About the position

Two PhD Research fellowships are available at the Department of Chemical Engineering, NTNU.

1. A PhD fellowship affiliated with “iCSI - industrial Catalysis Science and Innovation for a competitive and sustainable process industry”, which is a National Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) granted by the Research Council of Norway. The PhD project topic is:
   
   Kinetic investigations of catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2 for nitric acid production.
2. The second fellowship is part of a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions -Innovation Training Network (MSCA-ITN) on Bimetallic catalysts knowledge-based development for energy applications (BIKE). The PhD project topic is:
   
   Kinetic studies of aqueous phase reforming of renewable feedstock, including catalyst deactivation studies.

Job description

The first is a fellowship affiliated with “iCSI - industrial Catalysis Science and Innovation for a competitive and sustainable process industry”, which is a National Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) granted by the Research Council of Norway for the period 2015-22. In addition to NTNU, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry and the University of Oslo are research partners, and Yara, INOVYN, Haldor Topsøe AS, Dynea, and KA Rasmussen AS are the iCSI industrial partners. The iCSI basic vision is to establish an integrated competence and technology platform that promotes world-class energy and raw material efficiency and allows spin-off activities in the different directions of prime interest for the industrial partners.

iCSI joins the three major research institutions involved in heterogeneous catalysis in Norway with five industrial partners competing globally in a collaborative utilization of competence and infrastructure. Industrial catalysis links material properties on the nano-scale to the raw material efficiency, energy consumption and emission abatement of thermochemical processes. The research efforts target fundamental understanding of phenomena relevant to the productivity, selectivity and stability of the catalytic processes, and will build knowledge important to both continuous technological improvements and possible breakthroughs that may induce step changes to the industry.

The iCSI PhD project topic is connected with kinetic investigations of catalysts for attaining NO-NO2 equilibrium for nitric acid production. The project is carried out in close collaboration with Yara Technology Centre in Porsgrunn and with SINTEF Industry. The main part of the PhD research is to be conducted at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway, in the laboratories of the Catalysis group (KINCAT,http://www.ntnu.edu/chemeng/kincat ). Opportunities exist, however, for performing research at other laboratories through international exchange.

The second fellowship is part of a European project: BIKE (Bimetallic catalysts knowledge-based development for energy applications). The project is a network for training of early stage researchers to learn to develop and apply the next generation of bimetallic catalysts for energy management, in particular for blue and green hydrogen production processes. The BIKE ITN PhD fellowship is part of a team of 14 qualified researchers across Europe. The BIKE consortium includes industrial and academic partners with common meetings, workshops, training schools and courses. The industrial partners, key players in catalysis and hydrogen technology, will further contribute to cross-section training of the PhD candidates. The main part of the PhD research is to be conducted at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway, but the candidate will spend extended training periods at academic and industry partners in Europe. The topic of the PhD project will be kinetic studies of aqueous phase reforming of renewable feedstock, including catalyst deactivation studies.

Catalysis and kinetics is core research in the projects, and a suitable background for the selected candidates ranges from chemical engineering and catalysis to physics, inorganic chemistry and materials science. Previous experimental training in catalyst testing, synthesis and characterization, as well as experience in kinetic or reactor modelling is highly advantageous. For more information about the Department,please look at our web page http://www.ntnu.edu/chemeng/

There are strict eligibility and residency requirements that must be met for the MSCA- ITN position. Applicants must be either European citizens (from EU Member States or Associated Countries, but not residents of Norway), or from Other Third Countries (i.e. USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, China, etc.).

At the time of recruitment (i.e. first date of employment/signature of the contract) applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Have less than 4 years research experience (measured from the time their Master’s or equivalent degree was awarded).
• Not have a doctorate/PhD.
• Be a national of any country other than the country of the premises of the host organization to which they are applying (unless they have legally resided outside that country for at least 3 out of the last 4 years).
• Not have resided in the country of the recruiting host for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date (and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country) – unless as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention.

Additionally, the applicant must explicitly declare that they fulfil the eligibility criteria set out in article 3.4 of the H2020 Guide for Applicants Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Innovative Training Networks (ITN), see:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/guides_for_applicants/h2020-guide-appl-msca-itn_en.pdf

More information about the ITN BIKE programme, the open positions and host organizations is available on the project’s dedicated website: https://www.bike-msca.eu/

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 chemical engineering 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.

Applicants should hold an MSc in chemical engineering/catalysis, but candidates with a related background in physics, chemistry,nanotechnology or materials science may also apply.

• All applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English (in speaking and writing), while knowledge of Norwegian is considered anadditional advantage. Applicants must indicate their level of language skills in English and Norwegian.

An application with CV, certified copies of transcripts, certified copies of documentation on English language proficiency (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.), and reference letters is to be submitted electronically through http://www.jobbnorge.no/.

Personal characteristics

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, with the possibility of 1 year extension with 25 % teaching duties in agreement with the department. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in Chemical Engineering. 

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.

Appointment takes place on the terms that apply to State employees at any time, and after the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

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.

Questions about the position can be directed to Magnus Rønning, e-mail: magnus.ronning@ntnu.no

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 jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Please refer to the application number NV-97/19 when applying.

Application deadline: 01.10.19

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 Chemical Engineering  

We take chemistry from laboratory scale to industrial production. This demands a wide range of knowledge, from molecular processes and nanotechnology to building and operation of large processing plants. We educate graduates for some of Norway's most important industries. The Department of Chemical Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences. 

Deadline 1st October 2019
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
omfang Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Gløshaugen