About the position

One PhD research fellowship position is vacant within the research project “Research and Demonstration of Key Technologies for Reliable and Efficient Application of New Energy Vehicles in China and Norway”, funded by The Research Council of Norway and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. The PhD candidate will work on challenging research problems related to control of power electronic converters for wireless inductive power transfer within a multidisciplinary project including the Department of Engineering Cybernetics, the Department of Energy and Process Technology and the Department of Electric Power Engineering at NTNU, SINTEF Energy Research and equivalent research groups at Beijing Institute of Technology.

The position reports to Adjunct Associate Professor Jon Are Suul as the main scientific supervisor of the PhD study.

Duties of the position

The main research objective of the PhD study is to develop suitable control strategies for safe and flexible operation of high power wireless inductive charging systems for electric vehicles. The work of the candidate will be coordinated with research activities at SINTEF Energy Research, and with related activities at Beijing Institute of Technology. The candidate is also expected to have one or more exchange stays at Beijing Institute of Technology, to be organized in cooperation with Prof. Junjun Deng, during the PhD study.

Required selection criteria

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 electric power engineering, control 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, post doctor and research assistant.

The candidate for the position is expected to have relevant background and experience in at least one or more of the following topics

• Design and control of inductive power transfer systems
• Digital control of power electronic converters
• Control of nonlinear systems
• Design and analysis of power electronic converters
• Soft switching techniques for resonant power electronic converters
• Optimization problems and optimization-based control

The candidate is also expected to have good written and oral English language skills.

The candidate is expected to document his qualifications and interests in the topic of the PhD study by providing a brief research proposal of 1-2 pages as attachment to the application.

Personal characteristics

The candidate is expected to:

• Be scientifically curious and open to new research challenges
• Demonstrate independence and persistence in addressing technical problems
• Be flexible and reliable, with ability to work effectively in an international team

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.

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 three years with the possibility of one year extension for teaching duties at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in Engineering Cybernetics (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phtk).

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 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.

About the application

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
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment
• Name and address of three referees

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.

Questions about the position can be directed to Adjunct Associate Professor Jon Are Suul, phone number +47 95 91 09 13, e-mail jon.are.suul@ntnu.no or Professor Marta Molinas, phone number +47 942 87 670, e-mail marta.molinas@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. Please refer to the application number 2020/33108 when applying.

Application deadline: 10.11.2020.

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 Engineering Cybernetics (ITK)

Engineering cybernetics is the study of automatic control and monitoring of dynamic systems. We develop the technologies of tomorrow through close cooperation with industry and academia, both in Norway and internationally. The Department contributes to the digitalization, automation and robotization of society. The Department of Engineering Cybernetics is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.

Deadline 10th November 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Project
Place of service Trondheim