About the position

There is a temporary position available in a joint project at the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU and CERN Knowledge Transfer Group as PhD Candidate in Industrial Economics and Technology Management for a period of 3 years. The position is part of the joint PhD project between NTNU and CERN, and it is resident 50/50 at NTNU campus in Trondheim, Norway and at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.

This is an educational position, which will provide promising research recruits the opportunity for professional development through studies towards a PhD degree. The position is connected to the PhD program at the Faculty of Economics and Management, NTNU and the faculty will be your employer.

The Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management aims to contribute with valuable research on an international level. The department will facilitate international activities such as exchange and collaboration with other universities internationally, and participation at international conferences.

CERN Knowledge Transfer Group and NTNU School of Entrepreneurship (NSE) has over 10 years of track record of collaboration. NTNU-CERN Screening week was a pioneer program and a learning lab for commercialization of research-based business ideas in a Venture Creation Program. A central goal of the project is also to involve these initiatives in the PhD project, as several levels and types of authentic learning and student involvement are of interest.

Information about the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management:

The department is organized into six sections:

• Managerial Economics, Finance and Operations Research
• Health, Safety and Environment Management
• Strategy and Business Development
• Operations Management
• Experts in Teamwork
• Section of Economics and management (Campus Gjøvik)

The PhD Candidate will belong to the Strategy and Business Development section at the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management. You will report to your supervisor.

Information about the Knowledge Transfer (KT) Group (CERN)

The KT group is part of the Industry, Procurement and Knowledge Transfer department, and is responsible for managing CERN’s intellectual property and maximize its transfer to society, primarily through industry in CERN’s member states.

The KT group also has the mission to analyse and highlight any form of knowledge transfer from CERN to society.

Main duties and responsibilities

Social impact is an important outcome measurement for universities and research institutions. The impact can be related to the dissemination of knowledge and technology, for instance through applications in the industry, spin-off companies and knowledge development among students. However, there is a lack of knowledge about social impact, where especially two factors are important in the topic’s missing development: 1) the fragmented and underdeveloped theoretical understanding of the topic, but also 2) limited access to relevant empirical data. The goal of this project is to identify and quantify the social impact of CERN’s technological, human, and branding capital. This social impact is connected to and is a result of CERN’s knowledge transfer activities, especially focusing on the role undertaken by students in this activity. These students are introduced to and will work with world-class science and research institutions.

Entrepreneurship education has seen a shift towards more action-oriented educational designs. There are many reasons for this, for instance that such education enhances deep learning and engagement by the students. It also increases the impact on society, as the students more frequently adopt university knowledge in their own practice as alumni. Today’s entrepreneurship education focuses more on experience-based learning, where more authentic learning situations give the students the opportunities to reflect on and conceptualise their experiences. These situations also prepare the students for future real-world interactions, thus being relevant to the students’ futures activities and careers, and are therefore important in educational programmes. However, few studies on authentic learning situations in entrepreneurship education have been conducted. Especially the collaboration and use of technology from Knowledge and Technology Transfers Offices (TTOs), and how this influences students’ learning, has received minimal attention.

The PhD involved in the project will be working with the venture creation programme NTNU School of Entrepreneurship, which has a long history of venture creation among its students, and has been collaborating with CERN and CERN’s Knowledge Transfer for many years. Investigation of student learning in this programme and how the collaboration with TTOs and external research institutions influence this learning will be central in the work. In this context, the development of the understanding of student learning could be obtained through both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Required selection criteria

The following qualifications are required for the position:

• 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 industrial economics, entrepreneurship 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.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

In addition, the following qualifications will contribute positively to the evaluation of the applicant:

• Experience with R&D organizations, entrepreneurship, technology development, entrepreneurial education
• Knowledge of Norwegian or other Scandinavian language

Personal characteristics

Personal qualifications which we see contributing positively to the research team are independence, work capacity and enthusiasm. We are also looking for candidates with social skills benefiting the work environment.

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
• Supervisors from both NTNU and CERN

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.

Salary and conditions

Time at NTNU:

PhD Candidates are remunerated in code 1017, remunerated at gross from NOK 482 200 per annum before tax. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

Time at Cern:

Normally 3719 CHF/month. This includes mandatory health insurance. The Ph.D.-salary from CERN will not be subject to taxation in the member states, including Norway.

The Ph.D.-candidate will be hired at NTNU for the first 1 ½ years with salary from NTNU and with pension and social security etc. regulated in Norway.

The Ph.D.-candidate is then hired at Cern for 1 ½ years with salary from Cern, no income tax and very favorable health insurance from Cern, but with no pension funds earnings in Norway for the period of time at Cern.  

There will be a main supervisor at NTNU and a supervisor also at Cern, and the Ph.D.-candidate will receive the degree from NTNU. 

The period of employment is 3 years. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in industrial economics and technology management . The position is connected to the PhD program at the Faculty of Economics and Management and the faculty will be your employer.
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 Ph.D.-candidate should also be admitted to the doctoral programme at Cern.

Appointment takes place on the terms that apply to State employees at any time, and after the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

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. 

About the application

The application must include:

• Motivation letter
• Project proposal (3-5 pages) where you present ideas for the PhD project, theoretical framework and methodological approach.
• CV with information on education, previous research experience, together with authorized documentation of certificates and study records.
• 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 so, please attach a brief description of your participation

Please submit your application electronically via www.jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. This also applies to applications from candidates originating from countries covered by ITAR or “Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”

General information

Working at NTNU

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

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

NTNU: Professor Øystein Widding phone number +47 41 21 55 84, e-mail low@iot.ntnu.no or Associate Professor Torgeir Aadland phone number +47 95 77 36 28, e-mail torgeir.aadland@ntnu.no.
CERN: Giovanni Anelli, Head of Knowledge Transfer Group, +41227678104    giovanni.anelli@cern.ch.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process or any other practical questions please contact HR Consultant Hilde Selli Egelie, hilde.s.egelie@ntnu.no.http://hilde.s.egelie@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: March 1st 2021

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 Industrial Economics and Technology Management

We conduct research and teaching at an international level in the interface between technology/natural sciences and economics, management, and HSE (health, safety and the environment). Our goal is sustainable creation of value within technology-based areas in industry, business and the public sector in Norway. We have academic groups in Trondheim and Gjøvik. The Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management is one of four departments in the Faculty of Economics and Management. 

Deadline 1st March 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Trondheim