About the position

Water is critical for health, well-being and development of individuals and societies, as attested by its prominence among UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) e.g. UN-SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Sustainable management of water is, however, challenged by urbanization, climate change, new pollutants and aging water infrastructure. The global water sector is actively seeking innovative solutions to address these challenges and ensure safe drinking water supplies, improved wastewater services.

The water industry of the future is expected to be smart and resource efficient. Utilities will embrace digitalisation and become more efficient and resilient by unleashing the value and free flow of data and the new perspectives provided by big data solutions. However, this promising scenario is restrained yet by (1) the lack of tangible evidences of the benefits of digital solutions provided at each level of management over the entire water value chain and (2) the low level of maturity of digital solutions regarding standardization, interoperability, cybersecurity and governance aspects. Digital solutions and digital twins are assistant systems linking the physical and digital world, providing decision support based on available and newly obtained data. With their help, data can be gathered, validated and processed in near real-time, and be used to target investments in water and wastewater infrastructures and urban and peri-urban development. Digital solutions are expected to provide significant improvements to efficiently use available resources.

NTNU has a strategic initiative related to resilient and sustainable water infrastructure. Among others, digital transformations in water infrastructure is one of the key focus area. In this respect, one of the topic of interest ICT integration in the early detection and warning of infiltration and exfiltration in water distribution network/ sewage systems.

The position reports to Professor Vikas Thakur

Main duties and responsibilities

• The ultimate goal of the PhD study is contribution to preservation of water resources using heterogeneous sensor networks systems and data-driven analytics (e.g., deep learning techniques) over water lifecycle information (from source to final treatment), consumer information and environmental monitoring systems. This incorporates reduced water loss from drinking water and ingress into wastewater networks, with the aim to reduce operational costs and energy savings.
• The PhD study shall focus on the development and testing of new, robust and cybersecure systems, linking the physical and digital world to ensure tailored, water-smart solutions related to early detection and warning of infiltration and exfiltration from water/waste water systems.  Focus will be on the deployment of Narrow band IoT sensors for online real time monitoring. Development of virtual sensors calculated from low cost measurements and processes based on artificial intelligence may also be included.
• The PhD study will be conducted in a close collaboration between municipal utilities, technology providers, Norwegian Open AI lab at NTNU.

Qualification requirements

PhD candidate:

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 civil engineering as well as ICT, computer science 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. In the application the candidate is encouraged to present his or hers motivation for this particular PhD study and briefly sketch how he or she expect to the aims of the project.

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.

Other qualifications

• Experience related to the topic of the study.
• Programming skills are an advantage
• Good written and oral English skills

Personal characteristics

• Enthusiastic
• Willing to work in independently and in team
• Honest

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 candidate:

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 449 400 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 4 years with required duties. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in civil 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.

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

PA 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 Professor Vikas Thakur, phone number +47 412 95 717, e-mail vikas.thakur@ntnu.no. Copy your written inquiry to Professor Sveinung Sægrov, e-mail sveinung.sagrov@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. Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number SO IV-41/19 when applying.

Application deadline: 06.06.2019

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 Civil and Environmental Engineering

We conduct research and teaching in civil and transportation engineering, technical planning, structural engineering, water and wastewater engineering and hydraulic engineering. Graduates from our programmes become employees – in both the public and private sectors – with a sustainability mindset combined with competitive knowledge and skills. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.