Researcher within acoustics

Researcher within acoustics UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

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Researcher within acoustics

At the Department of Physics and Technology (IFT), University of Bergen (UiB), there is a vacancy for a position as a researcher within acoustics.

The position is affiliated to externally financed projects. The first 36 months the position is financed by the project "Subsea gas energy and quality measurement using ultrasonic flow meters", funded by the Research Council of Norway (NFR) under the FRIPRO programme (NFR grant 303169). The project is a cooperation between UiB (host), NORCE, and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), with Equinor ASA and Gassco AS in the industry reference group.

About the project/work tasks:

During the first 36 months of the position, the researcher shall work under the project Work Package 3 (WP3), “VOS cell technology for high pressure natural gas characterization” (VOS = “velocity of sound”). The following description of the work tasks is taken essentially from the NFR project contract.

Objective and background: The objective of WP3 is to develop, construct, test, and verify experimentally a high-precision laboratory prototype VOS measurement cell for pressurized natural gas. The cell is to operate in the 100-300 kHz frequency range, at a measurement uncertainty tentatively in the range 200-500 ppm.

The laboratory prototype VOS cell is to constitute a scientific basis for later development of an industry prototype of the VOS cell in a follow-up industry project. The overarching objective is to realize traceable and accredited subsea gas energy and quality measurement using ultrasonic transit time flow meters (USM) in subsea fiscal measurement of natural gas. For such an ambitious final objective to be realized, traceable calibration of the VOS reading made in the subsea USM needs to be achieved.

In the operating situation, traceable calibration of the USM with respect to volumetric flow rate (at a flow calibration laboratory) and VOS (using the VOS cell) will be made prior to installing the USM in the field (subsea). In subsea operation, the VOS measurement of the USM will be used to calculate the gross calorific value (GVC) and other quality parameters (QP) of the gas. From the GCV, QP, and measured volumetric flow rate, the energy flow rate of the gas will be calculated, from which partner allocation of the gas in the license is to be made.

VOS cell developments as described above, with accredited accuracy and uncertainty budget as aimed at in the project, and for actual frequencies and gas conditions, have not been reported in scientific literature.

Work tasks: Design and development of the VOS cell for high-pressure gas will be based on the research group's “3PM” measurement method developed, implemented, and tested in a preliminary VOS cell limited to atmospheric conditions. This includes design and construction of ultrasonic transducers for high-pressure operation in gas. Acoustical, electrical, and mechanical properties, besides acceptable sound propagation conditions e.g. with respect to coherent noise, are important elements in the work.

Necessary correction methods for systematic time delays, e.g. due to nearfield diffraction effects, will be based on correction methods for piezoelectric transducers being developed in the project. These are to account for systematic time delays due to nearfield diffraction effects for the direct and the double reflected signal paths in the cell. Only highly simplified solutions to these challenging wave phenomena are available, with unknown measurement uncertainty. Accurate solutions are to be developed in the project, with stated uncertainty.

Experimental testing and verification of the 3PM measurement method is planned, using the VOS cell and relevant gases (e.g., argon, air, N2, and natural gas), at atmospheric and high-pressure conditions. An uncertainty budget for the VOS cell is to be developed and used for comparison with VOS measurements on relevant gases.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

Applicants must hold a Norwegian PhD or an equivalent degree within physics or equivalent discipline or must have submitted his/her doctoral thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded.

Documented ability to attract external research funding is an advantage.

Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and have the ability to cooperate with others.

Applicants must have excellent skills in oral and written English.

Applicants must have good command of the Norwegian language.

In assessing the candidates, a review of both the quality and the breadth of the candidate's research will be conducted. Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized.

Applicants must document:

good knowledge of acoustics, in particular ultrasonics. This includes laboratory measurements and mathematical-numerical modelling.

good knowledge of piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers (including design, construction, finite element modelling, and experimental characterization).

experience from development and use of high-precision VOS cells for fluid and/or solid materials.

good knowledge of diffraction correction in ultrasonic measurement systems, evaluation of measurement uncertainty, and digital signal processing in ultrasonics.

good programming skills, e.g., using Matlab, Python, LabVIEW.

Experience from one or several of the following areas is an advantage:

Experimental work with gas under high pressure, such as natural gas.

Finite element modelling of acoustic wave propagation in solid and fluid media, e.g., using COMSOL Multiphysics.

Measurement and mathematical-numerical modelling of guided ultrasonic waves in solid-fluid media.

Supervision of master students.

The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control systems. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.

The following premise forms the basis for the post as research scientist:

The research scientist should be a member of the research group in his/her field

Salary costs should as far as possible be 100% remotely funded

The research scientist should actively assist in acquiring external project funding for the academic environment, for

both his-/herself and others, from The Norwegian Research Council, the European Union, and other sources

The research scientist must expect to have his/her research activity funded by the project that the research scientist and

its research group are working on

The Head of Department can instruct the research scientist to work towards a specific research project

The research scientist may hold positions of trust, participate in committees, boards etc. within UiB.

The research scientist does not have a teaching obligation, but must expect to supervise Master- and PhD students to the extent that this forms a natural part of the research activities in the research group.

The research scientist may apply for promotion based on competence according to the regulations for promotion

The basis of the post is discontinued if project funding comes to an end, and the new lawon Government employees etc. regarding termination of employment and preferential rights will be applied.

We can offer:

a good and professionally stimulating working environment.

position as researcher (code 1109 in the basic collective agreement) and a gross annual salary of NOK 604 900 (equivalent to pay grade 62) upon appointment. Further increases in salary are made according to length of service in the position. A higher salary may be considered for a particularly well-qualified applicant.

enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

good welfare benefits

Researchers code 1109 holding a permanent position, may apply for a personal promotion to Researcher code 1183 based on a declaration of competence. For more information, see Personal promotion to Researcher code 1183 Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences UiB

Your application must include:

a brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.

the names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these should be the main advisor from the PhD programme.

CV.

transcripts and diplomas. If you have not yet completed your PhD degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming that the doctoral thesis has been submitted.

relevant certificates/references.

list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list).

lublications (as applicable).

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at JobbNorge

General information:

For further details about the position, please contact Professor Per Lunde, Dept. of Physics and Technology, University of Bergen, e-mail: [email protected], tel. +47 99493901.

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

We encourage women to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

About The University of Bergen

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.

There are seven departments and several centres at Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments.

Deadline

29th May 2023

Employer

University of Bergen

Municipality

Bergen

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Permanent

Place of service