About the position

We have a vacancy for a PhD candidate at Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in bioinspired multifunctional materials. The position will focuses on the fundamental study in the design principles of fascinating natural structures. Deep understanding the clues of nature designs will lead to design of novel advanced multifunctional bioinspired materials for further industrial applications.

The position reports to Professor Torgeir Welo

Main duties and responsibilities

The candidate will intensively study on the design of novel advanced materials/structures to achieve outstanding mechanical performance and multifunctionality. Fundamental study will be performed to understand biological principles which offer important guides to solve advanced, adaptive and multifunctional materials and design problems. Designed novel materials/structures/devices shall have a lot of potential applications in several industrial areas. The main duties of candidate include but not limited to following tasks:

• Extract design principles of biological materials/structures in nature and develop fundamental analytical models
• Build numerical models and carry out experiments to verify the analytical models
• Design structured materials to achieve high functionality by using these design principles
• Participate in other relevant research activities though our international collaborators

Qualification requirements

The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in solid mechanics or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. Applicants with no letter grades from previous studies must have an equally good academic foundation. Applicants who are unable to meet these criteria may be considered only if they can document that they are particularly suitable candidates for education leading to a PhD degree.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, postdoctor and research assistant

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

Other qualifications

• In-depth understanding of modelling theoretical mechanical models
• Rich experience in modelling biological materials, constitutive modelling of 3D/4D printed materials, and simulations of bioinspired structures under static and dynamic loading
• Solid knowledge of ABAQUS and hands-on scientific programming experience in Matlab/Python/Fortran
• Strong background of mechanical testing on 3D/4D printed samples and biological materials
• Good written and oral English language skills. Applicants from non-European countries where English is not the official language must document English skills by an approved test. Approved tests are TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).

Personal characteristics

• Strong interest and self-motivation to discover interesting natural structures
• Ability to think and work independently
• Team player with cooperative attitude
• Good communication skills
• Be comfortable with writing papers/reports and presenting research results publicly

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement

We offer

• exciting and stimulating 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

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 479 600 before tax per year. From the salary, 2 % is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD Program in Engineering: https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programme.

As a PhD candidate, you undertake to participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. A condition of appointment is that you are in fact qualified for admission to the PhD programme within three months.

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 criterias 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.

General information

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. Under the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova), information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to have their name entered on the list of applicants.

The national labour force must reflect the composition of the population to the greatest possible extent, NTNU wants to increase the proportion of women in its scientific posts. Women are encouraged to apply. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life (http://trondheim.com/). Having a population of 200 000, Trondheim is a small city by international standards with low crime rates and little pollution. It also has easy access to a beautiful countryside with mountains and a dramatic coastline.

Questions about the position can be directed to Professor Torgeir Welo, phone number 73593884, email: torgeir.welo@ntnu.no.

About the application:

Publications and other academic works that the applicant would like to be considered in the evaluation must accompany the application. Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify the individual applicant's contribution to joint works, the applicant must include a brief description of his or her contribution.

Please submit your application electronically via www.jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI): http://www.chsi.com.cn/en/. Pakistan applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/pages/home.aspx.

Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Please refer to the application number SO IV-18/20 when applying.

Application deadline: 31 January 2020

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

We educate graduates who can create new products, operate and maintain products, and manage projects. The Department has a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. We conduct wide-ranging research in fields such as technology, energy, product quality and development, and productivity. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 31st January 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Dep. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering