Associate Professor in Building Acoustics

This is NTNU

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus on professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

About the job

We are seeking an Associate Professor with a strong background in the field of Building Acoustics covering areas of research related to acoustic design and technological construction details for acoustic comfort in buildings, sound insulation, noise control, and subjective evaluation. 

Background: Building acoustics is a field focused on the control of sound within and around structures, ensuring environments are comfortable, functional, and free from unwanted noise. Sound insulation and noise control are especially important in modern construction, where increased urbanization has led to greater exposure to external and internal noise sources. In timber buildings, which are typical in Scandinavian environment, sound insulation poses unique challenges due to the lightweight nature of wood, which tends to transmit sound easier compared to heavier materials like concrete. Proper acoustic design in timber structures is essential to minimize sound transmission between spaces, enhancing privacy, and ensuring compliance with building regulations. Effective noise control contributes to improve occupants’ comfort and building sustainability and performance, making it a key consideration in architectural and engineering design.

The Associate professor will take an active role to increase the department’s footprints in the research areas of building acoustics nationally and internationally. In that regard, as part of NTNU’s efforts within the area of sustainability, the Associate professor will contribute to perform research activity within the Centre for Green Shift in the Built Environment (Green2050) that was recently established at NTNU, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Green2050 will deliver on one of the largest and most important challenges Norway and the world is facing. A multidisciplinary approach including digital conversion is crucial to success. It is a goal for the centre to create cooperation and interaction, nationally and internationally. For more information, see Green2050 – Centre for Green Shift in the Built Environment. The research activities of the Associate Professor will be connected to Green2050.

The position will report to the head of department.

The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching, research, and service in the field of building acoustics, contributing to advancing knowledge in sound control, acoustic design, and noise mitigation in buildings. 

We are looking for a strong motivated candidate, who has proven a scientific track record and relevant teaching experiences, experiences from research projects related to building acoustics engineering, who can help lead innovative research and educational programs.

Duties of the position

This is a Teaching & Research position that includes the following duties:

         Teaching duties

• Responsibility for teaching and research activities within Building acoustics, including the theoretical basis, and insight in practical building technology, regarding sound insulation of buildings and room acoustics
• Contribute to life-long learning in relevant courses of the research group (e.g., Design of Buildings and Structures, Building Technology Advanced Course) and develop course for continuous education
• Maintain and improve the quality of courses as measured through evaluation instruments to meet industry and educational standards

• Provide high quality service to students, including academic counselling and advice as well as student supervision (bachelor, master and PhD level)

  Research duties

• Implement research within Building acoustics both within the research group of Building Technology at NTNU level (e.g., Dept. of Electronic Systems), nationally and internationally
• Develop and lead research projects to strengthen the focus towards building acoustics around the principles of sound control, acoustic design, and noise mitigation in buildings
• Contribute to develop the group’s research and educational portfolio in building acoustics and to the knowledge and research goals of the research group through research proposals and strategic projects development
• Maintain an active and effective record of publishing in high quality international research journals, other appropriate refereed publications, and conferences
• Actively develop partnerships by fostering relationships with colleagues, other faculties at NTNU, industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community to develop research projects with high societal relevance and scientific quality
• Achieve good and continuous use of NTNU research resources and facilities (e.g., Laboratory facilities at the Dept. of Electronic systems and NTNU/SINTEF Building Laboratory) at NTNU and provide students from other NTNU study programs with a teaching in building ac

Required qualifications 

Associate professor: 

You must have the qualifications required for the position of Associate Professor in the field of Building Acoustics, as outlined in the regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts 

• Your PhD, or comparable academic work, must be within the field of Building Acoustics engineering and design and/or related topics 
• Potential to attract research funding commensurate with career stage
• International experience
• Good written and oral English language skills

You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the Norwegian national Regulations. If this cannot be documented, you will be required to complete an approved course in university pedagogy within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses. 

New employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level three of the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU.  

Preferred qualifications

• Solid foundation and scientific experience in the field of Building Acoustics
• Teaching experience in building acoustics, wooden materials/timber structures and their performance in acoustic comfort from higher education/university level
• Experience and knowledge of simulation tools and experience in laboratory and/or field measurements in building acoustics
• Documented track record of research excellence through publications in high impact journals, H-Index and international peer-reviewed conference proceedings
• Experience to develop deep learning approaches and digitalization techniques in building acoustics such as building information modelling (BIM)
• Insight into typical building structures and building materials, for new and existing buildings, including environmental aspects
• Strong scientific knowledge and research experience in air- and structure-borne sound transmission is an advantage
• National and international network and/or professional experience in the construction industry in building acoustics
• Scandinavian language skills are an advantage

Personal qualities

• Honesty, moral integrity and high human values
• Passionate about scientific research and teaching
• Ability to work independently and within a group
• Motivation to work in interdisciplinary teams
• Good presentation skills in English, both written and spoken

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities. 

We offer

• Exciting and challenging tasks in a strong international academic environment 
• An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues 
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 
• employee benefits 

Application Process

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

Salary and conditions

As a Associate Professor (code 1011) you are normally paid from gross NOK 650 000 – NOK 850 000 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.  

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis. 

About the application

Your application and supporting documentation must be in English. 

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

Your application must include:

• CV, diplomas, and certificates
• A teaching portfolio, in which your teaching competence is compiled and presented systematically,   (See guidelines for applicants: Documentation of teaching qualifications in applications and appointments to academic positions at NTNU)
• Academic works – published or unpublished – that you wish to be considered during assessment of your application (up to 10 items)
• A description of the scientific works you consider most relevant, which you particularly wish to be factored into the assessment (up to 3 items)
• A list of your previous professional works, with details on where they have been published (up to 3 items)
• A research plan (1-2 pages of A4 maximum)
• Details of projects for which you have served as project manager, including information on financing, duration, and scope
• Names and contact information for three relevant referees

You are encouraged to use the Universities Norway’s NOR-CAM toolbox as a guide for  documentation of your competence.

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. Our assessment of the pedagogical skills will be based on documented pedagogical material, forms of presentation in your academic works, teaching experience, PhD, and Masters supervision, and any other relevant pedagogical background. Both quality and scope will be taken into consideration, and an open scientific practice will be recognized.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA and The obligations in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA) on responsible assessment of research and recognition of a  wider range of academic contributions to science and society. This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects. Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight.

Your application will be considered by an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial teaching session.

General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality.  

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The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

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As an employee at NTNU, you must continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given the expert evaluation of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and is stipulated to rules of confidentiality.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Gabriele Lobaccaro, telephone +47 91813568, email gabriele.lobaccaro@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Senior Executive Officer HR, Tone Måsøval Arntzen, e-mail: tone.m.arntzen@ntnu.no

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 29.10.2024