Digging Undergraduate University into Data Challenge Grants funded by SSHRC

The Undergraduate University idea behind the Digging into Data Challenge is to address how “big data” changes the research landscape for the humanities and social sciences. Now that we have massive databases of materials used by scholars in the humanities and social sciences ranging from digitized books, newspapers, and music to transactional data like web searches, sensor data or cell phone records what new, computationally-based research methods might we apply. As the world becomes increasingly digital, new techniques will be needed to search, analyze, and understand these everyday materials. Digging into Data challenges the research community to help create the new research infrastructure for 21st century scholarship. Undergraduate University Applicants will form international teams from at least two of the participating countries. Winning teams will receive grants from two or more of the funding agencies and, two years later, will be invited to show off their work at a special conference sponsored by the eight funders.

Digging into Undergraduate University Data challenges the research community to help create the new research infrastructure for 21st century scholarship. In recognition of the international nature of cyber infrastructure/e-science, the Digging into Data Challenge will bring together international research teams to advance research and to share their results openly, so that others may learn from them.

Scholarship Application Deadline:16 June, 2011.

Further Scholarship Information and Application

PhD Research Fellow Undergraduate University

The permanent storage of CO2 in the form of carbonate minerals may provide the ultimate solution for large scale, permanent, safe storage of CO2. The Center of Excellence for the Physics of Geological Processes (PGP) at the University of Oslo is seeking a Ph.D. Undergraduate University candidate to work in an interdisciplinary team addressing the basic physical processes relevant for permanent CO2 storage solutions.

The Undergraduate University candidate will perform computer investigations of permanent CO2 storage by injection of a CO2 laden fluid into basaltic and ultramafic rocks, with particular focus on the microscopic surface processes occurring when a CO2-laden fluid reacts with the rock matrix. The Undergraduate University goal is to develop a better understanding of the complex coupling between mineralogical reactions, rock deformation and fracturing, and fluid and heat transport in order to evaluate the viability of in situ mineralogical reactions as a large scale storage method for CO2. The Ph.D. project will involve the development and application of molecular dynamics and discrete element methods to simulate reactions, deformations, and transport processes. The study will be conducted in close collaboration with ongoing experimental and field studies of natural carbonization processes occurring in ultramafic rocks. The computational aspects of the project will require experience with independent code development and with discrete element modeling of surface deformation processes.

The Undergraduate University successful candidate, who has a Masters degree in Physics, will work in a lively cross-disciplinary and international environment (fifteen nationalities are currently represented in PGP). PGP is a cross-disciplinary science centre at the interface between physics and geology where geological processes are approached by integrated field, experimental, theoretical, and computer modeling studies.

The Undergraduate University purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. The fellowship requires admission to the research training programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. An approved plan for the research training, including a project outline, must be submitteed no later than two months after taking up the position, and the admission must be approved within three months. For more information see here

A good command of English is required of all students attending the University of Oslo.

Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University`s grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

The University of Oslo has a goal of recruiting more women in academic positions. Women are encouraged to apply.

In accordance with the University of Oslo`s equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity.

Application deadline: May 1st, 2011

Home page: http://www.matnat.uio.no