Join us in creating sustainable and socially acceptable hydropower and solar solutions

About the position

Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has two vacant three- year PhD positions in renewable energy, funded by Centres for Environment-Friendly Energy Research (FME) supported by the Research Council of Norway. One PhD candidate will be included in FME RENEWHYDRO, which aims to develop knowledge on flexible hydropower to support the realization of a sustainable energy transition. The other PhD candidate will be included in FME SOLAR, which focuses on developing innovative new solar power solutions. FME SOLAR and FME RENWHYDRO unite top researchers, PhD students, and industry partners in 8-year research projects.

Information about the FME research centres RENEWHYDRO and SOLAR can be found here:

• https://www.ntnu.edu/renewhydro (https://www.ntnu.edu/renewhydro) 
• www.fmesolar.no (http://www.fmesolar.no)

At NMBU, the PhD candidates will join a strong scientific community on renewable energy at MINA. They will work alongside PhD students, master students, and researchers from MINA and the School of Economics and Business on social acceptance of renewable energy solutions. The core team includes energy and environment economists from both faculties.  

The PhD candidates will provide new knowledge on the environmental, climate, social, and economic impacts of renewable energy projects using discrete choice experiments and statistical analyses. 

Hydropower and solar power projects have both positive and negative effects on nature, society, the climate, and the economy, leading to potential goal conflicts. Discrete choice experiments help us understand how people value these aspects and design balanced technological projects and policies.

This method, based on microeconomic theory, involves people making choices that maximize their utility. We use market research companies to conduct national or regional surveys with choice experiments. The responses are analyzed statistically to quantify which consequences are valued more.

Therefore, these positions are ideal for those who enjoy working with statistical or mathematical analyses and have an interest in economic theory.

An application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD program at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.

Main tasks

The PhD students' tasks will include:

• Actively participate in FME activities and engage with participants to formulate relevant research questions.
• Develop relevant theoretical and methodological skills.
• Design, conduct and analyse choice experiments.
• Write scientific articles and complete a PhD thesis
• Present results and discuss their practical value.
• Contribute to the scientific environment at NMBU by collaborating with peers and participating in academic events.

The successful candidate is expected to submit a plan for the progress of the

work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with ambition to complete a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

Competence

The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject. The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master's degree. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background relevant to the position and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description (https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/regulations-and-guidelines-doctoral-degrees-nmbu).

The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.

Required academic qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant scientific field, such as economics, energy, and political science.
• Knowledge of the Norwegian/European energy sector and policies
• Experience with statistical analyses and use of relevant tools (e.g., R, Python, Excel)
• Strong English language skills, both oral and written

Preferred experiences and skills

• Knowledge in economics
• Familiarity with research on the social acceptance of renewable energy
• Ability to communicate in a Scandinavian language

Additional requirements

• Strong motivation and commitment to pursuing a PhD-degree
• Ability to work independently and in a structured manner
• Ability to work in teams

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD fellow. PhD fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK fra statens lønnstabell (https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/arbeidsliv/Statlig-arbeidsgiverpolitikk/lonn-og-tariff-i-staten/lonnstabellen/id438643/)) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.

Please note that the person hired will work with critical infrastructure and areas affected by controls on the export of strategic goods, services and technology. Candidates who do not meet the requirements for the necessary security clearance, access clearance and authorization as described in the National Security Act, the Export Control Act and the Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions (Sanctions Act) cannot be considered.

For further information, please contact Professor Kristin Linnerud or Professor Erling Holden. 

E-mail: Kristin.linnerud@nmbu.no; phone +47 94873338

E-mail: Erling.holden@nmbu.no; phone +47 90715827

Information for PhD applicants (https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/applying) and Information to applicants (https://www.nmbu.no/om/adm/poa/rekruttering/viktig-informasjon-for-s-kere/information-for-jobseekers-at-nmbu)

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 26.03.2025

Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• Complete CV 
• Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3) (https://lovdata.no/dokument/SFE/forskrift/2020-01-30-1471). 
• Names and contact details for two references
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant's contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant's contribution must be included.

About The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management

The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) works with nature and the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, biological and geological processes.

MINA's employees undertake teaching, research and dissemination within the fields of geology, hydrology and limnology, soil science, environmental chemistry, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism.

Our vision is to be a key actor in knowledge production and dissemination, and our goal is to deliver research of high, international quality, and varied and excellent teaching. The faculty's employees are significant participants within their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The faculty is dominated by a vital research culture and high levels of scientific production.

The faculty has about 200 employees, 90 PhD students and 650 students.

Read more about MINA here (https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/mina).