
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology · ålesund
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.
A ship is designed once, but it is lived with for decades. Moreover, a ship design company rarely works with just one ship. It works with an idea of a ship, designs that get evolved, customised, and built each time differently. At any moment, different instances of that idea exist side by side: some still on the drawing board, some under construction, others already operating and sending back streams of sensor data from daily operation. The knowledge that connects these instances, and that connects design, construction, and operation more broadly, rarely lives in one coherent place. It is scattered across documents, tools, and people, out of reach of the AI methods that could otherwise make efficient use of it.
This PhD position aims to investigate how such knowledge could be represented so it holds together across many instances and lifecycle phases of a ship, and becomes something AI methods, not only engineers, can work with directly. This includes examining how components, systems, and the dependencies between them might be captured in a shared structure, and comparing candidate approaches, such as ontologies, knowledge graphs, graph databases, or multi taxonomy databases, and the AI techniques needed to build and query them, to see where each fits, where each falls short, and whether a hybrid solution serves better.
A good representation should not only describe a vessel as it is, but support AI-assisted inference: surfacing what else is affected by a change, what may be missing from an incomplete design, or what the likely consequences are elsewhere in the vessel. Whether such a representation should fit existing practices and tools, or justify changing them, is itself an open question, to be weighed against the time and value it can bring to the industry.
Part of the motivation is that design and operational data, gathered across many vessels and many projects, could form one coherent body of knowledge that AI methods can search and learn from, helping surface relevant precedent and consequences for new designs rather than starting each one from scattered documents and individual experience. Turning that possibility into something concrete is part of the candidate's task, who will narrow this broad research space toward specific applications and evaluate them against real design tasks.
The work is carried out in close, ongoing cooperation with the local maritime industry, grounded in real vessels, real data, and real engineering problems. Candidates should be available and able to obtain any necessary clearance to work directly and regularly with the project's industrial partners.
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.
The PhD project will be part of the Norwegian Maritime AI Center that aims to accelerate operationalization of AI in the maritime value chains. The center shall position the maritime sector for accelerated and successful use of AI. The demand for safe and sustainable maritime activities, as well as the shortage of crew and engineers, are key drivers for change in the maritime sector. At the same time, there is a pull for growth, increased efficiency and profitability, while managing volatility in the markets. Moreover, the sector is critically important for global supply chains and security in a tense geopolitical situation. To demonstrate and prototype maritime AI solutions, the center will address a diverse and impactful set of use cases: Logistics, shipping and business transactions; Ship design and construction; Voyage planning and optimization; Condition monitoring and maintenance; Crew training; Maritime traffic and ship surveillance; Decarbonization and energy management; Autonomous ships and remote control.
The research partners are the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, (NTNU), University of Oslo, Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, Norwegian Mapping Authority, MET and SINTEF Nordvest. There are about 30 user partners from the maritime sector, in addition to hundreds of members of the Maritime Forum, Blue Maritime, Ocean Autonomy, and Maritime CleanTech clusters. The center will be a hub, orchestrating the interfaces with research partners and user partners to facilitate collaboration, knowledge creation, dissemination, innovation, and sharing of knowledge. The Norwegian Maritime AI Center is funded by the Research Council of Norway and the partners for the period 2026-2030. There will be approximately 25 doctoral scholarships and some postdoc positions. More information can be found here: https://www.ntnu.edu/mai
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.
Duties of the position
Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.
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 and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)for general criteria for the position.
Preferred selection criteria
To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:
Emphasis will be placed on personal 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. (delete if not applicable)
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 through out 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.
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 “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 Henrique M. Gaspar, henrique.gaspar@ntnu.no.
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Lara Bromann, lara.bromann@ntnu.no.
For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.
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 About the strategic area Ocean and coast NTNU Ocean and Coast is one of five strategic research areas at NTNU. The idea behind these research areas is that complex societal challenges (such as the climate crisis) must be solved collectively. These strategic research areas are therefore established to promote interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. The goal is to develop new solutions through radical interdisciplinarity, thereby contributing to real change and a better future. Inspired by NTNU's strategy ‘Knowledge for a Better World’, the strategic research areas are intended to be a place where ideas meet action—a space for thinking outside the box and developing groundbreaking solutions to problems that truly matter. These research areas cover the full breadth of academic disciplines at NTNU, including artistic research, and all faculties are invited to contribute. The Ocean and Coast strategic research area focuses on societal challenges related to the open ocean, coastal areas with their fjords and coastal communities, rivers and lakes, the water cycle, and water more generally. The Arctic faces particular challenges that will also be emphasized. Three key concepts define our approach: preserve, develop, and restore. To address these challenges, NTNU Ocean and Coast has established eleven interdisciplinary research teams with different focus areas. We encourage you to visit our website for more information about these research teams: https://www.ntnu.edu/ocean-coast The Department of Biological Sciences Ålesund (IBA) at Norwegian University of Science and Technology is opening a PhD position in AI-enabled biological monitoring as part of the ongoing COD-SPAWN project funded by the Ocean and Coast thematic research area of NTNU. COD-SPAWN aims to develop novel sensor technologies and autonomous monitoring systems for marine environments, with a particular focus on supporting sustainable coastal and fjord ecosystems. The project integrates advanced sensing, robotics, and artificial intelligence to enable continuous, high-resolution monitoring of environmental conditions and biological processes. The sensor technology has been successfully validated in laboratory conditions and will be further developed and adapted for marine deployment and in situ analyses. Borgundfjorden, outside Ålesund, will be used as a living laboratory and demonstration site, with particular focus on Atlantic cod spawning dynamics. This project is expected to involve extensive field activities. The successful candidate will contribute to the following areas: • Further development and field implementation of our water sampling and analyses system for: • Machine vision-based (AI) plankton and particle imaging • Implementation of sample collection for subsequent genetic analyses • Fieldwork and sampling campaigns to generate data series on coastal cod spawning dynamics, including: • Presence and distribution of fish eggs, zooplankton and particles • Presence and biological status of spawning fish • Water quality parameters Within the scope of the project, the PhD research can be adapted to the candidate’s interests and background, allowing for specialization in biology/ecology, modelling or machine learning applications. We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled candidate with a background in marine biology, fisheries biology, biological oceanography, marine environmental sciences, or related fields. Candidates with documented experience in the application of AI (object detection) in biological studies are especially encouraged to apply. The project is inherently interdisciplinary, and the candidate will collaborate closely with experts in marine biology, environmental monitoring, ocean engineering, robotics, cybernetics and data science. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department. About the project COD-SPAWN is an ambitious, cross-disciplinary research initiative at NTNU Ålesund that develops and pilots a next-generation autonomous monitoring system for Atlantic cod spawning and pollution dynamics in Borgundfjorden — Norway's second most important cod spawning ground and a nationally prioritized site for sediment remediation. The project employs and further develops our advanced AI-based system for marine plankton and particle analyses alongside a suite of marine water quality sensors. In addition to the use of more traditional sampling methods from shore and boats, it deploys unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with image-based particle sensors and AI-driven data analysis pipelines to enable real-time, high-resolution detection of cod eggs, microplastics, and suspended contamination in a fjord that has historically been compromised by pollution. The project team involves researchers from several departments at NTNU Ålesund, and you will be part of the core team consisting of two PhD researchers, and two Postdoctoral researchers. Duties of the position • Complete the doctoral training program and successfully obtain a PhD degree • Conduct high-quality research within the framework described above • Contribute to academic publications and engage in popular science dissemination • Actively participate in the research group associated with the project • Engage in international academic activities, including conferences and/or research stays at partner institutions abroad Required selection criteria • You must have a Master's degree in MSc in natural sciences, preferably within the fields of either marine biology, fisheries biology, biological oceanography, marine environmental sciences or a closely related fields. Candidates with a background in marine technology or computer science, combined with relevant biological experience, will also be considered. • Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at 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 September 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 be able to communicate fluently in English, both in writing and in scientific conversations. • Your background and motivation for this position must clearly show your ability to fulfill the tasks outlined in the duties of the position. The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position. Preferred selection criteria • Strong interest in learning and utilizing new technologies to investigate marine and biological systems • General understanding of object recognition, as it will support fast start-up of research activities • Good knowledge of Norwegian or other Scandinavian language • Driving license class B (car), ideally BE (car with trailer) • Boat driving license for Norway • Experience with work at sea Personal characteristics To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you can: • 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 • Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment • Opportunities to work in a cross-disciplinary team at the interface of marine biology and advanced technologies • Access to unique fjord monitoring datasets and the Fjordlab marine research infrastructure • Collaboration with research institutes, public authorities, and industry partners • Opportunities to contribute to sustainable management of coastal and marine environments • As a doctoral student at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits. 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 employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out 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 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) • Publications etc. other relevant research work • Relevant 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 Head of Department Lars Gansel, e-mail: gansel@ntnu.no or Associate Professor Snorre Bakke, e-mail: snorre.bakke@ntnu.no If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-advisor Ingvild Vartdal, e-mail: ingvild.vartdal@ntnu.no Application deadline: 26.07.2026 ----------------- For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. Ålesund, known for its unique Art Nouveau architecture and spectacular nature, is a gem on Norway's west coast. The city offers a vibrant cultural life, modern facilities, and a dynamic business environment. With its strategic location by the sea, Ålesund provides a perfect balance between urban living and natural experiences. Here, you will find excellent schools, top-notch healthcare services, and a wide range of recreational activities. Ålesund is an ideal place for both career and family life, with a safe and inclusive community.
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 Climate change influences the magnitudes and return periods of heavy rainfall, storm surges, landslides, and many other stressors and shocks with dire consequences for civil infrastructure. The research group within civil engineering focuses climate resilient infrastructure using measurement data to support the assessment of the resilience of critical infrastructures in waterfront communities. Fjordlab Ålesund is an important and rapidly growing sensor and observation platform that contain a wealth of data in the domain of met-ocean, stormwater system, water supply system, structural systems, energy systems, ecosystem, acoustics and more. This position aims to develop a hazard and resilience assessment platform for selected ports focusing on AI-empowered asset management using drone inspections and available asset management historical data. The aim is to enhance the asset and network resilience of ports by training an AI model on ferry quay data and in turn apply it to generic port structures. The position will be in close collaboration with the Structural Engineering department at NTNU, international research groups and directly involved in ongoing research projects at the department. The candidate will also play an important role in strengthening the interdisciplinary collaboration across NTNU. 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 The candidate will be working on the project ”AI-empowered asset management for port structures”. Norwegian ports are critical infrastructure — vital to national logistics, maritime trade, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Yet unlike roads and bridges, most port structures fall outside any regulated asset management system: there are no common inspection guidelines, no shared database of structural condition, and no systematic basis for assessing how resilient these assets are to hazards. As climate change drives increases in extreme weather, storm surges, and flooding along the Norwegian coast, this gap is becoming increasingly consequential. This PhD project addresses that challenge head-on by developing an AI-powered asset management framework for Norwegian port structures. The approach leverages the BRUTUS database — Norway's national asset management system for ferry quays, containing labelled damage data as training material for a machine learning model capable of automatically classifying structural damage from drone inspection images. The project aims to bring automated, cost-effective damage detection to port structures that have historically lacked any formal monitoring. The research is anchored at the Magerholm Research Quay (MRQ), a unique full-scale laboratory established as part of Fjordlab Ålesund through a collaboration between Møre og Romsdal County and NTNU. MRQ provides unparalleled access to real-world structural and operational data, including met-ocean conditions and ferry impact loads — an ideal testbed for developing and validating the AI and drone-based inspection methods at the core of this project. The project is funded by the Faculty of Engineering and a collaboration between the Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering and the Department of Structural Engineering. 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 smart infrastructure research group • 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 civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, marine technology, cybernetics or equivalent. Your education 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 maybe 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 in Engineering • Excellent oral and written presentation 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 • Familiar with structural health monitoring or non-destructive evaluation techniques • Experience with fieldwork • Experience with signal and image processing • Has driving license approved according to Norwegian regulations 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 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 qualities. We offer • An exciting job with an important mission in society • Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment • 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 Engineering within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out 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 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 Torodd S. Nord, phone: +47 73595207, email: torodd.nord@ntnu.no If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact PhD Cordinator Lara Bromann, email: lara.bromann@ntnu.no Application deadline: 15.08.2026 ----------------- For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. Ålesund, known for its unique Art Nouveau architecture and spectacular nature, is a gem on Norway's west coast. The city offers a vibrant cultural life, modern facilities, and a dynamic business environment. With its strategic location by the sea, Ålesund provides a perfect balance between urban living and natural experiences. Here, you will find excellent schools, top-notch healthcare services, and a wide range of recreational activities. Ålesund is an ideal place for both career and family life, with a safe and inclusive community.
Figma is growing our team of passionate creatives and builders on a mission to make design accessible to all. Figma’s platform helps teams bring ideas to life—whether you're brainstorming, creating a prototype, translating designs into code, or iterating with AI. From idea to product, Figma empowers teams to streamline workflows, move faster, and work together in real time from anywhere in the world. If you're excited to shape the future of design and collaboration, join us! The Figma Research team is hiring an Director, Research - AI Evals to own how we measure the quality of Figma's AI-powered experiences. As Figma ships more AI capabilities across our products, the question "is this really good?" has never mattered more — and answering it rigorously is what this role exists to do. You'll define what "good" means for our AI features, build the frameworks and quality bars to measure it, and turn that into trusted signal that product teams rely on to decide what to ship. The ideal candidate brings deep, hands-on experience evaluating AI/LLM-powered products — blending human evaluation with automated, model-based approaches — along with the product instinct and communication skills to make evaluation genuinely useful. Partnering with Product, Design, Engineering, and Data Science, you'll sit upstream of nearly every AI shipping decision at Figma and directly shape the quality of features used by millions of people. This is a full time role that can be held from one of our US hubs or remotely in the United States. What you'll do at Figma: * Own AI evaluation methods and operations for Figma's AI-powered experiences — define quality dimensions, design how we measure them, and turn results into decision-ready signal * Build and maintain evaluation frameworks, rubrics, golden datasets, and quality bars, combining human evaluation with automated/model-based approaches (e.g., LLM-as-judge) where appropriate * Partner with engineering to stand up repeatable, reproducible evaluation pipelines and regression testing, so evaluation is a routine part of how AI features are built and shipped * Produce clear readouts and dashboards that let stakeholders confidently make go/no-go and prioritization decisions * Socialize a shared definition of quality so evaluation standards are adopted across teams rather than re-invented — and advocate for evaluation as a strategic partner in the product process * Manage a small team to execute our AI evals in partnership with contractors, internal staff, and/or LLMs We'd love to hear from you if you have: * 10+ years of experience in product, research, applied research, or a closely related field, including 2+ years of management experience * Direct, hands-on experience owning the evaluation of AI/LLM-powered products * Expertise designing and running AI evaluation — human evaluation programs, rubric and benchmark/golden-dataset construction, inter-rater reliability — and sound judgment about when and how to apply automated/model-based approaches (e.g., LLM-as-judge), including their limitations * Strength across both qualitative and quantitative methods, comfort with data and metrics, and the ability to reason about model behavior * Demonstrated success in identifying the riskiest assumptions behind an ambiguous quality question, prioritizing them, and designing right-sized evaluation to build confidence * A proven track record of gaining buy-in from executive and cross-disciplinary stakeholders — transcending methodology to articulate a larger user story and the "so what" to inspire action While it's not required, it's an added plus if you also have: * Experience building or co-building automated evaluation pipelines and regression testing in partnership with engineering, or familiarity with eval tooling (e.g., Braintrust, LangSmith, DeepEval, or equivalents) * Experience standing up a new function, practice, or discipline from scratch * 2+ years in product design, user-centric product management, data science, product development, and/or front-end engineering * A familiarity and depth of experience using Figma's products At Figma, one of our values is Grow as you go. We believe in hiring smart, curious people who are excited to learn and develop their skills. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the points outlined in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Pay Transparency Disclosure If based in Figma’s San Francisco or New York hub offices, this role has the annual base salary range stated below. Job level and actual compensation will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, individual qualifications objectively assessed during the interview process (including skills and prior relevant experience, potential impact, and scope of role), market demands, and specific work location. The listed range is a guideline, and the range for this role may be modified. For roles that are available to be filled remotely, the pay range is localized according to employee work location by a factor of between 80% and 100% of range. Please discuss your specific work location with your recruiter for more information. Figma offers equity to employees, as well a competitive package of additional benefits, including health, dental & vision, retirement with company contribution, parental leave & reproductive or family planning support, mental health & wellness benefits, generous PTO, company recharge days, a learning & development stipend, a work from home stipend, and cell phone reimbursement. Figma also offers sales incentive pay for most sales roles and an annual bonus plan for eligible non-sales roles. Figma’s compensation and benefits are subject to change and may be modified in the future. Annual Base Salary Range: $258,000—$348,000 USD At Figma we celebrate and support our differences. We know employing a team rich in diverse thoughts, experiences, and opinions allows our employees, our product and our community to flourish. Figma is an equal opportunity workplace - we are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. We will work to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to apply for a role, participate in the interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require accommodation, please reach out to accommodations-ext@figma.com. These modifications enable an individual with a disability to have an equal opportunity not only to get a job, but successfully perform their job tasks to the same extent as people without disabilities. Examples of accommodations include but are not limited to: * Holding interviews in an accessible location * Enabling closed captioning on video conferencing * Ensuring all written communication be compatible with screen readers * Changing the mode or format of interviews To ensure the integrity of our hiring process and facilitate a more personal connection, we require all candidates keep their cameras on during video interviews. Additionally, if hired you will be required to attend in person onboarding. By applying for this job, the candidate acknowledges and agrees that any personal data contained in their application or supporting materials will be processed in accordance with Figma's Candidate Privacy Notice.