Announcement of up to five PhD positions

This is NTNU

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

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

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

   

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About the strategic area Ocean and coast

NTNU Ocean and Coast is one of five strategic research areas at NTNU. The idea behind these research areas is that complex societal challenges (such as the climate crisis) must be solved collectively. These strategic research areas are therefore established to promote interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. The goal is to develop new solutions through radical interdisciplinarity, thereby contributing to real change and a better future.

Inspired by NTNU's strategy ‘Knowledge for a Better World’, the strategic research areas are intended to be a place where ideas meet action—a space for thinking outside the box and developing groundbreaking solutions to problems that truly matter. These research areas cover the full breadth of academic disciplines at NTNU, including artistic research, and all faculties are invited to contribute.

The Ocean and Coast strategic research area focuses on societal challenges related to the open ocean, coastal areas with their fjords and coastal communities, rivers and lakes, the water cycle, and water more generally. The Arctic faces particular challenges that will also be emphasized. Three key concepts define our approach: preserve, develop, and restore.

To address these challenges, NTNU Ocean and Coast has established eleven interdisciplinary research teams with different focus areas. We encourage you to visit our website for more information about these research teams: Hav og kyst - Satsingsområde - NTNU

About the position

When applying for a PhD position you must develop a project outline in close collaboration with your intended main supervisor. The PhD project should be thematically related to one of the eleven focus areas represented by the interdisciplinary research teams. The main supervisor must be an active member of the relevant research team and permanently employed at NTNU. Co-supervisors (one or two) must represent different research fields than the main supervisor to ensure a unique interdisciplinary approach that addresses research questions from multiple academic perspectives. It is not required that the intended co-supervisors have been contacted or confirmed at the time of application, but candidates must reflect on which research fields their co-supervisors should represent. Candidates offered a PhD position will be employed at the same department as their main supervisor. 

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

Please note: It is the candidate’s responsibility to demonstrate how their specific academic background is relevant to the chosen research area and the societal challenge they aim to address.

The project outline must introduce a new interdisciplinary approach to the research question and societal challenge being addressed, as well as a reflection on how this approach contributes to filling knowledge gaps and generating solutions that can make a difference.

The application must clearly state:

1. Which interdisciplinary research team the project is linked to.
2. Who has contributed to the development of the project outline.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group 
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment

Required selection criteria

• You must have a Master’s degree or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than the end of August 2025.  
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is .equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must meet the admission requirements for the faculty's PhD program at the faculty where your main supervisor is employed.
• You have proficiency in Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language) or English, both written and spoken.

 

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

If you cannot document skills in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at level A2 upon employment, you must complete Norwegian courses corresponding to at least 15 credits before the end of the employment period. NTNU will facilitate this. 

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: 

• Work independently
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity 
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions 
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

(Evaluate and remove/add what is relevant for the position.)

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• As a public employee, you have favourable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts. 

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values  are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. 

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 536 200,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. 

The employment period is three years. If Norwegian language training (level A2, at least 15 ECTS credits) is completed before the end of the employment period, the employment period can be extended by 10 weeks after completed and documented the Norwegian course.

For employment as a PhD candidate, it is a prerequisite that you are admitted to the PhD program at the department where you will be employed within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages) 
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well. 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates. Strategic important for the “Ocean and coast” will also be considered. 

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt 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 exemption is not granted.

If you find this position interesting, and in accordance 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: April 24, 2025

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

Contact:
Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, Director: bjorn.e.asbjornslett@ntnu.no, Anne Britt Storeng, Coordinator: anne.b.storeng@ntnu.no

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech 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.