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 ship maneuvering in adverse weather conditions in open sea, with limited installed power on-board. This PhD position is part of the project SeaWorthy (Hydrodynamic Aspects of Green Shipping). SeaWorthy is a four-year duration project between SINTEF Ocean, NTNU and several Norwegian industry partners. The ambition is to improve our understanding and develop knowledge and improved tools related to the IMO requirements for less installed power on vessels. The focus is on coastal vessels.

Maneuvering and weathervaning is particularly challenging when one has limited available power in adverse weather conditions. In vessel design, maneuvering simulators for training of crew as well as on-board decision tools, there is a need for increasingly more reliable maneuvering models. Relevant operations will involve low forward speed and high sea states.

To improve the reliability and applicability of existing maneuvering models for adverse weather conditions, there are several issues that need to be addressed, and their modelling improved. These are related to nonlinear and viscous effects, and include for instance, mean wave loads in both head, oblique and following sea, propeller-rudder-hull interaction in waves, transverse viscous drag in tight maneuvers, large heel angles, bow and stern in-and-out-of-water and viscous effects on the centrifugal loads. Mean wave loads in following and oblique following waves are investigated in a related project ProfSea, and the two projects will benefit from collaboration. The effect of machinery and control will also matter.

Which physical effects to focus on will be decided during first part of the project. The student will develop his or her own maneuvering simulator. There are existing in-house simulators that can be used as starting point. The simulator will be used for investigations of selected scenarios.  A relevant scenario is a vessel turning into large waves at low forward speed for weathervaning. What will be the limiting sea-states for which a given vessel with given installed power is able to perform such a maneuver, and will the vessel be able to stay in head sea? As research methods we will use numerical investigations by both CFD and potential flow theory-based methods, and small-scale detailed model tests.

The position is under the supervision of is Professor Trygve Kristiansen. The position reports to Head of the Department.

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 SeaWorthy activities as required

Required selection criteria

• professionally relevant background in marine technology, ocean 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 (www.ntnu.edu/studies/phiv)
• 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 Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

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

Personal characteristics

• highly motivated and scientifically curious
• strong analytical skills
• innovative and open-minded
• 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.

The position is subject to external funding from the Norwegian Research Council.

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 Trygve Kristiansen, email trygve.kristiansen@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: 22.03.2023.

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 22nd March 2023
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Department of Marine Technology