About the position

We have a vacancy for a 100% PhD position

The work will be carried out in close collaboration with the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science and the Department of Design. The candidate will perform research on data intensive biofeedback mechanisms and systems for improving movement quality in training and rehabilitation.

The appointment is for a term of 4 years including 25% teaching assistance.

The position reports to the head of department.

Main duties and responsibilities

Although biofeedback has been successfully used in physical rehabilitation for years, they are generally restricted to a laboratory environment due to their costs and the elaborate setup requirements. Often, biofeedback is provided in the form of the status of the biomedical signals visually or audially. The correction of exercise techniques happens through the patients’ self-realization of deviation and adjustment of techniques thereafter. Preliminary evidence suggests that biofeedback via an exergame may be used to enhance exercise technique.

The PhD candidate will investigate if the analysis of exercise deviation can be improved by exploring the large amount of data that can be gathered (samples of different performance conditions) during rehabilitation and using Machine Learning models to automatically classify exercise performance.

The candidate will develop Machine Learning models and framework to foster accurate and user-friendly biofeedback applications/devices in training and rehabilitation that can be used both in a clinical rehabilitation center and at home.

Relevant background: The work is highly interdisciplinary. Good programming skills are required. Experience with machine learning, AR/VR techniques, game development, and movement science is preferable.

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  Computer Science, Game Design, Interaction Design, Biomedical Engineering,  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.

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

Candidates completing their MSc degree in the spring of 2020 are encouraged to apply. The position is also open for integrated PhD for NTNU students starting their final year of their master degree in Autumn 2020, see https://www.ntnu.no/ie/forskning/integrertphd for information about integrated PhD.

Other qualifications

• The main working language is Norwegian and English.  Due to potential interaction with clinics and rehabilitation centre in Norway, written and oral skills in a Scandinavian language is highly desired, but not required.
• Applicants who do not master a Scandinavian language must provide evidence of good English language skills, written and spoken. The following tests can be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are:
  • TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test)
  • IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)
  • CAE/CPE: grade B or A

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement. NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA

Personal characteristics

• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams
• Proven cooperation and communication skills

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, and are normally remunerated at gross from 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 4 years with 25% duty work.

Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in Computer Science.  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

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.

The national labour force must reflect the composition of the population to the greatest possible extent, NTNU wants to increase the proportion of women in its scientific posts. Women are encouraged to apply. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life (http://trondheim.com/). 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 Associate Professor Xiaomeng Su, e-mail: xiaomeng.su@ntnu.no  or head of department Professor John Krogstie,  John.Krogstie@ntnu.no.

About the application:

The application must contain:

• Curriculum vitae (CV) with information about the candidate’s prior training, exams, and work experience
• Certified copies of transcripts and diplomas for the whole bachelor and master’s degree. An English translation of all education documents is required unless the documents are in Norwegian.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement or a similar describes in detail the study and grading system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree.
• Research statement (max. 3 pages) including a short presentation of the motivation for a PhD study, discussion of the relevance of the applicant’s background to the position, and the applicant’s view of research challenges within the area of the PhD position.
• Names and contact information of at least 2 reference persons.
• A copy of the master thesis (in PDF), or, for those who are near to completion of their MSc, an extended abstract combined with a statement of how and when the applicant plans to complete the thesis (1 page, delivery of master thesis no later than June 30th.)

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 (CHSI): http://www.chsi.com.cn/en/).

Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Please refer to the application number 2019/38343.

Application deadline: 01.02.2019

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 Computer Science 

We are the leading academic IT environment in Norway, and offer a wide range of theoretical and applied IT programmes of study at all levels. Our subject areas include hardware, algorithms, visual computing, AI, databases, software engineering, information systems, learning technology, HCI, CSCW, IT operations and applied data processing. The Department has groups in both Trondheim and Gjøvik. The Department of Computer Science is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering .

Deadline 1st February 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Trondheim