Associate Professor/Professor in hydropower optimisation and decision- making tools

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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.

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About the position

The Department of Electric Energy (IEL) at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), in collaboration with Statkraft, Europe`s largest renewable energy producer and a global company in energy market operations, invites applications for an industry sponsored professor/associate professor position. The position focuses on the new generation of hydropower optimisation in the interaction with other renewable energy sources and flexible demand, and the decision-making tools for a low-emission and integrated power system.

 

The position will be linked to the Electricity Market and Energy System Planning (EMESP) research group at IEL and report to the research group leader.

Department of Electric Energy aims to be an agenda-setter for the digital green shift. Hydropower is the backbone of the Norwegian power supply. In order to maintain this central role, robust and state-of-the-art decision-making tools adapting to a sustainable transition to a low-emission Norwegian energy system are necessary. Adequate decision-making tools assess the efficient role of hydropower and its power generation value in the power system's transition and integration of variable renewable energy sources and new demand. These tools have the unique capability to optimise water, power, and environmental performance simultaneously. Together with Statkraft and the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, the Department of Electric Energy aims to strengthen the interdisciplinary alliance for the application of the new generation of hydropower optimisation in the decarbonization of the energy sector. For the successful applicant, this represents an opportunity to participate in developing an interdisciplinary field as part of a larger ongoing digital green shift research initiative. The present hiring is of strategic importance for the Department of Electric Energy, and the ability of the candidate to contribute to the Department's strategy in this regard will strongly influence the selection process. The candidate should also be proactive in collaboration across other relevant departments, e.g. Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management and Department of Energy and Process Engineering, and other key research institutions such as  SINTEF.

We seek a highly motivated individual to join the Department as a Professor/Associate Professor in developing a new generation of optimisation and decision-making tools for hydropower in interaction with other renewables and flexible demand, to accelerate the transition to an emission-free energy system.  
 

Your immediate leader is research group leader. 

Duties of the position

The Associate Professor/Professor is required to collaborate effectively with Statkraft to strengthen and stimulate the scientific and technical cooperation between the Department and Statkraft in areas of mutual interest. The workplace will be in Trondheim.

The successful applicant is expected to contribute to the following: 
•    Contribute to teaching processes, and develop excellent teaching material in hydropower optimisation, modelling and sustainable energy system transition
•    Play a leading/active role in developing the educational profile in the research area and ensuring an excellent learning environment in collaboration with colleagues, students, and external stakeholders
•    Supervise and co-supervise bachelor's, master's and PhD students in the relevant field within topics of mutual interest between Statkraft and the Department of Electric Energy
•    Develop and be involved in research project initiatives in the EMESP group and the IEL department. It is expected to secure research grants and other external income from the Research Council of Norway, Nordic and European research and educational agencies, relevant industries, and other available sources
•    To be able to contribute to the development of international alliances and partnerships
•    To be able to share relevant parts of her/his research with a wider lay audience
•    Organising scientific committee work, i.e., administrate PhD defense committee and scientific committees at the Department

Interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction with other research groups at the Department of Electric Energy and other departments at NTNU are strongly encouraged.

Required qualifications 

The position of Professor requires that you meet the criteria in the Regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts sections 1-2. 

• Your PhD must be equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in the field of planning and analysis of power and energy systems with a focus on hydropower scheduling approaches. Applicants with a different background (e.g. economics) but with solid experience in required fields of expertise will also be considered
• Significant national and international networking and collaboration experience
• An academic standing that demonstrates internationally relevant research, and internationally recognized potential to make a future impact
• The ability to obtain external funding from relevant sources, be internationally recognized and be able to initiate and lead research at the international level
• Ability to supervise bachelor`s, master`s and Doctoral candidates in the relevant field
• In addition to the requirements for basic educational competence, you must also document: The development of the quality of your own teaching and supervision of students over time
• Broad experience as a supervisor, preferably at a master`s/PhD level
• Participation in improving the quality of education in a professional environment

 

The position of Associate Professor requires that you meet the criteria in the Regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts sections 1-4.

• Your PhD must be equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in the field of planning and analysis of power and energy systems with a focus on hydropower scheduling approaches. Applicants with a different background (e.g. economics) but with solid experience in required fields of expertise will also be considered. If you can document that the PhD thesis has been submitted, your application can be assessed even if you have not yet defended your dissertation. Documentation of the obtained doctoral degree must be presented before you can take up the position
• Documented competence in relevant educational theory and practice based on training or on teaching and supervision. If this cannot be documented, you are required to complete an approved course in university teaching within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses

Please see the Regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts for general criteria for the position.
 

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Applicable to all:  

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.  

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Preferred qualifications

• Teaching experience from higher education
• Experience with securing research funding
• Strong publication track record showing internationally competative research
• Involvement in international scientific committees
• Pedagogical training applied to the field of engineering
• Leadership experience
• Industry experience will be rated positively
• Proficiency in Norwegian language skills, or another Scandinavian language, will be rated positively

 

Personal qualities

•    Have excellent communication and collaboration skills 
•    Challenges the status quo and promotes new initiatives
•    Develops effective, sensible and practical solutions to problems
•    Is positive and enthusiastic, even in difficult situations 

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.

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Salary and conditions

The position as Professor (1013) is normally remunerated with gross salary from NOK 840 000 to NOK 990 000 a year. 2% of the salary will be deducted as an obligatory premium to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
The position as Associate professor (1011) is normally remunerated with gross salary from NOK 690 000 to NOK 870 000 a year. 2% of the salary will be deducted as an obligatory premium to 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. The application and submitted documents must be sent electronically via www.jobbnorge.no

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.

The application must include 
•    Cover letter including a short description of interests and reasons for applying for the position
•    CV including information pertaining to the given qualifications and a full list of publications with bibliographical references 
•    Diplomas, diploma supplements and transcripts (all degrees, in original language and translated) 
•    The most important publications that are relevant for the evaluation of the applicant's qualifications (up to 10 works). Joint works will also be evaluated. If the contributions from individuals in a scientific collaboration are not obvious, the applicant must enclose a short summary of her/his contribution
•    Research plan in the field of the advertised position for the first few years of employment (max 10 pages)
•    Details of teaching qualifications based on "Documentation of applicant's teaching qualifications in connection with an appointment to an academic position at NTNU"
•    Details of the projects you have managed, with information about funding, duration and size 
•    Information about dissemination activities
•    Name and address of three references
•    Other documents which the applicant would find relevant

Incomplete applications will not be processed. In assessing the best-qualified applicant, we will emphasis education, experience and personal suitability as well as your motivation for the position. You will be expected to deliver high-quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and undertake supervision of Master's and doctoral candidates. These skills will be evaluated based on documented experience and relevant teaching qualifications. Applicants with teaching experience at the university level are preferred. The quality and breadth of the teaching qualifications will be evaluated.

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

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. The ranking of the candidates will take into account not only the accumulated academic production, but also the candidate`s potential for scientific and pedagogical development and personal suitability. Further, emphasis on strategic considerations will be placed in the final selection of candidates. 
 

Since the advertised research competence falls in the scope of activities related to the Norwegian critical infrastructure, the shortlisting process will also take security clearance requirements into account. 

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 regarding the position, please contact the Head of Department, Anngjerd Pleym, email: anngjerd.pleym@ntnu.no or Professor Hossein Farahmand, e-mail: hossein.farahmand@ntnu.no

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact The Head of Office: Bodil Wold, e-mail: bodil.wold@ntnu.no.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: 28.02.2025