed on flexibility and staff participation in the development of studies and research. The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences employs around 390 people in research and teaching in the fields of engineering and natural sciences. The working environment is international, with a quarter of both staff and postgraduate students in the department being foreign, and this proportion is constantly increasing. The department has around 2000 students, around a quarter of whom are postgraduate students. The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences prides itself on its diversity and reform-oriented environment where knowledge acquisition and dissemination are paramount.

Application deadline

For further information contact

Benedikt Halldórsson

skykkur@hi.is

Atefe Darzi

atefe@hi.is

Apply now

Field of work

The Icelandic highlands are now mostly barren lands, desert's among the largest in Europe. They constitute dynamic ecosystems, highly responsive to external determinants of ecosystem change. The general consensus is that the Icelandic highlands sustained more vegetation and ecosystem stability in the past, and that climate deterioration and land use over the last millennium has led the current ecosystem degradation. Prior orbital-driven cooling may have reduced their resilience to external stressors. In context with current debates about potential disruptions and slow-down of the AMOC, this research enhances understanding of the impacts of such episodes over the course of the Holocene. For the execution of the project, the candidate is expected to build high resolution proxy data for soil erosion, vegetation change and climate of the past, with focus on episodes of cooling. The student will benefit from both domestic and international collaboration and support. The doctoral project is performed in collaboration with the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The work will include (but is not exclusive to): 

• Fieldwork to collect materials from which to build the required palaeoenvironmental datasets.
• Building of geochronological frameworks for soil/lake sediment profiles using tephrochronology and ¹⁴C, as well as other radiometric techniques.
• The construction of high-resolution palaeoenvironmental datasets from a series of lake sediment/wetland/soil sequences, from whom land cover and stability can be inferred. These can be, for example, pollen analysis, lipid biomarkers, sedimentary proxies, etc.
• Communicate the arising data and results in relevant peer-reviewed international journals, conferences, and seminars.
• Synthesise research outcomes in a doctoral thesis.

The project will be carried out using facilities at the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland. Supervisor: Prof. Egill Erlendsson.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants should hold an M.Sc./MA degree in Geography (physical), Earth Science, Botany, Ecology, or related fields
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English is required (IELTS overall score of 7.0 or TOEFL overall score of 100)
• Proficiency in Icelandic is preferred
• Prior experience with palaeoecological and geochronological work is preferred
• Skills to communicate research outcomes in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and local and international conferences

The selected candidate must send a formal application for PhD studentship at the University of Iceland and the position is contingent on acceptance into the PhD program.

Application process

Position starts in September 2025.

Applications must include:

• A Curriculum Vitae
• A motivation letter (max. 1 page) stating what the applicant is interested in about the project, what the applicant has to offer in designing and executing the project and the expectation for the doctoral study
• Transcripts of diplomas and grades at previous university faculty, at both the undergraduate and master¿s levels
• Two reference letters and contact information for the two referees
• Proof of English language proficiency
• The language of application must be English

All applications will be answered, and applicants will be notified of the job placement once a decision has been made. Applications can be valid for up to six months from the end of the application deadline.

Further information on the position can be obtained from: Prof. Egill Erlendsson (egille@hi.is), Dr. Susanne C. Möckel (susanne@lbhi.is), Dr. Wesley R. Farnsworth (wesleyf@hi.is).

Appointments to positions at the University of Iceland are made in consideration of the Equal Rights Policy of the University of Iceland - https://english.hi.is/about-ui/policies/policies-ui/equality-action-plan.

The University of Iceland has a special Language Policy - https://english.hi.is/about-ui/policies/policies-ui/language-policy

The University of Iceland is a flourishing community of knowledge and is a very dynamic and interesting workplace. Our values are academic freedom, professionalism and equality. The University strives to provide flexibility and encourages participation in the development of the study programs and research in all fields within the realm of the University. The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences employs ca. 390 people involved with teaching and research. The School offers an international working environment, where currently about quarter of all employees and graduate students are international, and that number is increasing each year. The school has around 2000 students and numerous graduate students. The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences is proud of its¿ diversity and reform-minded environment where knowledge acquisition and sharing is paramount.

Application deadline

For further information contact

Egill Erlendsson

egille@hi.is

Apply now

Field of work

A postdoctoral position is a temporary research position intended to provide further training and experience after completing a doctoral degree, preparing individuals for an academic career.

Qualification requirements

• PhD degree

Application process

Applications must include. 

1. CV and cover letter, 
2. research proposal. The proposal should outline the scientific innovation, value and objectives of the research, along with a general description of the project that can be made publicly available. The proposal is confidential, except for the general description. 
3. list of publications, 
4. a copy of the PhD diploma or a letter from the applicant's university confirming that the doctoral thesis defense will take place before October 1, 2025 (signed by supervisor and/or relevant faculty), 
5. a statement of support from the University of Iceland school/faculty/institute confirming that the applicant will have access to the necessary facilities and equipment (see template). 

All supporting documents must be in PDF format. Applicants are also required to arrange for two experts to submit reference letters confirming the quality of the applicant `s research and their ability to conduct the proposed postdoctoral research. It is preferred that one of the reviewers be associated with the applicant `s doctoral thesis. The reference letters should be emailed in PDF format directly to rannsoknasjodir@hi.is before the application deadline. 

All applications will be answered, and applicants will be notified of the decision when it has been made. Applications will be valid for six months from the end of the application deadline. 

Salary will be in accordance with the wage agreement between the Minister of Finance and the relevant trade union. Appointments at the University of Iceland consider the Equal Rights Policy.Please also note the University of Iceland Language Policy.For further information, including directions for obtaining statements of support, please contact the Division of Science and Innovation (rannsoknasjodir@hi.is). Applications should be submitted online; the application form and instructions can be found here.

The advertisement is based on working procedures for the recruitment fund of the University of Iceland.SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATIONS HERE: POST DOC GRANT 2025

Application deadline

For further information contact

Maya Staub

maya@hi.is

Apply now

Field of work

The main goal of the PhD project is to assess of the hydrological water balance and carbon sequestration potential in two newly constructed bioretention cells receiving roof runoff from a building on University of Iceland Campus.

The successful candidate will be responsible for finetuning the experimental setup and collecting a comprehensive field data set for 2.5 years outdoors in all weather conditions. This includes, among other things, manually recording carbon sequestration rates in the bioretention cells and adjacent urban grass and green roofs every week, and operating self-recording instruments of hydrological load entering and exiting the bioretention cells, soil and weather conditions. The PhD student needs to have interest in conducting hands-on field data collection outdoors in cold climate with an interdisciplinary research team. The successful candidate will moreover analyze the data with statistical methods, and write the findings in the form of three scientific papers in English to be published in international peer reviewed journals. Furthermore, the PhD students will write a report/handbook detailing the local experience and design considerations of bioretention cells for practitioners/stakeholders in Iceland, as well as presenting results in local and international conferences. The candidate will contribute to a larger, interdisciplenary research team which includes a Masters and PhD student. 

Facilities for the candidate will be at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty at the University of Iceland. The work will be conducted in collaboration with the Land Restoration Programme at the Agricultural University of Iceland and the Soil Conservation of Iceland.

Qualification requirements

• Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering or Environmental Science.
• Strong background in hydrological processes, environmental soil physics, and/or hydrological data analyses is preferred.
• Good computer skills (such as Excel, Matlab, or R).
• Reliability, initiative, and competence to work independently, along with good communication and cooperation skills.
• Chemical laboratory training (handing chemicals safely, including acids) is an advantage.
• Proficiency in English, both verbal and written.

The hiring of a PhD student is contingent on the candidate applying formally for the PhD program at the University of Iceland at the corresponding department and that the application is approved by the faculty.

Application process

The starting date for the position is September 1^st 2025

Applications should include:

• A two-page statement of research interests and how the candidate can contribute to the project.
• A CV, stating relevant work experience including laboratory or field experiments, computer programming skills and a list of publications and presentations if applicable.
• Copies of university diplomas (BS and MS), with course listings and grade information (in English or Icelandic). If MS degree is not finished, hand in a letter from thesis advisor with projected end date.
• Names and full contact information of two professional academic referees (including their relationship to the applicant).

All applications will be answered, and applicants will be informed about the appointment when a decision has been made. Applications are valid in the system for 6 months after the application deadline.

Appointments to positions at the University of Iceland are made in consideration of the Equal Action Policy of the University of Iceland.

The University of Iceland has a special Language Policy.

The University of Iceland is a flourishing community of knowledge and is a very dynamic and interesting workplace. Our values are academic freedom, professionalism and equality. The University strives to provide flexibility and encourages participation in the development of the study programs and research in all fields within the realm of the University. The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences employs approximately 390 people involved with teaching and research. The School offers an international working environment, where currently about quarter of all employees and graduate students are international, and that number is increasing each year. The school has around 2000 students and numerous graduate students. The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences is proud of its diversity and reform-minded environment where knowledge acquisition and sharing are paramount.

The Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering conducts diverse research that relate to Sustainable Development Goals, e.g. nr. 6 Clean Water & Sanitation, nr. 7 Renewable Hydropower and Wind Energy, and nr. 11 Sustainable Cities. The Faculty has expertise in Hydrology, Environmental Technology, Environmental Footprint, as well as Transport, Geotechnical and Structural Engineering. Further information about the Faculty can be found here. 

Application deadline

For further information contact

Hrund Ólöf Andradóttir

hrund@hi.is

Apply now