About the position

The maritime sector and the petroleum sector are both very sensitive to price fluctuations and business cycles. It should be in the interest of the companies to use the upswing as an opportunity to increase equities in order to create more financially solid companies. To achieve this, it’s important to investigate the companies’ portfolios, policy approaches and their relationship with other actors within the supply chain and the market at large.

The available data limits one to basically execute this project using annual data for 1999–2020, but the time series can be expanded due to the access to the internal data of the companies, i.e., establishing the relationship with the actors of the maritime industry.

The PhD project should investigate the dynamics of the maritime cluster, potential policy implications as well as the strategies of leading individual companies. To achieve this, the project aims to collaborate closely with industry and hence extend the collaboration and knowledge sharing between the university and industry partners. It is important that the project is well rooted in business and management to secure knowledge transfer between the industry and academia.

The project enables the researchers to understand the strategies of the companies of the maritime industry and how they worked. This will in turn provide the basis for formulating improved strategies and potentially new business models.

Hence, the suggested PhD project opens up for students with multidisciplinary background. Furthermore, cross-disciplinary collaboration between shipping management and maritime technologies will be needed.

The candidate will be expected to understand supply chain management and to master both qualitative and quantitative methods.

You will report to head of department.

Duties of the position

The objective of the PhD project is to identify industry drivers, i.e. the factors that determine how competitiveness is built, and to enable the industry partners to build their competitiveness, i.e. to contribute to exploring new qualitative business model actual for industry, considering important technology-based trends, through investigation of, but not limited to:

• the project portfolio of the companies during 1999-2020 (especially in a period of oil crisis 2014)
• the strategies of the companies of the maritime industry and their policies towards sustainability

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) with a strong academic background in maritime supply chain management or relevant social-science field 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.

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, post doctor and research assistant.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience in collaboration with private sector is preferred.
• Active involvement in national or international networks.
• Knowledge of the maritime industry in general and maritime cluster in particular.
• Ability to observe, document, analyze and support interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral collaboration.
• Potential for research at an international level.
• Written and oral fluency in English, must be documented by either TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). 

Personal characteristics

• Good communication skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as in team.

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 482 200 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.

The period of employment is 3 years.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in engineering (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phiv) 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.

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

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. 

The application must include:

• CV, certificates and diplomas
• One-page project proposal
• Published academic works that you would like to be considered in the assessment
• Name and address of three referees

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.

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

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

General information

Working at NTNU

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

The city of Ålesund, with its population of 50 000, will provide you with plenty of opportunities to explore a region of Norway that is famous for its beautiful scenery with high mountains and blue fjords. Ålesund itself, with its Art Nouveau architecture, is by many considered to be the most beautiful city in Norway! The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world.

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.

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.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Viktoriia Koilo, telephone +4793041991, email viktoriia.koilo@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Siri Schulerud, e-mail: ssc@ntnu.no.

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. Please refer to the application number SO-IV-20/21 when applying.

Application deadline: 01.02.2021

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 Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering

We aim to be a hub of international knowledge and innovation in maritime operations. This involves education and research on the design of ships and marine equipment as well as on the operation of vessels. Maritime operations integrate technology, human factors and business. The interfaces between these areas often spark inspiration for innovation and new solutions. The Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 1st February 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Ålesund
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service