
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.
This PhD project is connected to FME NorthWind (https://www.northwindresearch.no/), a Norwegian national research centre led by SINTEF Energy Research. FME NorthWind advances research and innovation for the sustainable development of wind energy, with particular emphasis on balancing technological deployment with environmental and societal sustainability. The position is linked to Work Package 4: Digital twin asset management.
The successful applicant will work at NTNU in Trondheim. The Department of Mathematical Sciences, NTNU, will host the PhD position. The topic of the PhD fellowship is at the interface of numerical mathematics, generative AI models, and computer science. A successful candidate will be offered a three-year position, which could potentially be extended with teaching duties.
Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? 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.
Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.
This PhD position is part of the WP4 Digital twin and asset management concerning multiscale wind simulation that involves modelling wind flow across various spatial and temporal scales to improve accuracy. It aims to combine small-scale atmospheric phenomena, such as turbulence, with larger-scale weather patterns and climate influences. These simulations are essential for optimizing the design and placement of wind turbines in complex terrains. Multiscale approaches utilize advanced computational techniques, including nested grids and adaptive mesh refinement. Accurate wind simulation at multiple scales helps in better predicting energy production and reducing operational risks. Some relevant key words (see FME-NorthWind webpage for more details):
We offer the opportunity to work in a very inspiring and motivating multidisciplinary research group to achieve the goal which is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree.
Duties of the position
Required selection criteria
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.
It is an advantage if you have experience with one or more of the following topics:
It is also an advantage if you have experience with publication-oriented research work and collaboration in international research environments.
Knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is beneficial but not required.
To complete a doctoral degree successfully, it is important that you:
Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and motivation for the position.
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 for the doctoral work. The department might offer up to 1 year extension with career promotion work in addition.
For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Mathematical Sciences (https://www.ntnu.no/studier/phma) within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.
The position is conditional on external 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, 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.
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 “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 Trond Kvamsdal, Professor at Department of Mathematical Sciences, NTNU, through e-mail: Trond.Kvamsdal@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Lisa Wedershoven, e-mail: lisa.wedershoven@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 will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here. Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position The Department of Energy and Process Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology has a vacancy for a PhD candidate in Advanced High-Temperature Heat Pump Systems. The position focuses on developing advanced solutions for multi-level recovery and upgrading of industrial waste heat using absorption-based high-temperature heat pump technologies. The PhD candidate will be part of a dynamic and collaborative research environment working on combined heat and power. The project offers opportunities to contribute to research with strong relevance for the decarbonization of industry, while gaining expertise in modelling, analysis, and potentially experimental investigation of advanced heat pump systems. The successful candidate will work closely with academic staff and may collaborate with industrial partners, providing valuable experience and strong career development opportunities within energy and process engineering. Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? 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. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. About the project Industrial processes generate large amounts of waste heat at multiple temperature levels, which remain underutilized due to technological and operational limitations. Efficient recovery and upgrading of this heat are essential for improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in industrial systems. This PhD project focuses on the development of multi-level waste heat recovery systems based on absorption high-temperature heat pumps, with particular emphasis on dynamic behavior and system integration. The research will combine dynamic modelling, numerical simulation, and experimental investigation using an existing absorption heat pump/refrigeration test facility. The study will address the challenges associated with variable operating conditions, fluctuating heat sources, and transient industrial processes. Advanced dynamic models will be developed to simulate system performance, optimize control strategies, and evaluate system response under realistic operating scenarios. Experimental validation will be performed to ensure model accuracy and to improve system design. The outcomes will contribute to the development of flexible, efficient, and robust thermal energy systems capable of utilizing multi-temperature waste heat, supporting industrial decarbonization and sustainable energy transitions. Duties of the position • Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate • Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above • Design, test and optimization in advanced high-temperature heat pump • Academic publications and popular science dissemination • Participate in the research group Process and Power • Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions • Supervise master’s thesis students related to the project Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment. Required selection criteria • You must have a relevant master’s degree in mechanical engineering, thermal engineering or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position. • 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 • Good oral and written presentation skills in English to level B2 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 • Research and/or engineering experience from related heat pump technologies, refrigeration technologies, or combined heat and power • Basic programming skills • Experience with lab • Oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian languages 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 • Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject • Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities. We offer • 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 • 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. At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) has established EPT Women in Science. The group is focused on supporting female Research Assistants, PhD Candidates, Postdoctoral Fellows and permanent academic employees within the Department. This support aims to help develop the academic careers of female employees, and is also made visible to our student body, to encourage them to consider an academic path. As part of the EPT Women in Science initiative we continue to build on our international network, inviting prominent female academics within and beyond the field of Engineering to speak at our events. 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 employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Engineering (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phiv) 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 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 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. 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) • Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work • Possibly 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 Dmytro Konovalov, dmytro.konovalov@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Martha Aftret Karlsvik, e-mail: hr@ept.ntnu.no. Application deadline: 01.08.2026 ------------------------------ For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. The city of Trondheim has a population of 200 000. It is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene and is known as the tech capital of Norway. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is among the best of its kind in the world. Professional, subsidized day-care for children is easily available, as is children`s education (including two international schools). Trondheim has low crime rates, clean air quality, and offers great opportunities for enjoying nature, culture and family-life.
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? 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. The PhD candidate will contribute to the development of novel modelling approaches to understand the environmental fate and impacts of plastic pollution in Norway. IndEcol is a pioneer in the development and application of industrial ecology methods, as well as the use of large data sets and scientific computing in industrial ecology. We focus on understanding resource use and environmental pollution associated with human activities, assessing the environmental aspects of different technologies and modeling society’s use of materials. IndEcol combines world-class competence in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Input-Output analysis (I/O), and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) with scientists’ contribution to IPCC and IPBES assessment reports, the International Resource Panel, active participation to the Life-Cycle Initiative hosted by UN Environment, and numerous publications featured in high-ranked journals. IndEcol hosts its own International MSc program and contributes to NTNU’s engineering education. The research team consisting of eight faculty members, the Industrial Ecology Digital Laboratory, and about 70 researchers, Post Docs. and PhD students. More information can be found at https://www.ntnu.edu/indecol. Your immediate leader is Dr. Martin Dorber. Prof. Francesca Verones, Assoc. Prof. Johan Berg Pettersen and Assoc. Prof. Tora Bonnevie are co-supervisors of the candidate. About the project Plastic pollution is escalating across all environments and is recognized as a major One Health challenge. However, impacts on freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity are still largely unassessed in a life cycle assessment (LCA) context. At the same time, micro- and nanoplastic exposure in humans is confirmed, but the health implications remain poorly understood and no metrics exist to represent these effects in LCA. This project addresses both gaps in parallel by developing the first integrated One Health modelling framework for plastics. We will build a multi-compartment fate model for terrestrial and freshwater systems, derive the first Characterization Factors for plastic impacts on biodiversity beyond the ocean, and translate biomedical evidence into responsible early-stage human health indicators compatible with LCA. The PhD`s work will focus on both environmental transport modelling and biodiversity impact assessment, in close collaboration with interdisciplinary project partners. The project is funded through NTNU and is an interdisciplinary project between the Industrial Ecology Programme at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering and the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science. Duties of the position • Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate • Building and calibrating a multi-compartment environmental fate model to simulate transport, retention and accumulation of plastics • Deriving exposure–response relationships and contributing to the development of characterization factors (CFs) for biodiversity impacts in Life Cycle Assessment • Write academic publications of good quality and contribute to popular science dissemination • Participate actively in Industrial Ecology Programme • Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions • Participate in building interdisciplinary collaboration between industrial ecology and the health field Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment. Required selection criteria • You must have a relevant Master's degree in industrial ecology, environmental science/engineering or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position • 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 • Motivation to get proficient in Python and Brightway • Interest in sustainability science and strong incentive to learn Industrial Ecology methods like LCA analysis • Proven analytical and computational capabilities, in courses and or/thesis deliverables • Proven written and oral English communication 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 • Completed courses in life cycle assessment and life cycle impact assessment • Experience in geographical information systems (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS or within Python, R) • Documented competence in using the Python scientific computing stack (Numpy, Pandas, Jupyter Notebooks) or of another programming language used for environmental data analysis • Knowledge of ecotoxicological concepts, preferably proven through completed courses • Experience with data visualization • Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian equivalent level Personal characteristics To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to: • Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and dedicated • Motivated to solve environmental problems and advance sustainability • Ambitious and goal-oriented • Team player • Excellent communication skills Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities. We offer • An exciting job with an important mission in society • Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period • Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues • Support 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) • Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment 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. At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. The Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) has established EPT Women in Science. The group is focused on supporting female Research Assistants, PhD Candidates, Postdoctoral Fellows and permanent academic employees within the Department. This support aims to help develop the academic careers of female employees, and is also made visible to our student body, to encourage them to consider an academic path. As part of the EPT Women in Science initiative we continue to build on our international network, inviting prominent female academics within and beyond the field of Engineering to speak at our events. 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 Engineering 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 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: • 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. • Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page) • Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work • Possibly 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 Prof. Francesca Verones, e-mail: francesca.verones@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Martha Aftret Karlsvik, e-mail: hr@ept.ntnu.no. Application deadline: 01.08.2026 For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. The city of Trondheim has a population of 200 000. It is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene and is known as the tech capital of Norway. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is among the best of its kind in the world. Professional, subsidized day-care for children is easily available, as is children`s education (including two international schools). Trondheim has low crime rates, clean air quality, and offers great opportunities for enjoying nature, culture and family-life.
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 Norwegian Center on AI for Decisions (aiD) has vacancy for a PhD fellowship in Predictive AI-Based Maintenance and Optimization of Building Energy Management Systems. aiD is one of the new Norwegian AI research initiatives, funded by the Research Council of Norway and industry partners. It consists of 13 research partners and more than 60 partners from industry and public sector led by NTNU and SINTEF. All open positions will be cross-linked on the aiD website aid-center.no About the Position Are you passionate about artificial intelligence, digital twins, and energy management systems in buildings? We are offering a fully funded, three-year PhD position to develop a cutting-edge AI decision-support tool for predictive maintenance and optimization of building energy management systems and technologies (i.e., Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC). Partnering with Statsbygg, the Norwegian Government’s Building Agency, your research will be deployed across a massive portfolio of public buildings. Moving beyond outdated calendar-based maintenance schedules, your mission is to solve a critical economic and environmental timing problem: knowing exactly when it becomes cost-optimal to intervene in degrading or overloaded systems. You will overcome the scarcity of real-world fault data by combining Simulation-Based Inference (SBI) and Building Performance Simulation (BPS). By integrating historical facility management (FDVU) records with live building sensor data, you will train AI models to recognize abnormal performance patterns, quantify quality-adjusted service life, and autonomously recommend whether a system needs maintenance, recalibration, or a capacity upgrade. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. About the project This position is hosted at the aiD Center, a premier research hub dedicated to advancing the role of artificial intelligence in complex decision-making processes. Hosted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and SINTEF aiD bridges technological, organizational, and human-centric gaps to foster a society where AI-driven value creation is safe and ethical. As an aiD-PhD candidate, you will collaborate closely with academic experts and industry leaders ensuring your research translates directly into portfolio-scale impact for the future of national real estate. You will be working with a multidisciplinary team of experts in building systems, artificial intelligence and decision-making. The supervision team includes: • Prof. Ivan Depina – main supervisor and coordinator, probabilistic modelling, scientific machine learning • Prof. Mohamed Hamdy – building performance simulation, building automation systems, and multi-objective optimization. • Prof. Freja Nygaard Rasmussen – life cycle assessment • Prof. Sebastien Gros – decision-making, energy use, AI and machine learning • Dr. Signe Riemer-Sørensen - AI and machine learning, hybrid analyses • Prof. Ahmed Kedir Mohammed – data analysis and machine learning Duties of the position • Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate • Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above • Academic publications and popular science dissemination • Participate in the aiD research network and engage with Statsbygg • Contribute to research and knowledge exchange activities at the department • Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays abroad • Contribute to supervision activities if required Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment. Required selection criteria • You must have a relevant master’s degree in civil engineering, mechanical power engineering or a related field. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level • 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 Doctoral Programme - PhD - Faculty of Engineering Science - NTNU • Good written and oral communication skills in English 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 • Machine Learning Expertise: A robust foundation in probabilistic modeling, Bayesian inference, deep learning, and/or anomaly detection • Modeling & Simulation Experience: Familiarity with Building Performance Simulation (BPS) tools, such as EnergyPlus or IDA ICE • Building Automation System (BAS) and Building Energy Management (BEM) • Data Integration Proficiency: Ability to work with complex, heterogeneous data streams • Domain Knowledge Advantage: Familiarity with building energy systems, HVAC operations, or fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) is considered a strong asset • Work Experience: Relevant work experience in operation and maintenance of buildings • Communication skills: Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level B2-C 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 • Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback • Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity • Show curiosity and 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 qualities. We offer • 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. At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality. 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 PhD in Engineering (Doctoral Programme) 3 years - Trondheim - NTNU 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 external 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, 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 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. 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) • Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work • Possibly 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 Associate Professor Ivan Depina, 40389387, ivan.depina@ntnu.no and Professor Mohamed Hamdy, mohamed.hamdy@ntnu.no If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Ragne Matberg (HR Consultant), email: ragne.matberg@ntnu.no Application deadline: 16.08.2026 ----------------- 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.