About the position We have a vacancy for a PhD Candidate at Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in the Production Management Research Group.

The group aims to support excellence in production management and logistics in industrial supply chains through research and education.  We carry out research and education in areas such as manufacturing logistics, supply chain management, and manufacturing strategy – with a focus on digitalization and sustainability. We work closely with companies within several sectors, including maritime industry, manufacturing, food and engineering. We have extensive international collaboration and have a state-of-the-art Logistics 4.0 Laboratory.

You will report to Professor Jan Ola Strandhagen and Professor Fabio Sgarbossa

Duties of the position

The PhD candidate is within the area of smart planning and control, related to an innovation research project in the Norwegian food supply chain. The objective of the innovation project is to develop control models and methodologies for smart, transparent and sustainable operations in food supply chains. Relevant research topics for the PhD scholar include demand planning, real-time production control, replenishment strategies, and planning and control of warehousing activities – enabled by digitalization, business intelligence, data visualization, and smart logistics.

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 production management, supply chain management 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. For an application to be considered, the applicant must attach a description of a research plan (maximum 3 pages).

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.

Other required selection criteria

• Qualified and strong background within the topic and methodologies of the research project
• Excellence, Impact and Implementation of the submitted research plan

Preferred selection criteria

• Strong analytical skills and interest in qualitative perspectives and quantitative approaches
• Good written and oral English language skills
• Candidates with Scandinavian language skills will be preferred
• It is beneficial if the applicant has some previous experience from industry or research in food production or food supply chains

Personal characteristics

• Ability to work independently as well as in teams
• Good communication skills and ability to work in close contact with industry
• Strong writing capabilities

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 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.

The position is subject to external funding.

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

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English or Norwegian.

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
• Research plan or project proposal
• List of academic works, published or unpublished, that you would like to be considered in the assessment (not master thesis, but maybe on our request later)
• Name and address of at least two referees are preferred
• 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 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.

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 Prof. Jan Ola Strandhagen, telephone +4773593907, email ola.strandhagen@ntnu.no; Prof. Fabio Sgarbossa, telephone +4790768098, email fabio.sgarbossa@ntnu.no.

Please submit your application electronically via www.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 IV-125/20 when applying.

Application deadline: 5 June 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 Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

We educate graduates who can create new products, operate and maintain products, and manage projects. The Department has a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. We conduct wide-ranging research in fields such as technology, energy, product quality and development, and productivity. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering

Deadline 5th June 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Dep. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering