项目介绍

2026年10月3日

The Department of Structural Engineering has a vacancy for a

About the position

Rockfall, snow avalanches, debris flows and other gravity-driven natural hazards threaten roads, railways and communities in Norway and in mountainous regions worldwide – and climate change is making them harder to predict. Protection structures are our first line of defence, yet they are still designed with deterministic rules that say little about how safe they actually are. This project sets out to change that.

We are looking for a PhD Candidate to develop a probabilistic, risk-consistent design basis for protection structures: a framework in which the safety level is explicit, quantified and consistent across hazards, structures and decisions. You will combine hazard modelling, structural dynamics and structural reliability theory, and you will work with data and cases from real infrastructure.

You will be supervised by Professor Jochen Köhler (structural reliability and risk-informed decision-making; President of the Joint Committee on Structural Safety, JCSS) and Professor Vegard Aune (SIMLab; impact and blast loading on protective structures), as part of two of NTNU’s strongest research environments in structural engineering.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a master’s degree in structural engineering, mechanical engineering, computational mechanics or a related field, with strong analytical and computational skills and an interest in probabilistic methods.

The position is full-time for three years. Preferred start date: December 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. 

• Hazard modelling – intensity and frequency of rockfall, snow-avalanche, debris-flow and similar gravity-driven events, and how these change under future climate scenarios, expressed as probabilistic load models suitable for structural design
• Structural response and vulnerability – the behaviour of protection structures under impact and dynamic loading, drawing on SIMLab’s experimental facilities and expertise in nonlinear numerical simulation
• Reliability and risk assessment – probability of failure and its consequences, using state-of-the-art structural reliability methods and target reliabilities consistent with ISO 2394 and the JCSS Probabilistic Model Code
• Decision support – performance metrics that make risk, cost and sustainability comparable, so that infrastructure owners can prioritise where it matters most

• Complete the doctoral education leading to a PhD degree
• Conduct high-quality research within probabilistic design and infrastructure resilience
• Develop, implement and validate models that link hazard, structural vulnerability, reliability and decision metrics
• Apply the framework to real case studies in collaboration with the industry partner and infrastructure owners
• Publish in leading international journals and present at international conferences
• Complete a research stay abroad
• Contribute to the supervision of master’s students

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computational Mechanics, or a closely related field. The degree must be equivalent to a five-year Norwegian programme (120 ECTS at the master’s level).
• Strong academic performance, with an average grade equivalent to B or better on NTNU’s grading scale (or a comparable level of achievement).
• You must meet the requirements for admission to NTNU’s PhD programme and the Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Engineering.
• Proficiency in spoken and written 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 NTNU’s 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.

• Background in structural reliability theory, probabilistic methods or statistics
• Strong computational skills, including programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB) and nonlinear finite element analysis (e.g., Abaqus, LS-DYNA)
• Knowledge of structural dynamics and impact loading
• Knowledge of risk analysis or decision theory
• Interest in natural hazards, climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure

• 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

• A research topic of high societal relevance, where your results are meant to be used – in design guidance, in standards and in engineering practice
• Daily contact with two internationally recognised research groups in structural reliability and impact mechanics
• Close collaboration with relevant industy partners throughout the PhD, with access to real projects, data and industry experience
• 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
• 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)

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 580 000,-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 [subject area] (link to possible website)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.

• 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.
• Letter of motivation (400-800 words/1-2 pages)
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

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 Jochen Köhler, email: jochen.kohler@ntnu.no, or Professor Vegard Aune, email: vegard.aune@ntnu.no.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant June Hovde, e-mail: june.b.hovde@ntnu.no.

Application deadline: 15.10.2026

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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. 

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NTNU – knowledge for a better world

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Structural Engineering

We teach mechanical engineering, engineering and ICT, and civil and environmental engineering. The Department conducts internationally leading research and participates in several large national research projects. The Department of Structural Engineering is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Engineering.