About the position

The Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging at NTNU in Trondheim, Centre for Innovative Ultrasound Solutions (CIUS) is announcing 8 PhD positions within various topics related to ultrasound technology. The PhD positions are a fixed term, full time (100 %) position for 3 years starting in autumn/winter 2020-2021.

CIUS is a Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI), funded for 8 years by the Research Council of Norway, and is a collaboration between 11 ultrasound industry companies, 3 universities and a university college, SINTEF, and 4 public health partners. CIUS also has a large multidisciplinary research environment, collaboration with the University of Oslo (UiO) and the University College of South-East Norway (USN) in Horten.

The positions offer inspiring and motivating tasks in an international and inclusive environment characterised by open, committed and engaged researchers, both at the university and among the industry employees. You will be working in close collaboration with our industry partners, aiming for the research to become innovative solutions that will be used in practise in the future.

The PhD projects form a range of highly relevant and innovative topics in medical, maritime and oil & gas applications, and will employ theory and methods from physics and acoustics, signal and image processing and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning.

You will work with applications for more accurate and efficient imaging of the human heart, improved non-destructive testing using ultrasound, novel characterization of heart muscle fibrosis using methods enabled by our state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment, automatic classification of the sea bed using SONAR, and flow monitoring and measurement in both oil wells and the human heart. It is an explicit aim in CIUS that we seek synergies between all application areas. 

Duties of the position

1. Increased sensitivity and detailed diagnosis of corroded oil and gas pipes using ultrasound
2. Advanced processing of data from existing well logging tools
3. Ultrasonic doppler measurements while drilling for identification and quantification of influx/efflux in boreholes
4. Ultrasound and machine learning for automated monitoring of maturation states in Atlantic salmon
5. Machine learning for seabed classification in SONAR
6. Artificial intelligence for improved echocardiography and its integration to the electronic health journal
7. Non-invasive measurement of cardiac valve leakage jets
8. Non-invasive (electro) mechanical wave imaging in echocardiography

See detailed description of each project by clicking on your project of interest, and for applying one or more positions. 

Required selection criteria

The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is that you have completed a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you are unable to meet these criteria you may be considered only if you can document that you are particularly suitable for education leading to a PhD degree.

• A master’s degree or equivalent education from acoustics, physics, mathematics, signal processing, electronics, or computer science, with a weighted-average grade of B or higher, in accordance with NTNU’s grading system
• Good English skills, spoken and written

The successful candidate holds an MSc degree with emphasis on theory and methods from acoustics, (bio)physics, mathematics, signal processing, electronics, or computer science. CIUS aims to be a world-leading centre for research and innovation in next-generation ultrasound technologies. Candidates for this position will be selected in accordance with this aim.

Good analytical and programming skills are important. For some projects, it is imperative that the candidate has a proven ability to work in an experimental setting and is willing and interested in doing laboratory work. Besides technical skills, we are looking for a curious, ambitious candidate who is highly self-motivated to do research and contribute to the innovative work carried out in CIUS. Good communication skills in both oral and written English are expected (see details on formal English requirements below).

The application is to be accompanied by a cover letter explaining how your background and education fit the goals and requirements of the selected project(s) from the list above. Please mark specifically in the application which project(s) you are most interested in.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience within the field of ultrasound in either medicine or industrial applications
• Experience with methods and / or theory for one of the specific projects listed
• Prior written, scientific output with relevance

Personal characteristics

• Good communication abilities
• Besides technical skills, we are looking for a curious, ambitious candidate who is highly self-motivated to do research and contribute to the innovative work carried out in CIUS

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability.

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 (insurance, laber unions, exercise during working hour, pension benefits etc.)

Salary and conditions

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

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

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.

Candidates from universities outside Norway are requested to send a Diploma Supplement or similar official document, which describes in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree:  https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/european-skills-passport/diploma-supplement.

Candidates from non-English speaking countries outside the Nordic countries must provide official documentation of their English competence. Approved tests and results are:

• TOEFL: 600 / writing 4.5 (paper-based test), 92 / writing 22 (internet- based test)
• IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS tests accepted)
• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): grade A or B

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. 

NTNU has a goal of ensuring a gender and age balance and to recruit candidates with a minority background. We therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, age, functional capacity or cultural background. If necessary, we will adapt the workplace for people with disabilities. Norway and NTNU offer strong family-friendly and life-balance polices, see:

https://innsida.ntnu.no/wiki/-/wiki/English/Policy+for+Gender+Equality+and+Diversity+2018-2021

http://www.nyinorge.no/en
https://www.norge.no/en   
https://www.ntnu.edu/lifeandhousing/trondheim/practical-information
For more information regarding moving to NTNU: http://www.ntnu.edu/nirs

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

Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

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 (CHSI).

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. 

General information

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

For further information about the positions, please contact either:
Industry liason and researcher, Svein-Erik Måsøy, telephone: +47 92625082 or email: svein-erik.masoy@ntnu.no.

Professor, Lasse Løvstakken, telephone: +47 91347206 or email: lasse.lovstakken@ntnu.no.

For information concerning the application process, please contact:
HR Consultant Julie Hoff, telephone: + 47 72576984, email: julie.hoff@ntnu.no.

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Application deadline: 31.07.2020

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.

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.

The Department of Circulation and Imaging (ISB) has about 260 employees, and its research units are at the Cardiothoracic Centre at St. Olav’s Hospital, integrated with collaborating clinical divisions. The Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (ISB) includes anaesthesiology, radiology, radiography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, exercise physiology, cardiovascular physiology, pulmonary physiology, pulmonary medicine, cardiology, vascular surgery, thoracic surgery and biomedical engineering. The department is also responsible for the Centre for Innovative Ultrasound Solutions (CIUS), the Medical Simulation Centre and the MR Centre. More information about the department is available at http://www.ntnu.edu/isb

Deadline 31st July 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Øya