About the position

We have a vacancy for a PhD Candidate at Department of Architecture and Planning within the context of Linking early Planning and Design to Use and FM
For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.
Architecture and Planning department is one of four departments affiliated with the Faculty of Architecture and Design at NTNU and consists of approximately 50 employees, including PhD candidates. The department leads in the development of knowledge in architecture, planning, real estate development and facilities management. The subject area includes the knowledge bases from engineering, social sciences and humanities. Through teaching and research, the department contributes to the development of climate-neutral buildings and cities, including living environments that seek to ensure architectural quality, aesthetic experience, reflection, well-being and security.

The department has four study programs, a 5-year study in architecture, which is shared with the Department of Architecture and Technology, as well as a master's degree program in physical planning, real estate development and facilities management and Urban Ecological Planning, which is an international study program. The Department of Architecture and Planning wants to develop its portfolio of continuing and further education (EVU) and currently has a well-established EVU program in real estate development and facilities management.

You will report to head of department

Duties of the position

Bridging the gap is funded by The Norwegian Research Council under the call for Collaborative Project to Enhance Transformation and Value in the Building, Construction and Real Estate Industry. The project is led by NTNU, Department of Architecture and Planning. The PhD will work close with the project partners from the private sector with much of the work based on a case study building project Teknostallen based in the city of Trondheim, Norway.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate to participate in a research endeavor focusing on the research questions:

1. What processes are needed to organize data and information management from design to FM and use?
2. What types of information and data do FM use in operations from design, engineering and building?

The PhD will be expected to draw on innovation theory and apply it through an action research approach on a real case study building project based in Trondheim. This project has the ambition to develop a «Digital Twin», where big data from the use phase will be used together with data from the project implementation phase, among other things to optimize the new building’s energy consumption and maintenance costs. Collaboration across all practice from design, implementation and use is required to ensure delivery of a complete digital twin that will live on during the use phase. The PhD will examine collaboration processes of coordinating data with the reference project (exploitation) defining how collaboration can occur for digital twins through feedback and feedforward loops (exploration), with an emphasis on Facility Management perspective.

We invite applicants to submit a preliminary research plan based on the provided research questions and research approach.

Required selection criteria

• ​​​​​You must have research or practice background in at least two of the following areas: facilities management, architecture, social science, organizational management, real estate development, research or practice on innovative building projects in design or use, or digitalization or use of BIM
• Master`s degree in facilities management, architecture, social science, organizational management or real estate development
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level 
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education. 
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program 
• Good written and oral English and Scandinavian language skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience with academic writing
• Experience from research projects
• Experience in working in the built environment
• A documented ability to collaborate with others e.g. through co-authoring research papers, as well as individual ability to conduct independent research selection criteria

Personal characteristics

• Self-driven
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills

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 491 200 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 Architecture 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 
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted. 
• A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position. 
• Project proposal  
• Research plan 
• Name and address of three referees 
• If you have publications or other relevant research work 

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

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 and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

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 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.

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.

In accordance with The Public 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 Carmel Lindkvist, email carmel.lindkvist@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Desiree Brigg, e-mail: desiree.brigg@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. 

Application deadline: 31.01.22

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 Architecture and Planning

Our fields of expertise are architecture, urban design, physical and urban ecological planning, Smart Cities as well as real estate development and facilities management. We also work with ambient aesthetics, land use and transport planning, urban renewal, densification and urban redevelopment, as well as urban ecological planning in lower income countries. The Department of Architecture and Planning is one of four departments in the Faculty of Architecture and Design

Deadline 31st January 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Trondheim, Gløshaugen