
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology · Trondheim
This is NTNU NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three ci...
NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.
At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.
You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.
Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0
Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? Do you have a background in electrical power engineering, operations research, or a related field, and are you interested in energy systems and markets? As a PhD candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, both in and outside academia.
The Department of Electric Energy (IEL) at NTNU is seeking a highly motivated candidate for a full-time (100%) PhD position for 3 years as part of the NTNU Energy initiative on Resilient and Integrated Energy Systems. You will join the Electricity Markets and Energy System Planning (EMESP) research group at IEL, where we foster an open, inclusive, and collaborative working environment.
Our work environment is defined by its friendly and supportive atmosphere, with regular gatherings such as shared lunches, and “Friday coffee” sessions to end the week. These informal events offer opportunities to share ideas, celebrate milestones, and build relationships. PhD candidates also organize social activities open to everyone interested, fostering a welcoming and inclusive community.
Your immediate Line Manager will be the Head of Department.
Electricity markets are undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by large-scale renewable integration, stronger interconnections, electrification of demand, hydropower flexibility, storage, and increasing balancing needs. These developments strengthen the interaction between market design and physical power-system operation. In Europe and the Nordic region, the transition from traditional capacity-allocation methods towards flow-based market coupling creates new opportunities, but also new challenges related to price formation, congestion management, transparency, welfare distribution, and operational feasibility.
The objective of this PhD project is to develop new knowledge, models, and analytical insights into how future electricity market designs can support the efficient and secure operation of low-carbon power systems. The project will focus on market coupling, optimal pricing in market clearing, flow-based capacity allocation, interconnectors modelling, and market-design transformation in Nordic and European electricity markets.
The PhD candidate will develop and apply optimization-based market models to analyze how different market-clearing and capacity-allocation methods affect zonal prices, cross-border exchange, congestion rents, welfare distribution, non-fossil flexibility, and system operation. Particular attention will be given to the interpretation of market prices through marginal values, shadow prices, congestion components, scarcity signals, and the relationship between market outcomes and physical network constraints. Regulatory aspects also need to be included through market surveillance and power producer components must embrace the feedback of production aspects.
In flow-based market coupling, market outcomes depend strongly on modelling choices related to the representation of the transmission grid, available cross-zonal capacity, operational security constraints, remedial actions, internal grid constraints, and interconnectors. The project may investigate how such assumptions affect the feasible trading domain, price formation, transparency, congestion management, welfare distribution, and the extent to which zonal prices reflect the marginal value of energy and scarce transmission capacity in the context of electricity market design.
Methodologically, the project is expected to combine electricity market modelling, social welfare optimization, and scenario-based studies. The work may address key research-frontier questions in flow-based market coupling and related market-design arrangements, including how different capacity-allocation methods and network representations influence the consistency between market outcomes and physical power-system constraints.
The PhD candidate will be hosted by the Electricity Markets and Energy Systems Planning (EMESP) group in the Department of Electric Energy at NTNU. The main supervisor will be Professor Hossein Farahmand, with co-supervision from relevant experts in electricity markets, power-system operation, optimization, and market design, depending on the final methodological focus of the PhD project.
Duties of the position
Career-enhancing work, which is in addition to the research project and doctoral education, may be offered to a candidate who demonstrates clear motivation and ability for such work, and if the Department determines there is a need. Examples of career-enhancing work include, but are not limited to, contributing to teaching, laboratory and exercise teaching, supervision, and examination work within the employee's areas of competence.
Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.
Required selection criteria
IELTS - Score equivalent to the B2 level: 5.5 - 6.0
Cambridge English - Score equivalent to the B2 level: 160 - 179.
Further assessment of both written and oral English language skills, as well as the ability to communicate fluently, will be conducted throughout the selection process and during any interviews for all applicants.
PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.
The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.
Preferred selection criteria
To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), the candidate is expected to:
Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.
We offer
As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.
Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse, and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.
We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.
If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability, and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.
At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.
In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.
The employment period is 3 years, with the possibility of an additional 3 to 12 months of employment related to career-enhancing activities.
The option for career-enhancing work may be offered to a candidate who has clear motivation and ability for such work, and if the Department deems it necessary. This will be clarified with the candidate during and after any interview.
If you cannot document skills in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 upon employment, NTNU offers the opportunity to take Norwegian courses corresponding to at least 15 credits. NTNU will facilitate this.
For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Electric Power Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.
The position is conditional on funding.
As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.
For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.
The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act.
The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.
Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.
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. If your institution uses a “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.
Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.
When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.
NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).
A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt 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 exemption is not granted.
If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Hossein Farahmand by email at hossein.farahmand@ntnu.no.
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact the Head of Office, Bodil Wold, by email at bodil.wold@ntnu.no.
For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.
The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech 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.
This is NTNU NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim. At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world. You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here. Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position Are you ready to take your research career to the next level? We offer an exciting 3-year postdoctoral position that gives you the opportunity to develop a strong research profile. You will also gain valuable experience that may be relevant for your future career. The purpose of a postdoctoral position is for the employee to develop a research profile and competence that qualifies them to apply for an Associate Professor position. The position can also provide other competencies relevant to the Postdoctoral Fellow's further career. Join our research environment and take the next step in your career with us. We invite applicants for a three-year Postdoctoral fellowship focused on advancing energy system modelling and optimization using AI and Machine learning. The position is based at NTNU’s campus in Trondheim, Norway, within the Managerial Economics, Finance, and Operations Research group (BEDØK) at the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Faculty of Economics and Management. About the research project Energy Systems Modelling is essential for providing insights and strategies to plan a carbon-neutral future. The implementation of an effective energy transition plan faces multiple challenges, spanning from integrating the operations of multiple energy carriers (gas, heating, electricity, etc.) and sectors (e.g., transport, buildings, industry, etc.) to appropriately modelling different spatial and temporal resolutions. The BEDØK group at the department runs several projects in these areas and offers the selected Postdoctoral Fellow flexibility to shape a focused research agenda. A key aspect of the position is to integrate and co-develop AI and machine learning techniques with energy system models. The candidate should have some competence in AI/ML for energy system applications and interest in developing new AI-enabled modelling approaches. Possible research directions or areas of applications include (but are not limited to): • Power markets: Flexibility markets, TSO–DSO coordination, re-dispatch, cross-border integration, day-ahead/intraday markets, and other relevant topics. • Energy system planning & optimization: Extend NTNU’s open-source EMPIRE model for diverse applications (flexibility, grid expansion, offshore wind, demand response, etc.). • Sector coupling & hydrogen: Modelling integrated energy carriers and the role of hydrogen in high-renewables systems. • Energy communities & local markets: P2P trading, local electricity markets, and incentives for distributed renewable integration. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with multiple high-impact European and Norwegian research initiatives, including iDesignRES, AiD (Norwegian Centre on AI-Decisions ), FME Interplay, PowerMAX, and others. Required selection criteria • A doctoral degree in operations research, energy or power system design and optimization, industrial engineering (optimization focus), applied AI/machine learning, or a closely related field. Candidates in the final stages of their PhD may also apply. • Proven expertise in energy and/or power systems. • Demonstrated competence in optimization or applied AI/machine learning; expertise in both is an advantage. • Proficiency in programming (e.g., Python, Julia, or similar). • Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English. Factors that will contribute positively to the evaluation and that should be documented in the application: • A good publication record in peer-reviewed journals and conferences in relevant areas such as energy systems and optimization. • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working with both technical and administrative staff. • Project management or project development experience. • Documented experience of working with international partners in Europe (or similar international collaboration, including research stays abroad) If you do not already have educational competence that meets the requirements for a position as associate professor in Norway, NTNU will arrange for you to acquire such competence during the employment period. In such cases, you will also be assigned relevant teaching as part of the career-promoting work. The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and for general criteria for the position. Main duties and responsibilities • Perform energy system modelling analyses in one (or two) of the research areas noted. New areas or ideas are welcome. • Apply and explore machine learning and AI applications in Energy Systems • Develop and engage in research activities in EU and National projects • The position also allows the postdoctoral fellow to carry out their own research activities and explore their own ideas • Joint supervision of post-graduate students The methodologies used are based on competence from mathematical programming and optimization, energy economics, and energy systems modelling. The postdoc position aims to combine this competence with the latest trends in AI and machine learning. Personal characteristics We are looking for a highly motivated, quality-oriented, conscientious, creative, and independent scientist. The right candidate enjoys interdisciplinary research and is a team player. A self-driven, structured, and proactive attitude will be central for this position. In evaluating which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience, and personal suitability, as well as motivation, in accordance with the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement. We offer • An exciting and international academic environment with opportunities for competence development • Opportunities for collaboration with significant industrial companies and public organizations • Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which contains the skills and knowledge you will acquire • Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues • Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund • Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2) • Working at NTNU As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits. Information about working and living in Norway can be found at the following link: https://www.norge.no/en Diversity Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time. At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. (deleted if not applicable) Salary and conditions Postdoctoral candidates are remunerated in code 1352, presently at gross NOK 633.400,- before tax per year. From the salary, 2 % is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. The period of employment is 3 years. The position is conditional on external funding. Trondheim is the workplace. For necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis. The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. Any statutory leave will be added to the employment period. As an employee at NTNU, it is important to stay updated on professional and organizational changes and adapt to these. About the application Please note that the application will only be assessed based on the information we have at the application deadline. Therefore, ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experiences meet the criteria described above. The application must contain the following: • Motivation letter – The motivation letter must clearly state how the candidate meets the qualification requirements. • CV, diplomas, and certificates • Scientific works including the dissertation (not the master thesis). • A complete list of publications • Relevant publications • Names and contact information of three potential references NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission). Incomplete applications will not be considered. General information A public applicant list with names, ages, job titles, and municipalities of residence will be prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to reserve yourself from being included on the public applicant list, this must be justified. The assessment will be made in accordance with applicable laws. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted. Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is Norway's technology capital with a population of over 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens, and general equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized childcare is readily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers excellent educational opportunities (including international schools) and opportunities to enjoy nature, culture, and family life, with low crime rates and clean air quality. Questions about the position can be directed to Associate Professor Pedro Crespo del Granado (+47 458 49 710 / pedro@ntnu.no) or Senior Researcher Mostafa Barani (+47 73 55 89 97/ mostafa.barani@ntnu.no). If you have any questions regarding the employment process, please contact HR Advisor Hilde Selli Egelie at hilde.s.egelie@ntnu.no. An application including attachments should be sent electronically through www.jobbnorge.no Application deadline: 26.07.2026
This is NTNU NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim. At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world. You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here. Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities in an interdisciplinary project between environmental psychology and artificial intelligence (AI)? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia. You will work from a psychological perspective with cutting-edge AI solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of households. Your immediate leader will be the Deputy Head of Research. About the project The PhD position builds on previous work of researchers from the group “Citizens, Environment and Saftey”. In the EU project ENCHANT, we collected electricity use data of 2400 European households for five weeks and provided psychologically informed interventions to reduce energy consumption through a web-based app. Using machine learning, we then collaborated with a software company and trained an algorithm that can suggest the combination of interventions to households that are expected to result in the best electricity savings, given the socio-psychological profile of the households. The targeted algorithm-suggested interventions were (based on the data from the project) about 50 % more successful in energy saving than the best possible general intervention strategy. In this PhD project, we want to take the next step in this development and use generative AI to tailor the intervention messages and visuals dynamically to user preferences to increase the effect even more and integrate these solutions with smart steering and measurements in pilot households. The task of the PhD will be to work in an interdisciplinary team between psychology and AI experts to help train the tailoring engine, feed it with scientifically solid input and define the boundaries of the space it can operate in. When the prototype is developed, the second part of the PhD will be to test it on households and assess its appeal and effect both qualitatively and quantitatively. Duties of the position • Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate • Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above in an interdisciplinary project with a solid base in psychology • Academic publications and popular science dissemination • Participate in the research group Citizens, Environment, and Safety • Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment. Required selection criteria • You must have a relevant Master's degree in Psychology or equivalent. Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where normally 120 ECTS credits have been obtained at master's level included a master’s thesis or equivalent work with a scope of at least 30 ECTS credits. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position, and no later than 31.08.2026. • You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered 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 Programme • Solid methodological background in both qualitative and quantitative research • Interest and ability to collaborate with computer science and cybernetics • Good oral and written presentation skills in English The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position. Preferred selection criteria • A solid background in environmental psychology, behaviour change theory, intervention design or similar • Experience with generative AI • Experience with empirical field work • Experience with interdisciplinary teamwork • Scandinavian language abilities Personal characteristics To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: • Work independently • Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them • Present and discuss your research with other professionals also from other disciplines • Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject and the perspectives of other disciplines on this subject • Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities. We offer Evaluate and remove/add what is relevant for the position. • An exciting job with an important mission in society • Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment • Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period • Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues • Working capital that can be used to implement the project • Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU • Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK) • Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2) As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits. Diversity Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time. Salary and conditions In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2 % statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work. For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Social Science within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment. As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them. For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis. The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. About the application The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. The application must include: • Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees • CV • Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently 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. • Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions, theoretical perspectives, methodological design for the project and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages) • Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page) • Publications or other relevant research work • Certificates • Names and contact information of three relevant referees 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. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well. Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation. When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates. NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission). General information A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt 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 exemption is not granted. If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply. If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Christian A. Klöckner, +47 735 91977, email Christian.klockner@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Ina Halvorsen, email: Ina.g.halvorsen@ntnu.no Application deadline: 31.08.2026 ----------------- For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech 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.
This is NTNU NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim. At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world. You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here. Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position The NTNU University Museum is seeking a highly qualified, ambitious, and motivated PhD candidate for a project focusing on the genomics of cryptic coloration in anurans (frogs and toads). Anurans display a diversity of colors and patterns that enable them to avoid detection by predators through background matching, masquerade (e.g., resembling leaves or bird droppings), or disruptive coloration. In many cryptically colored species, multiple color morphs co-occur within populations, and similar polymorphisms have evolved repeatedly across distantly related taxa. Proposed mechanisms for the maintenance of such polymorphisms include spatial and temporal variation in selection, heterozygote advantage, and pleiotropic effects linking coloration to other fitness-related traits. The PhD project will generate and analyze genomic and transcriptomic datasets derived from both samples collected in the field (e.g., Ethiopia, Borneo), and tissue collections in natural history museums. Using population and comparative genomics approaches, the candidate will have opportunities to investigate the evolutionary mechanisms underlying (i) the maintenance of cryptic color polymorphisms within species, and/or (ii) the repeated evolution of similar cryptic color traits across lineages. While the project will primarily be computational and lab-based, there will be opportunities to develop complementary field experiments. The focal study system will be defined in collaboration with the successful candidate. The successful candidate will be employed at the NTNU University Museum’s Department of Natural History. The NTNU University Museum is the natural and cultural history museum of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. The Department of Natural History conducts research in systematics and taxonomy, evolutionary genomics, as well as in phylogeography, population genetics, and ecology with an emphasis on conservation biology. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. About the project The team of supervisors will consist of Ass. Prof. Sandra Goutte (main supervisor), as well as co-supervisor Prof. Michael D. Martin. The candidate will use the NTNU University Museum’s collection, genomics laboratory facilities, and computational resources. Duties of the position The work of the PhD candidate will likely consist of field work abroad (e.g., Ethiopia, Borneo) in remote locations, genomics lab work and bioinformatic analyses. For a position as a PhD candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. Publication of project results in peer-reviewed journals are expected. Main duties of the position are: • Carry out research of excellent quality within the framework described above • Academic publications and popular science dissemination • Participate actively in research groups • Participate in international activities such as networks and conferences • Other career-promoting work The successful candidate should expect changes to their work duties after employment. Required selection criteria • You must have a Master's degree in in biology or equivalent with specialization in population genetics, population genomics, evolutionary biology, or closely related fields. • You must have experience at the Master’s level with analyses of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data to answer evolutionary questions (e.g., phylogenomic and population genomic analyses) • You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education. • Prior to starting the PhD position, you must have obtained the equivalent of 120 course credits, corresponding to a five-year Norwegian Master's level. Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 01.09.2026. • You must meet the requirements for admission to the Doctoral Programme at the Faculty of Natural Sciences • You must have very good written and oral English language skills PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”. The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position. Preferred selection criteria • Experience with modern statistical techniques using relevant scripting languages (R, python, bash, etc.) • Experience with DNA extraction and genomic library preparation • Experience with field work in harsh climate conditions (e.g., in warm and humid climate) Personal characteristics The PhD candidate should be self-motivated, enthusiastic, goal and solution oriented. Good cooperative skills and a desire to work collaboratively with people having diverse research interests are essential. To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: • Work independently • Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them • Present and discuss your research with other professionals • Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback • Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity • Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject • Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions • Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities. We offer • A strong international research environment highly relevant for career development in both basic and applied research and public sector • Exciting and stimulating tasks • Scientific and technical support provided by large research groups with long-term experience in bryology, systematics, evolutionary genetics, and ecology • Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period - Faculty of Natural Sciences • Open and inclusive working environment with dedicated colleagues • An exciting job with an important mission to society • Working capital that can be used to implement the project • Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU • As a public employee, you have favorable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK) You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts. Diversity Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time. Salary and conditions In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work in addition to 9 months of career promotion work, altogether 3 years and 9 months. For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Biology (PhD programme in Biology - NTNU) within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment. As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them. For the necessary academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis. The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. About the application The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in English. Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. The application must include: • A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) stating specifically why you believe you meet the selection criteria • Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees • CV, certified copies of certificates and diplomas • Copy of Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, or are about to submit, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position. • Publications or other relevant research work if you have such • Names and contact information of two relevant referees 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. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well. We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation. When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates. NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission). General information A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt 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 exemption is not granted. If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply. If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate Professor Sandra Goutte - email: sandra.goutte@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Anne Karin Henning - anne.karin.henning@ntnu.no / Kristin Skogen – kristin.skogen@ntnu.com Application deadline: 30.07.2026 For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech 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.