项目介绍

2025年1月23日

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 Line Manager will be the Head of the Department of Architecture and Technology.

This Doctoral Candidate will be based at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology working with Niki Gaitani and Henrik Madsen as project leads and will focus on the topics of urban building energy modeling, energy systems dynamics and port-city interactions. You will be applying methods such as digital twins modelling, optimization, and state-space models as you work on your project. The successful candidate will be seconded with the Technical University of Denmark and the Trondheim Municipality (Norway) during the project.

You will be working on a project called “Digital technologies for getting insights into urban energy dynamics and port-city interactions”. During this project you will:

• Work on methods for identification of sources of information. This includes decisions on spatial and temporal resolutions 
• Establish a proper database for modelling
• Write a scientific paper on methods for how to establish local digital twins for port-city interactions
• Write a scientific paper on use of local digital twins to generate scenarios for the future
• Work on methods for robust decision making under uncertainty related to port-city developments using local digital twins

The complexity in the energy transition calls for data-driven methods and digital technologies for getting better insights into port-city energy system interactions, as well as for establishment a spectrum of sources for evidence-based information channels. The challenge is to be able to combine information embedded in different data sources with varying uncertainty, representation and resolutions. There is an unmet need for an establishment of data-driven local digital twin for the port-city interactions in order to provide the fundament for decision making and municipality governance related to the local port. A specific challenge is to generate the digital information needed for generating reliable scenarios for decision making under uncertainty and for energy systems planning. 

The position is resident at NTNUs campus in Trondheim. The position is connected to the PhD programme in Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture and Design and the faculty will be your employer.

About the project

The Ports as Energy Transition Hubs (POTENT) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network is looking for 15 qualified PhD candidates interested in the field of Energy Infrastructure, Maritime Economics, Ports, and Data Science. The primary objective of the POTENT Network, led by Copenhagen Business School, is to investigate how ports can support and accelerate the clean energy transition in Europe. The research will focus on:

• Identifying gaps in renewable energy, green fuel infrastructure, and technologies to address these gaps, especially integration of digital technologies to optimize energy use, improve efficiency, and integrate renewables.
• Considering the systemic aspects of integrated energy ports, including the implications of integrating ports into electricity grids, and the socioeconomic and regulatory aspects of port development.
• Investigating the governance and business model challenges and opportunities that ports face in the energy transition and exploring how they can create and capture value, manage stakeholder relationships, and make decisions that align with the energy transition goals.

This research project provides a fantastic opportunity for researchers interested in the energy transition. It aims to integrate knowledge of engineering (e.g., mechanical and electrical engineering) and social sciences (economics, sociology, and anthropology) in a doctoral training programme across 8 European research institutions and 15 industry actors. The POTENT consortium brings together a multidisciplinary research team from across Europe to train experts in port energy systems and develop key skills to deliver a just and sustainable energy transition. The energy transition of our ports is being rapidly acknowledged as a crucial tool as Europe undergoes the energy transition to climate neutrality and energy security.

The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network aims to increase mobility for students, and therefore will only accept students who have not lived more than 12 of the last 36 months in the country to which they apply. Please keep this rule in mind as you submit your applications. 

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 international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Teaching
• Other career-promoting work

During your studies you will deliver:

• Guidelines for how to establish local digital twins for port-city interaction
• Framework for handling uncertainty in local digital twins for port-city studies
• Application to the harbour area in Trondheim 
• Guidelines for robust decision making related to port-city planning

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• The PhD-position’s main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. Applicants with no letter grades from previous studies must have an equally good academic foundation. 
• The position requires excellent English oral and writing skills. 
• Candidates must not have lived more than 12 of the last 36 months in the country to which they apply 

In addition, the following qualifications will contribute positively to the evaluation of the applicant:

• Background and/or experience relevant to the project topic (see the project topic) i.e. in Engineering or Architecture, with a particular focus on building science.
• Documented experience with modelling/simulation preferably in the context of building science and building energy systems and urban building energy modeling 
• Good knowledge of digital tools

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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 Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) 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.

Personal characteristics

• A high level of personal responsibility and initiative
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team in accordance with the project objectives
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary projects and teams
• Suitable candidates should have good communication skills, be flexible and solution-oriented

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement.

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
• training during working hours and company sports at NTNU 
• As a public employee, you have favourable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)  

You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts. 

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population’s collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

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 532 200 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. If learning Norwegian (level A2 corresponding to at least 15 credits) is to be completed before the end of the employment period, the employment period can be extended by 10 weeks. 

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Architecture 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 academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

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 The application must include: 

• Application letter concerning your motivation for completing a PhD
• A CV with information on education, previous research experience, together with authorized documentation of certificates and study records. 
• master Diploma with grades
• Academic work (not master thesis). Joint work will be evaluated. If it is difficult to identify the contributions from individuals in a joint piece of work, applicants should enclose a short descriptive summary of what she/he contributed to the work. 
• Name and address of three references

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 works 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).

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.

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.

Questions about the position can be directed to Associate Professor Niki Gaitani e-mail: niki.gaitani@ntnu.no.  If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Advisor Natalia Swahn, e-mail: natalia.swahn@ntnu.no

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

Application deadline: 31.03.2025

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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.