A three-year PhD position is available at the Gjærevoll Centre for Biodiversity Foresight Analyses at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The position is funded by NTNU Energy and also linked to the VISTA Centre for Norwegian Transformative Energy Policy Development (NOTRAP). The PhD project will explore the societally relevant intersection of biodiversity modelling, renewable energy and social-ecological systems.

We are seeking a motivated candidate with experience and interest in biodiversity science, spatial ecology, landscape ecology, land use, or other closely related topics.

The Gjærevoll Centre will be the candidate’s primary workplace. Here, the candidate will be part of a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment and contribute to the NOTRAP centre. The candidate is also expected to contribute to NTNU Energy‘s activities upon request. 

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 Director of the Gjærevoll Centre.

Holistic efforts to address climate change and biodiversity loss are needed. A major research objective today is to inform a transition to renewable energy that protects areas of high biodiversity value, and the diverse and irreplaceable values nature holds for human society. This work is strengthened by a community-engaged research framework.

The Gjærevoll Centre brings together researchers from the natural sciences, mathematics and statistics, informatics, environmental engineering, economics and the social sciences to understand how biodiversity is affected by human use of land and water. By combining ecological field studies, biodiversity modelling and foresight analyses with perspectives on societal values and governance, the centre aims to produce knowledge and tools that can inform policies and actions to halt biodiversity loss. 

The NOTRAP centre contributes to this aim with a focus on the nexus of energy transition and democracy, establishing Energy Policy Incubators for the co-construction of transformative energy policies. Within the PhD project, it is expected that the candidate will link assessment of biodiversity impacts of energy transition pathways with perceived importance of natural habitats by local populations. The position is funded under NTNU Energy’s Focus Area 1, The Renewable Revolution. NTNU Energy is NTNU’s strategic research area on energy and aims to strengthen energy research that contributes to securing climate-friendly, nature-friendly and fair energy.

The PhD project will investigate synergies between biodiversity value and societal value in areas with contested land or water use related to the energy transition. As an integrative project, it may combine approaches such as ecological fieldwork, biodiversity modelling, participatory and citizen-based mapping of biodiversity and societal values, and social-ecological systems analysis. The candidate will work with the NOTRAP centre to identify and develop links to its activities, including the Energy Policy Incubators.

The main supervisor will be Researcher Irja Ida Ratikainen (Gjærevoll Centre, NTNU). The candidate will have an interdisciplinary supervision team with co-supervisors from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences. 

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.

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 Biology 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.

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 Researcher Irja Ida Ratikainen, email: irja.i.ratikainen@ntnu.no

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Consultant Gerd Flataas, email: gerd.flataas@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 13.11.2026

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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.