About the job

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

The position is associated with an exciting new  Centre for Geophysical Forecasting (CGF) at NTNU, one of the Norwegian centres for research- driven innovation, funded by the research council of Norway and industry partners.  The goal of the CGF is to become a world-leading research and innovation hub for the geophysical sciences, creating innovative new products and services in earth sensing and forecasting domains.  As the global ecosystem enters a period of dramatic change, there is a strong need for improved monitoring and forecasting of the Earth´s dynamical systems and biosphere.

This PhD project will explore novel applications of fibre optic cable sensing for environmental monitoring.  This includes using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for passive detection of ships and marine mammals for deconfliction using the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and perhaps also exploring the potential for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to communicate over long distances while submerged using DAS as a one-way acoustic channel to shore.

This PhD project is part of the PERSEUS programme, a collaboration between NTNU (Norway’s largest university), 11 top-level academic partners in 8 European countries,and 8 industrial partners within sectors of high societal relevance. PERSEUS will recruit PhD candidates who want to contribute to a smart, safe and sustainable future.  We are looking for highly-skilled PhD candidates motivated to approach societal challenges. 

All participants in the PERSEUS network bring unique and important qualities to the programme. PERSEUS PhD candidates will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers in partner institutions and in other project consortia, and benefit from collaborative research and education activities. 

You will work alongside other highly motivated and talented PhD candidates and researchers. You will also have access to the knowledge base, state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and impact partners in the team. 

In addition to your education in your specific research area, you will gain transferable skills in project development and management, science communication, research ethics, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. 

You will be employed by NTNU. During your stay, you will do a 2-3 month international stay and a 1-2 month national stay with one of the PERSEUS partners. This will most fruitfully be achieved by having a strong contact with partners in CGF.  This will allow you to extend your network within academia and industry, and to learn about your research area from an academic, innovation, and societal perspective. 

We are looking for PhD candidates from all parts of the world who want to contribute to our quest to create knowledge for a better world.

We believe in fair and open processes. All applications will be evaluated by a transparent procedure, with independent observers. 

The position's working place is NTNU campus in Trondheim. 

Your immediate leader will be the Head of the Department.

Duties of the position

• Undertaking the necessary courses (30 ECTS) as part of the PhD programme.
• Conducting high quality research and reporting progress on a regular basis in agreement with the supervisors. 
• Publishing research results in international peer-reviewed journals and conferences in collaboration with colleagues.

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in acoustics, signal processing, machine intelligence, applied physics, mathematics or other closely relevant field with a strong background in practical implementation and programming.
• Your education must include a minimum of 5 years of higher education (BSc. and MSc.) or equivalent education (300 ECTS). The grade requirements are B or higher (based on NTNU’s grading scale). Master´s degree must be completed by the call deadline. Education must be documented by diploma supplement or equivalent documentation in English and include a description of the educational system. The NTNU Office of International Relations will evaluate degrees and diplomas.
• You must have good English language skills, both written and spoken. TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) certificates may be used in evidence.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program.
• You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Norway for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the call deadline.
• You must be within the first four years of your research careers and not yet be awarded a doctoral degree at the date of the call deadline. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when you obtained your Master's degree.
• PhD candidates who, based on a comprehensive first-hand assessment, might come into conflict with legislation governing exports of knowledge, technology and services will not advance beyond the first stage in the evaluation process. For further information, please refer to the Export Control Act. 

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 Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience and/or training in underwater acoustics.
• Demonstrated strong motivation for high quality research and innovation.
• Evidence of good teamwork, collaborative and interpersonal skills.

Personal characteristics

• Willingness to learn new fields in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Excellent communication skills, able to synthesise and express complex ideas clearly.
• Drive to transition new research results and technologies into innovative products and services. 
• Self-motivated, ambitious, resilient, resourceful, result-oriented, and independent.

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 within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organised 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 (with translations if not in English).
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees (in English).
• A certificate of competency in English, both written and spoken.
• A (max 2 page) research interest description or project proposal.
• Name and contact information of at least 2 persons that will provide a reference for you.
• Copies of 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.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

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 John Potter (john.r.potter@ntnu.no).

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with required documentation attached.

Application deadline: 26.04.23

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 Electronic Systems

The digitalization of Norway is impossible without electronic systems. We are Norway’s leading academic environment in this field, and contribute with our expertise in areas ranging from nanoelectronics, phototonics, signal processing, radio technology and acoustics to satellite technology and autonomous systems. Knowledge of electronic systems is also vital for addressing important challenges in transport, energy, the environment, and health. The Department of Electronic Systems is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering .

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