About the project and position

About the project

The vision of Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA, Norw.: Statens vegvesen) is to contribute to national goals for the transportation system. These goals are safety, promoting added value in society, and promoting change towards lower global emissions. The road system in Norway is large and complex, and the geography of Norway raises a range of challenges in this area with respect to maintenance which will be given priority compared to new large road investments in the coming years. 

The Norwegian National Transport Plan is aimed towards promoting mobility, traffic safety, climatic and environmental conditions. To ensure a high quality road infrastructure it is important to choose effective maintenance actions within the areas of operations, maintenance and rehabilitation. In particular, the development of new technology and new digital concepts is essential to enable more efficient monitoring and analysis of road traffic and road network conditions.

There is a technological shift taking place towards a more digitalized society. This technological shift has the potential to contribute to the overall goals of safety, low emissions and increased resource efficiency. The vision of NTNU is "Knowledge for a Better World" and NTNU is actively pursuing this goal across education, research and innovation. In the area of transportation, NTNU conducts extensive activity in several relevant engineering fields connected to infrastructure, maintenance and digitalization.

NPRA established a research and development project with the title "Smarter maintenance". This project on road maintenance and infrastructure will involve close cooperation between the areas of research expertise in civil, transport and structural engineering, technology, digitalization and maintenance, and economics. This cooperation is organized within three thematic areas: (1) Condition registration, data analysis and modelling; (2) Big data, artificial intelligence, strategic analysis and planning; and (3) Maintenance, social economics and innovation. There is both a substantial need and many opportunities for innovation in this research program which will bring together seven PhD candidates across several engineering and cognate fields. Together, they will seek to solve specific challenges connected to the maintenance of transportation infrastructure.

These positions will be grouped into research clusters that will ensure close cooperation between PhD candidates, supervisors, NPRA experts and master/bachelor students.

We are seeking motivated candidates to work in a multidisciplinary and innovative setting of national and international importance.

About the position

We have a vacancy for a PhD position at the Department of Economics.

The PhD project will focus on a number of inter-related issues in the economics of transportation. These issues are at the intersection of public economics, political economics and environmental economics. Areas of focus include:

• The distributional effects of transport infrastructure versus maintenance
• The role of policy time inconsistency and other political economy factors in transportation infrastructure decisions
• Consequences of transportation policy on economic outcomes and social externalities

More information on related research undertaken by the Department of Economics can be found here.

The PhD position is part of a cluster of three PhD positions within the overall objective to establish social, economic and strategic analyses of risk-based maintenance.

The position reports to Professor Colin Green.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Independently set up research plans and conduct them accordingly
• Take a lead in writing research papers and generating research idea
• Comply with the PhD training programme of the Faculty
• Establish close cooperation with the other PhD candidates within the “Smart Maintenance programme”

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 economics or a related descipline 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.
• Strong analytical capabilities
• Fluent in English language, good written and oral communications skills

Candidates completing their master's degree in the Spring 2020 are encouraged to apply. The position is also open for integrated PhD for NTNU students starting their final year of their master’s degree in Autumn 2020.

Desirable qualifications:

• Evidence of ability to handle large and complex datasets
• Exposure to quantitative research in econometrics, social sciences and/or operations research
• Basic Scandinavian language skills are considered an advantage, but not a requirement

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

Personal characteristics

• Enthusiastic and ambitious
• Self-motivated, focused and goal-oriented
• Ability to solve complex technical tasks independently
• Ability to collaborate both within the discipline and across other disciplines

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, at 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 without additional required duties. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in Economics. 

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

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.

Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life. 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 Colin Green (colin.green@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 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 (CHESICC).

Application deadline: 8 March 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 Economics

Our subject areas are public finance, economics of education, urban and regional economics, health economics, transport economics, environmental and resource economics, and financial economics. These areas are especially relevant to decision-makers in all sectors. We work together with other researchers nationally and internationally, and our teaching activities are closely linked to our research. As a department with a socio-economic focus, we have a special obligation to bring research-based knowledge about effective resource use into the public debate. The Department of Economics is one of four departments in the Faculty of Economics and Management. 

Deadline 8th March 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Trondheim