About the job

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.

The Department of Marine Technology, NTNU has a vacancy for a PhD candidate focusing on floating structures for the next generation of ocean industries. This PhD project is part of the Centre for Research based Innovation SFI BLUES. The centre aims to develop new knowledge and technology that will contribute to solving the industrial and societal challenges the world is facing. The ambition is to enable Norwegian industry to create new types of floating stationary structures, which will satisfy the needs and requirements from renewable energy, aquaculture, and coastal infrastructure. The Centre is led by SINTEF Ocean, with research partners NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET) and SINTEF Industry. The Centre involves more than 10 national and international industrial partners.

The focus of the PhD project is on the design and dynamic analysis of multi-modular floating structures. Floating structures composed of interconnected modules are proposed as economical solutions for floating solar power plants, floating islands, floating hubs, and other applications. Experience with such structures is limited, however, and there are limited design guidelines and simplified tools for early design. For design optimization, rapid screening of concepts is desirable, but the screening needs to capture trends in important performance criteria with an acceptable level of accuracy. ​Dominant physical effects must be included in the analysis. This includes possibly nonlinear structural responses in connections and nonlinear wave and current loads.

The performance criteria for different types of multi-modular structures are not very well defined at present. In any application, one may expect that the dynamic loads in the connections between floaters will be an important constraint. Required sizing and acceptable motions and accelerations for floating solar will differ significantly from those for i.e. a floating living space. ​

The objective of the PhD project is to develop efficient simulation approaches which capture the most critical dynamic responses of generic multi-modular floating structures in wind and waves, and to use these approaches to better understand the dynamic responses and design trends for novel multi-modular floating structures.

Your will report to Supervising Professor Erin achynski-Polić.

Duties of the position

• perform fundamental research on the above-mentioned topics
• in understanding with the supervisors provide a plan for the PhD study that includes the mandatory courses, research activities, dissemination and milestones
• report progress on a regular basis and in agreement with the supervisors
• engage in the SFI BLUES activities as required

Required selection criteria

• professionally relevant background in marine technology, ocean engineering, mechanical engineering, applied mathematics or equivalent
• education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level
• 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
• excellent written and oral English language skills
• strong fundamental background in mathematics, physics, and/or marine technology

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Preferred selection criteria

• good programming skills in MATLAB, C, Python, or similar
• background in marine technology or structural dynamics

Personal characteristics

• strong analytical skills
• innovative and open-minded
• highly motivated and scientifically curious
• positive attitude and interested in teamwork
• ability to take initiative and to work independently

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

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

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 501 200 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 your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

The application must include: 

• CV and certificates
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees
• project proposal (maximum 1 page) providing the applicant’s view of the research challenges related to the PhD position, as well as his/her theoretical or methodological approach
• name and contact information of minimum two 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.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short 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

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

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.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Erin Bachynski-Polić, Department of Marine Technology, erin.bachynski@ntnu.no . If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Marit Gjersvold, e-mail: marit.gjersvold@ntnu.no.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.  

Application deadline: 26.02.2023

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 Marine Technology

We develop methods and technology related to the blue economy: oil and gas extraction at sea, ship technology and the equipment industry, fisheries and aquaculture. We also have a strong commitment to the development of sustainable solutions for offshore renewable energy, coastal infrastructure, and marine robotics. Marine technology helps to solve major global challenges related to the environment, climate, energy, food and efficient transport. The Department of Marine Technology is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.

Deadline 26th February 2023
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Department of Marine Technology