Vacancies

Field of work

• Teaching at graduate and undergraduate level, primarily in the master's programme in English Teaching, the undergraduate programme in linguistics, and the undergraduate diploma programme in Academic English. Areas of especial interest include second language acquisition, research methods in language acquisition, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and bilingualism.
• Supervision of the curriculum and module development in these programmes.
• Supervision of graduate and undergraduate theses.
• Conducting research in the relevant academic field.

Qualification requirements

• A doctorate degree in English, Second Language Acquisition, Applied Linguistics, Education, or Language Teaching Pedagogy (with a focus on English). 
• Experience of teaching and research in these fields.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Command of written and spoken Icelandic is an advantage.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

The selection process will take into consideration how well the applicant fits the needs and goals of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures.

Application process

It is desirable that the person concerned begins work as soon as possible, or by further agreement provided the work of the committees dealing with the matter will be completed by then.

It is expected that University of Iceland staff whose native language is not Icelandic will carry out their work in Icelandic after a reasonable adjustment period. For permanent academic appointments, the ability to teach and take on administrative responsibilities in Icelandic is taken into account. The University of Iceland supports international staff in learning and acquiring proficiency in Icelandic as needed.

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

1. Cover letter where it is stated how the applicant meets the qualification requirements.
2. Certificates of education.
3. Curriculum Vitae.
4. List of publications.
5. Report on scholarly work and other work they carried out.
6. Outline of proposed research and teaching plan, if hired.
7. Contact information for three referees willing to provide a reference.

The applicant must list up to eight of their most important publications in relation to this position. The applicant must include a copy of these publications along with the application or indicate where they can be accessed electronically. When multiple authors are listed in a publication, the applicant must include an account of their contribution to the publication. Applications and accompanying documents, which are not submitted in electronic form, must be sent in duplicate to the Division of Science and Innovation, University of Iceland, Main Building, Sæmundargata 2, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland.

The successful candidate will be hired for five years with the possibility of a permanent contract at the end of this period, cf. paragraph 3, Article 31 of the Regulation for the University of Iceland no. 569/2009.

Processing of applications, evaluation of applicants' competence and hiring shall be in accordance with the Act on Public Higher Education Institutions no. 85/2008 and the Regulation for the University of Iceland no. 569/2009.

All applications will be answered, and applicants will be informed about the appointment when a decision has been made. Applications can remain valid for six months after the application deadline.

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

The University of Iceland has a special Language Policy.

The University of Iceland is the largest educational, research, and scientific institution in Iceland. It provides students with comprehensive education across all major academic fields and serves institutions, businesses, and government for the public good. The University of Iceland offers a diverse range of education at all levels and is the only university in the country offering both undergraduate and graduate programs in all major academic fields.

Application deadline

For further information contact

Gísli Magnússon

enska@hi.is

Apply now

Field of work

The geological setting of Iceland is characterized by active volcanism and moderate to high seismicity. The local soil deposits have largely been created in catastrophic events, with subglacial eruptions forming vast layers of basaltic tephra. Hence, the local soils are comprised of highly irregular grains with intra-particle voids, often loosely compacted and prone to liquefaction. However, as an untraditional material in modern geotechnology, the dynamic and liquefaction behavior of Icelandic basalt sand and the associated seismic soil-structure interaction (SSI) characteristics are still poorly understood. 

The Ph.D. candidate will work on characterizing the dynamic behavior of the local sand and evaluate the seismic performance and SSI behavior of selected structures considering the local geological and seismic setting. Emphasis will be on advanced laboratory testing to study the microstructure and the monotonic and cyclic mechanical behavior of the volcanic basalt sand. Subsequently, results of model-scale centrifuge tests and advanced numerical analysis will be used to study the seismic response of prototype structures for different scenarios. Hence, the project integrates advanced element-scale, model-scale and in-situ testing with state-of-the-art numerical modelling.

The project will be carried out using facilities at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland. The Ph.D. thesis work will be supervised jointly by Dr. Elin Asta Olafsdottir and Dr. Sigurdur Erlingsson. 

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct in-depth analysis of the current literature, identify and adapt appropriate methods and models
• Fieldwork to collect soil samples and conduct in-situ testing
• Investigate experimentally and numerically the microstructure, mechanical and liquefaction behavior of Icelandic basalt sand
• Develop, validate and implement constitutive numerical modelling methods that are suited to describe the properties of the local soils and the seismic and SSI behavior of structures embedded in it, addressing current limitations
• Carry out research of high quality within the framework described above
• Present research findings at seminars, local and international conferences and in peer-reviewed scientific journal articles
• Contributions to M.Sc. student supervision and collaborative projects
• Synthesize research outcomes in a doctoral thesis

Qualification requirements

• A master's degree (M.Sc. degree or equivalent) in civil engineering or a closely related field.
• Competent programming skills using Python or MATLAB. 
• Familiarity with numerical geotechnical modelling software (e.g., Plaxis, RS2/RS3 or OpenSees) is an advantage. 
• Experience in geotechnical laboratory testing is an advantage.
• Have the ability to work on challenging tasks and to show strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in a structured way and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written. Knowledge of Icelandic is an advantage.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, and to clearly communicate research outcomes in writing and orally.

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

Application process

Work on the project is expected to commence in February 2026.

Applications must include:

• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) stating academic background, relevant work experience and other knowledge, and a list of publications (if any).
• A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) stating the applicant's research interests, what the applicant has to offer in designing and executing the project and the applicant's expectations for the doctoral study.
• Certified academic transcripts and diplomas (both for bachelor's and master's degrees), including course listings with grade information (in English or Icelandic). Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Copy of the applicant's master's thesis and, if any, prior publications that are relevant to the project. Applicants that are enrolled in a master's degree program at the time of the application may submit a draft version of their thesis. 
• Names and full contact information of two professional referees (including information on their relationship with the applicant).
• Proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent test results).

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 Equality Action Plan of the University of Iceland.

The University of Iceland has a special Language Policy . 

Since 1911, the University of Iceland has been a leading institution for business and societal progress in Iceland. It is a forward-looking research university and an active participant in international scientific collaboration.

The University of Iceland is the largest university in the country, offering nearly 400 programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. Approximately 14,000 students are enrolled, including over 2,000 international students.

More than 1,800 staff members work at the University of Iceland. The university emphasizes attracting a diverse community of employees and students to an international academic environment, where academic freedom, professionalism, equality, diversity, and inclusion are prioritized.

About the University of Iceland

Schools, faculties and interdisciplinary studies

International Staff Services

Application deadline

For further information contact

Sigurður Erlingsson

sigger@hi.is

Elín Ásta Ólafsdóttir

elinasta@hi.is

Apply now