About the position

We have a vacancy for a PhD Candidate at the Department of Structural Engineering, NTNU in Trondheim, Norway. The Department has about 140 employees, half of them PhD candidates.

The current PhD position will be hosted by the Concrete Group which is a team of scientists dedicated to the study of all aspects of concrete. The Concrete Group conduct research on concrete from material to structural level based on theoretical, numerical and experimental investigations. The research group is involved in several national and international research projects, it has a close collaboration with the industry, and it has extended laboratory facilities. The project will be undertaking in cooperation with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and linked to the Centre for Green Shift in the Built Environment (GREEN 2050), which is a newly established centre at NTNU’s Faculty of Engineering.

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. The position will follow NTNU’s PhD education and it is expected that the successful candidate will undertake the necessary courses as part of the PhD program as well as submitting a research plan no later than 3 months from the date of joining.

The successful candidate is expected to conduct research within the field of existing reinforced concrete structures with the overall aim of providing solutions for sustainable operation (inspection, assessment and maintenance/repair) of deteriorated reinforced and post tensioned concrete structures. Pending on opportunities, the PhD project will address the important issue of providing improved understanding and data on the performance of methods for repair of conventionally reinforced concrete structure with focus on electrochemical methods, including cathodic protection, electro-active repair for cleaning of reinforcement, and enforced self-healing by temporary cathodic protection.

The PhD position involves both theoretical, numerical and, pending on funding, experimental research. The candidate will work with a team of experienced researchers within the fields of materials science of reinforced concrete and structural design and is expected to do research in close collaboration with Norwegian building owners.

You will report to the supervising professors.

Duties of the position

The PhD Candidate shall

• Perform theoretical, numerical and experimental research according to the research plan and the project objectives
• Report progress on a regular basis in agreement with the supervisor(s)
• Complete the PhD training consisting of courses (minimum 30 ECTS credits)
• Publish the research outcomes in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals

Required selection criteria

• You must have a background in material science relevant for reinforced concrete structures
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level 
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education. 
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program
• You must have excellent written and oral English language skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Preferred selection criteria

• A background in structural engineering
• Proven skills/track record in the relevant areas of research (theoretical, numerical and experimental), or work experience from the industry
• Knowledge of programming/software, MATLAB, Python, ANSYS, LabView, etc.
• Proven skills/track record in experimental work and desire to combine this with numerical modelling
• Research quality and publications - journal and conference papers
• Norwegian (or Scandinavian) language skills

Personal characteristics

The PhD Candidate should

• Be highly motivated and diligent
• Have good analytical and critical thinking skills
• Be well-organized and able to plan and conduct laboratory activities and execute experiments
• Be able to take initiatives and work independently, but also as part of a group
• Have good skills on multidisciplinary collaboration
• Have good communication skills in scientific writing and oral presentations

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 491 200 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. 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.

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

About the application

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

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

• A motivation letter
• CV, certificates and diplomas 
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted
• A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position
• Name and address of three referees 
• If you have publications or other relevant research work 

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

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 qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

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.

In accordance with The Public 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 Professor Mette Geiker, email mette.geiker@ntnu.no or Professor Jan Øverli, email jan.overli@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Elin Pedersen Nystuen, email elin.p.nystuen@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 SO-IV-31/22 when applying.

Application deadline: 15.02.2022

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 Structural Engineering

We teach mechanical engineering, engineering and ICT, and civil and environmental engineering. The Department conducts internationally leading research and participates in several large national research projects. The Department of Structural Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 15th February 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service