PhD position in Statistics at the University of Iceland

The Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Physical Sciences, seeks applicants to fill a Ph.D. student position in Statistics for 3 years for a project entitled Statistical Models for Glaciology.

The objective of this project is to develop statistical models that describe glaciological data in combination with theoretical ice flow dynamics. The value and originality of the project lies in applying state of the art Bayesian hierarchical dynamical spatio-temporal models to the field of glaciology. The student will work with a consortium of experts in Bayesian statistics and glaciology at the University of Iceland and experts in spatial statistics, spatio-temporal models and Bayesian computation from the University of Missouri and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The consortium is excited to combine their knowledge and expertise to create state of the art statistical methods for glaciological data and the Ph.D. student will play a key role in developing these methods.
The Glaciology group at UI possesses extensive data and knowledge about the Icelandic glaciers.
Details at:
https://notendur.hi.is/birgirhr/Statistical_Models_for_Glaciology.html

Applicants should have an MSc degree in one of the following fields: statistics, mathematics, physics, geophysics or engineering. Strong background in mathematics is necessary. Programming experience in R or Matlab is required. Proficiency in English, both in terms of written and spoken language is required. The student will need to be able to work independently and have strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Application deadline is November 30, 2015. The Ph.D. student position starts in beginning of 2016. The Ph.D. position is fully funded for 3 years by a grant from the Icelandic Centre for Research. The grant also covers travel to collaborators in USA and Norway and travel for conferences. The selected candidate will need to formally apply for a Ph.D. studentship at the University of Iceland in due time.

For more information, please contact Birgir Hrafnkelsson, Associate Professor, birgirhr@hi.is or +354-525-4669.

The application should include a letter detailing the applicant’s interests in the project and how they envision their role in the project. This letter should be two to three pages. The letter and i) CV, ii) certificates of education (BS and MSc degree), iii) two reference letters with contact information, should be sent to: starfsumsoknir@hi.is marked HI15100029. Applications that are not sent electronically should be sent in duplicate to Human Resource Division, University of Iceland, Main Building, Sæmundargötu 2, 101 Reykjavík. All applications will be answered and applicants will be informed about the appointment when a decision has been made.

Salary for the position is according to funding from the Icelandic Centre for Research.

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

At the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences 360 people are employed in research and teaching. The School offers an international environment, with the number of international employees and students increasing each year.
Currently 25{06fdc68f0c32a4bb4bc587245a8893a97471dc602b4e431d14a97651d507d6d7} of all employees and postgraduate students are international.
There are around 2300 students at the School, divided into six faculties, thereof are 350 graduate students and 150 doctoral students. Research institutes at the school are the Science Institute that divides into the Institute of Earth Sciences and Institute of Physical Sciences, Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, Engineering Research Institute and the Institute for Sustainability Studies which is an interdisciplinary institute and belongs to the five schools of the University of Iceland.

The University of Iceland is the largest teaching, research and science institute in Iceland and is ranked among the top 300 universities in the world by Times Higher Education.