About the position

We have a vacancy for a 3-year PhD fellowship at the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum (IGP).

The PhD project is part of a Knowledge-Building project for the Industry (PETROMAKS2) called NEXFLOW – Next generation oil-water flow models in production technologies, financed by the Research Council of Norway. Partners include SINTEF, NTNU and the industrial partner Total E&P Norge. The project will collaborate with an equivalent research part in Brazil led by ISdB Flowtech.

The main objective of this project is to improve and advance the understanding of oil-water flow in transport pipelines and processing equipment with focus on droplet formation and dispersion behavior in flowing systems. The methods to be used in the research are numerical modeling and laboratory experiments.

This PhD project is an interdisciplinary initiative of the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum at NTNU and the Department of Process Technology of SINTEF Industry. The PhD student is assigned to the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum, but the PhD candidate is expected to spend considerable time at the Department of Process Technology of SINTEF Industry. The candidate is supervised by Associate Prof. Stanko from the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum Engineering, and Research Scientist Dr. Heiner Schümann from SINTEF Industry will act as co-supervisor.

The position reports to the Head of Department.

Main duties and responsibilities

• The PhD project will further advance experimental and numerical modeling research previously carried out at SINTEF Industry and NTNU.
• Some topics of interest in the research are: to study the effect of physicochemical properties on the transport of oil-water dispersions, study oil-water dispersion flow characteristics and the implication on the phase inversion boundary, identification and prediction of critical flow conditions such as dense packed layer formation, free water layer formation / in-flow separation.
• Part of the work involves development of numerical models to match experimental measurements. Special attention will be on the models ability to upscale results from laboratory to process conditions, predicting the dynamic behavior of the flow as well as considering physicochemical effects.

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 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

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

Other qualifications

• The candidate should have solid and relevant background in engineering or physics, e.g. one of the following engineering fields: mechanical, chemical, process, control, petroleum engineering.
• It is an advantage if the candidate possesses experience with experimental work and analysis of experimental data.
• The candidate should possess documented scientific programming skills to solve engineering problems that require modeling.
• An interest in mathematics and programming is essential, and it is a significant advantage if the candidate has previous documented knowledge.
• It is an advantage if the candidate has some previous knowledge on multiphase flow.
• Good written and oral English language skills are essential.

Personal characteristics

• A high level of personal responsibility and initiative
• Work independently as well as part of a team in accordance with the project objectives

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 3 years without required duties. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in engineering (https://www.ntnu.edu/iv/doctoral-programme). 

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.

Questions about the position can be directed to Associate Professor Milan Stanko, e-mail milan.stanko@ntnu.no or to Research Scientist Dr. Heiner Schümann, e-mail: heiner.schumann@sintef.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. 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 IV-46/20 when applying.

Application deadline: 16.02.2020.

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.

Department of Geoscience and Petroleum

We conduct teaching and research related to management of Earth’s geological resources. Norway’s rich resources of wind, water, oil, gas and minerals have been and are essential to the country’s prosperity, and will continue to be in the future. The Department plays a key role in the development of technology and the education of graduates who enable value creation based on our natural resources. The Department of Geoscience and Petroleum is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 16th February 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Department of Geoscience and Petroleum