About the position

We have a vacancy for a PhD Candidate at the Department of Computer Science in the Data and Artificial Intelligence group. For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

The period of employment is 3 years (with the option of 4 years and taking on teaching duties).

This position is part of the SmaRTWork project funded by the Research Council of Norway. SmaRTWork aims to develop a digital system for personalized return to work recommendations for sick-listed with musculoskeletal disorders. In the SmaRTWork project we are developing a case-based reasoning (CBR) system that provides recommendations to self-manage with the goal that the personalized intervention facilitates a sustainable return to work.

SmaRTWork is an interdisciplinary research project led by the Department of Public Health and Nursing at NTNU with researchers with a healthcare and artificial intelligence background. The Ph.D. candidate contributes to the data analysis of healthcare intervention data, contributes to the development of the CBR system and adds visualization and explanation that support the development process, and communicate the reasoning of the CBR system to end-users. The work requires knowledge about CBR, experience in developing Java applications, and excellent hands-on knowledge in python. Ideally, the candidate holds a master’s degree with a specialization in artificial intelligence and has used CBR before. Moreover, the candidate needs to be open and can communicate technical details to non-technical collaborators.

We anticipate the starting date for the candidate is during spring 2022. For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

You will report to the Head of Department. 

Duties of the position

The main duties and responsibilities for the position are:

• Develop research prototypes within collaborative, interdisciplinary research projects
• Work in close collaboration with researchers in public health
• Test and evaluate the solution in simulated and real environments
• Disseminate results through publications and presentations

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in Artificial Intelligence
• 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 
• Practical experience using Java and Python

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

• Excellent programming skills - in one or more of the following languages and/or frameworks: Java, Python, SpringIO, ElasticSearch 
• Knowledge (theoretical or practical) of CBR 
• Knowledge (theoretical or practical) of Explainable Artificial Intelligence
• Good written and oral English language skills; ideally Norwegian language skills

Personal characteristics

• Ability to take initiative and work independently 
• A positive and professional attitude as well as being a good team-worker 
• Social adaptability and communication skills 
• Willingness to learn new skillsets 

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 (with the option of 4 years and taking on teaching duties). 

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Computer Science  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 from NFR. 

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.

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
• 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.
• Research statement (max. 3 pages) including
  • A short presentation of the motivation for a PhD study 
  • How the applicant sees his/her background suitable to the position
  • The applicant’s view of research challenges for the selected PhD position, as well as his/her theoretical and methodological approach to the challenges
• 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 and interpersonal 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.

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.

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 Kerstin Bach, telephone 73597410, email kerstin.bach@ntnu.no or Head of the Department Heri Ramampiaro, email: heri@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Kenneth Hågensen, e-mail: kenneth.hagensen@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 2022/3628 when applying.

Application deadline: 10.03.2022

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 Computer Science 

We are the leading academic IT environment in Norway, and offer a wide range of theoretical and applied IT programmes of study at all levels. Our subject areas include hardware, algorithms, visual computing, AI, databases, software engineering, information systems, learning technology, HCI, CSCW, IT operations and applied data processing. The Department has groups in both Trondheim and Gjøvik. The Department of Computer Science is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering .

Deadline 10th March 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Campus Gløshaugen